In our professional lives Brigitte and myself engage, in a minor capacity, with individuals with mental disorders. It’s our opinion that a few contributors on this site are sufferers of a condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). On the far end of the spectrum, individuals with this disorder can develop multiple personalities, while on the lower end, sufferers tend to conjure up untrue stories, invent imaginary friends to impress others and generally reside in a fantasy world.
There is no specific cause to start this condition but the strongest theory is that it’s due to personal trauma or severe low self esteem. We’ve all met those strange people who will tell you, with great conviction, that they are only on the bus because their Ferrari is in for a service. Or they once won an Olympic Gold Medal. Or that they only live in a poor neighbourhood because they are a millionaire doing research on a novel...you know the drill, we’ve all met them at some stage in our lives.
Research tells us that the anonymity of the internet only serves as a breeding ground for this disorder. This site is no exception. The invention of beautiful wives and girlfriends seems to be the norm around here. Yes, we are talking about the “imaginary friend” syndrome.
Generally speaking, but not always, DID sufferers have very poor or no self esteem, possess below average intelligence, are socially inept, have trouble maintaining personal relationships and are generally less dominant individuals. To make up for these deficiencies they re-invent themselves as, or what they see as, more socially popular persons.
It was once thought that exposing and confronting them with their lies would act as a cure for their condition, but sadly no. DID sufferers seem to care little. They just pack up and move on to do the same thing yet again.
