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What Are The Causes For Multiple Personally Disorder Or Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Question: Hi, over the past few weeks my girlfriend has been feeling dizzy. It was most nights and days but it seems to have settled a little. She felt as though the room was spinning and felt sick. I thought the cause might have been that she wasn't eating enough, when I asked her what she ate she only ate 3 slices of pizza that day, they say after she only had one slice of pizza. I made her eat some more and for a couple of days she seemed fine up until tonight. She felt dizzy, and I noticed her personality change. I eventually shown her some pictures of her old pets and she came back to normal but didn't remember anything she texted or anything I texted her. This happened quiet frequently a few months ago. She claims to have had multiple personally disorder for a few years but I've only started noticing it recently, after three years. It just concerns me that these two events happened together and want to know your opinion, if you have any questions please ask, thank you.
Brief Answer:
Vertigo most likely due to inner ear issue.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from your description of a room spinning sensation I would say the most likely cause would be an inner ear issue like benign paroxysmal vertigo. Antihistamine medication like meclizine are usually the first choice medication to alleviate the symptoms. If symptoms persist though it would be wise to check with your primary physician for any other possible signs you might have missed.
As for the change in personality you mention given the fact she has been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, otherwise called dissociative identity disorder, it means that there is a predisposition for dissociation phenomena, in particular in response to stress and anxiety. So while I do not think there is a direct relation, meaning the two issues are not due to a lesion of the same organ/system, the increased stress levels may have indirectly favored that dissociative episode you describe.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Regards.
Vertigo most likely due to inner ear issue.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from your description of a room spinning sensation I would say the most likely cause would be an inner ear issue like benign paroxysmal vertigo. Antihistamine medication like meclizine are usually the first choice medication to alleviate the symptoms. If symptoms persist though it would be wise to check with your primary physician for any other possible signs you might have missed.
As for the change in personality you mention given the fact she has been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, otherwise called dissociative identity disorder, it means that there is a predisposition for dissociation phenomena, in particular in response to stress and anxiety. So while I do not think there is a direct relation, meaning the two issues are not due to a lesion of the same organ/system, the increased stress levels may have indirectly favored that dissociative episode you describe.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, the multiple personality disorder has never been diagnosed, it's just something she's though she's had. I've never seen any evidence of it up until a couple of months ago when I noticed a dramatic change in her personality, then forgetting what she said. I'm just worried in case it is a problem with her brain, such as tumor etc.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information, that makes your worry understandable.
I still do not think there is any indication for major concern. The two manifestations (spinning sensation and personality change) are not related to the same brain areas, hard to relate them to a brain lesion such as stroke, tumor etc. Furthermore usually there are other symptoms such as at least headache which is the most common manifestation, while may not manifest right away it should appear over the course of two months. The coming and going of the symptoms doesn't support that either.
While a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder may not be there, still the fact she refers may indicate there is a background predisposition to anxiety.
So I still maintain that there is no reason to worry. A visit to her primary physician as I said before may be scheduled to make sure there are aren't other subtle signs you might have missed. He/she might also want to schedule brain imaging and an EEG to make sure those episodes do not constitute seizures. However you shouldn't overworry as it is likely that those tests will come out normal.
Ragrds.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information, that makes your worry understandable.
I still do not think there is any indication for major concern. The two manifestations (spinning sensation and personality change) are not related to the same brain areas, hard to relate them to a brain lesion such as stroke, tumor etc. Furthermore usually there are other symptoms such as at least headache which is the most common manifestation, while may not manifest right away it should appear over the course of two months. The coming and going of the symptoms doesn't support that either.
While a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder may not be there, still the fact she refers may indicate there is a background predisposition to anxiety.
So I still maintain that there is no reason to worry. A visit to her primary physician as I said before may be scheduled to make sure there are aren't other subtle signs you might have missed. He/she might also want to schedule brain imaging and an EEG to make sure those episodes do not constitute seizures. However you shouldn't overworry as it is likely that those tests will come out normal.
Ragrds.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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