Dissociate Disorders
...s alters; a phase of treating the traumatic memories and fusing the alters; and a phase of consolidating the patient’s newly integrated personality. Wherever it’s possible, treatment should move the patient toward a sense of linked functioning. It’s unfavorable to urge the patient to create additional alternate personalities, to urge alternate personalities to adopt names when they have none, or to urge that alternate personalities function in a more difficulty way than they already are functioning in the patient. It is unfavorable to tell patients to ignore or get rid of alternate personalities. Additionally, the Dissociate Disorders patient’s is a whole person, with alternate personalities of adult patients sharing responsibility for his or her life as it is now. In the psychotherapeutic setting, therapists working with Dissociate Disorders patients generally ought to hold the whole person to be responsible for the behavior of all of the alternate personalities. Some doctors will prescribe tranquilizers or antidepressants for Dissociate Disorders patients because their alter one personalities may have anxiety or mood disorders. Other therapists who treat Dissociate Disorders prefer to keep medications to a minimum because these patients can easily become psychologically dependent on drugs. Many Dissociate Disorders patients have at least one alter who abuse drugs or alcohol, substances, which are dangerous in combination with most tranquilizers. Psychiatrists may prescribe antidepressant medication. Doctors as well as psychologists and counselors may also offer psychotherapy or talk therapy. There’s are a number of different styles of psychotherapy. Before embarking on this therapy it is a good idea to request that your therapist explain what type of therapy is to be used. While not always necessary, hypnosis is a standard method of treatment for Dissociate Disorders patients. Hypnosis may help patients recover repressed ideas and memories. Further, hypnosis can also be used to control uncertain behaviors that many Dissociate Disorders patients exhibit, such as self-mutilation, or eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. In the later stages of treatment, the therapist may use hypnosis to "fuse" the alters as part of the patient's personality integration process. Alternative treatments that help to relax the body are often recommended for Dissociate Disorders patients as an addition to psychotherapy and/or medication. These treatments include hydrotherapy, botanical medicine (primarily herbs that help the nervous system), therapeutic massage, and yoga. Homeopathic treatment can also be effective for some people. Art therapy and the keeping of journals are often recommended as ways that patients can integrate their past into their present life. Meditation is usually discouraged until the patient's personality has been reintegrated. Some therapists believe that the prognosis for recovery is excellent for children and good for most adults. Although treatment takes several years, it is often ultimately effective. As a general rule, the earlier the patient is diagnosed and properly treated, the better the prognosis. Prevention of Dissociate Disorders requires intervention in abusive families and treating children with dissociative symptoms as early as possible. The panel of respondents, most of whom are well known in the dissociate disorders field, is comprised of Elizabeth Bowman, M.D., Harry Carlson, M. Div., Christine Comstock, Ph. D., James G. Friesen, Ph.D., Jerry Mungadze, Ph.D., Christopher H. Rosik, Ph.D., and Carl Wilfrid, M. Div. The intent of this article is to create such a forum by soliciting responses to several questions from seven professionals who each have extensive experience in treating dissociate disorder. The panel consists of one psychiatrist, four psychologists, and two clergy. Although there is a general agreement of opinion in some areas, meaningful differences in perspective also exist and shape the specific therapeutic approach these practitioners take the religious and spiritual aspects of Dissociate Disorders treatment. Exorcism is spiritual treatment that does not belong in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, Dissociate Disorders included. Exorcisms in Dissociate Disorders treatment are performed by well meaning practitioners, but I believe they are the result of misunderstanding the psychodynamics’ of Dissociate Disorders, mis-diagnosing dissociate phenomena as spiritual posse...