Guide To The Symptoms Of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Dissociation is a maladaptive way of coping with anxiety. DID is more complex than an average anxiety disorder, and treatment also typically needs to be more complex. But anxiety, panic attacks, and dissociation go hand-in-hand. When a patient dissociates, whether they're letting a new alter take over or simply ceasing to keep contact with the world, they're trying to escape a situation causing extreme stress or pain. Dissociative identity disorder develops when children dissociate to escape serious trauma, often compartmentalizing their senses of self to survive. When individuals with DID encounter situations that make them anxious, they may dissociate, though they may also have typical symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Panic attacks look a lot like a heart attack, with a racing heart and squeezing feeling in the chest. They pass within ten minutes. General anxiety can last longer and may include sweating, nausea, elevated heart rate, and shallow breathing.

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