#677 Dissociative Identity Disorder - Holly Crumpler

Jan 5, 2024

Holly Crumpler, who lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), discusses her frustration with its portrayal in TV and film. They explore the process of diagnosis, raising a child with DID, and the impact of therapy and filmmaking in healing and spreading awareness. They also touch on medical traumas, misdiagnosis, and forgiveness after abuse.

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INSIGHT

DID As A Protective Brain Mechanism

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a trauma-based coping mechanism where the brain capsules off memories into separate identities.
These identities have distinct ages, preferences, and roles to protect the child from overwhelming abuse.

INSIGHT

Functional Multiplicity Over Forced Fusion

Many clinicians historically aimed for 'integration' or final fusion as the treatment goal for DID.
Most people with DID prefer functional multiplicity: coexistence, communication, and reduced amnesia between parts.

ADVICE

Reduce Amnesia To Improve Internal Communication

Work to lower amnesic barriers so parts can recognize and communicate with each other.
Use trauma processing and internal communication exercises to enable safer coexistence.

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Holly Crumpler joins Paul to talk about living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Holly shares her journey to being diagnosed with DID, how she and her family manage it, and her frustration with how it’s been represented in TV and film. Holly and Paul are also joined by Holly’s son, Dylan, who offers perspective on what it’s like to grow up as a child of DID and how his mother’s diagnosis helped him make sense of things. For an accurate representation of this disorder, check out Holly & Dylan’s short film, Petals of a Rose.

More about Holly/Dylan

Following is the link where you can watch the 15 minute film and learn more about its impact:

https://www.dylancrumpler.com/petals-of-a-rose

Please consider rating and reviewing Petals of a Rose on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19715926

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetalsofaRoseTheMovie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petalsofarose_themovie/

A note from Holly about our conversation

I am not a therapist and I am only sharing my personal experience of living with DID. Additionally, it is important to note that each person who has DID experiences it in a personal, unique way, and I am only sharing my own lived experience.

Further, it might be helpful to share that even though you have not featured many people on your show with DID, it is not a rare condition. In fact, research shows that at least 1.5% of people live with DID and a greater percentage live with other dissociative disorders. In comparison, following are the frequency of mental health conditions (in descending order) for people in the US per the DSM-V:

Dissociative Identity Disorder: 1.5%

Bulimia: 1.0 – 1.5%

OCD: 1.2%

Bipolar II: .4 - 1.0%

Schizophrenia: .3 - .7%

Bipolar I: .6%

Anorexia: .4%

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