Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Goals and Methodologies

Problem areas for DID:

"Alters" usually developed from childhood physical or sexual abuse, "Alters" are created to protect the conscious mind from the trauma.
Depression.
Lack of awareness may pose danger to self or others because the person cannot remember what happened when an alter was present.
Diagnosis is difficult and often not recognized upon first analysis.
To become integrated, the afflicted must face what caused the disorder, ex: confront the abuse.

Goals of DID treatment

To become "fully integrated."
To remember and face the abuse to deal with it.
To create and develop close bonding to those around them for support.
To avoid depression.
To develop a healthy relationship with therapist who uses ethical treatments and whom the patient can trust.

Music therapy activities/methodologies:

Song writing and dance can be used to express emotions that are difficult to address.
Music can be a temporary escape from the present stressful situation. It can also be used to bring forward different alters for communication.
Music calms and enhances relaxation and can change present mood state.
Music may be used to enhance memory, increasing the possibility of full integration.
Music can be used to create a channel of communication between the afflicted and their support system.
Listening to music you like makes you happy and offers support and mood redirection.
Music activities can ease some burdens of adolescence, a particularly difficult time for those effected by DID.