Therapist says that my PTSD borders extremely close to a DID diagnosis. What does that even mean?

I’ve heard shit everywhere about DID, and I am / was completely convinced that the majority of sources claiming to have it are immature kids roleplaying mental illness OR young people with schizophrenia misdiagnosis as DID. Maybe I’m ignorant. I probably absolutely am, but I’m trying to understand it.

Then my therapist warily mentioned that I’m “a few points away” from a DID diagnosis. I was actually shocked, but some of it… kind of makes sense…? But I thought that a DID diagnosis are not given out lightly and are supposedly pretty controversial in the first place?

Does anyone who legitimately has DID or knows someone who legitimately has DID, could you help me understand this?

I am unable to see my therapist currently due to insurance issues right now, so any insight would be invaluable. I’m struggling a lot right now to understand what that even means for me, my future, and how to deal with this.

Thank you.

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apis, 6 months ago

DID is a manifestation of certain types of PTSD, and many people with trauma experience some degree of dissociation (though usually it falls short of DID).

To oversimplify, dissociation of any kind including DID, is a survival mechanism at the point of trauma and at points which our brains perceive of as similarly threatening (even if they are not so dangerous).

Yes, some kids want to relate to it a bit too much, but in a way they do this as an escape from their (very different, but real nonetheless experience of pain). It remains a genuine diagnosis which has serious impacts on those who actually have it.

I’d imagine this is very disconcerting to have heard from your therapist, so try to seek out things which are soothing & grounding to you. Could be a friend or a hobby or pleasing scents or sounds.

Have known a few people who have it, many who like you are adjacent, and just a handful who find comfort in relating to it in slightly overimaginative ways.

Every one of them deserves empathy & support, regardless, and you do too.

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