Welcome to the Interactive Guide
Feeling disconnected is a universal human experience. We all “zone out” on a long drive, get lost in a good book, or daydream. This is a mild, everyday form of dissociation.
For some, however, this sense of disconnection is severe, persistent, and deeply distressing, fragmenting their very sense of self, their memories, and their perception of the world. This experience is the hallmark of dissociative disorders, the most complex of which is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
This application is an educational guide and self-reflection tool. It provides information on DID, an informal screener to help you reflect on your own experiences, and resources for further help. It is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
This section breaks down the key characteristics of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) as understood by mental health professionals. According to the DSM-5, DID is characterized by several core symptoms, which you can explore below.
Disruption of Identity
The presence of two or more distinct personality states (or “alters”). This involves a marked discontinuity in one’s sense of self and agency, accompanied by related changes in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition, and/or sensory-motor functioning. These signs may be observed by others or reported by the individual.
Dissociative Amnesia
Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting. This isn’t just “forgetting where you put your keys”; it’s finding items you don’t remember buying, not remembering how you got to a certain place (a “fugue” state), or experiencing “lost time.”
Depersonalization / Derealization
Persistent or recurring feelings of being detached from one’s own mental processes or body (depersonalization), as if you are an outside observer of your own life or “watching yourself in a movie.” Or, you may experience the world around you as unreal, distant, or “foggy” (derealization).
Clinically Significant Distress
The symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. It’s also common for individuals with DID to experience internal voices, like arguments or commentary, that are not their own thoughts.
Informal Self-Screener
This section provides an informal screener to help you reflect on your experiences. It is broken into three parts. Please read the disclaimer carefully before you begin.
Please Read: Important Disclaimer
This is an **informal screener** and **NOT a diagnostic tool.**
It is not intended to be a substitute for a formal evaluation, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is for educational and self-reflection purposes only, allowing you to get an idea of your score based on common symptoms of dissociation. Many of these experiences can occur for other reasons, including high stress, lack of sleep, other mental health conditions, or neurological issues.
A formal diagnosis can **only** be made by a qualified mental health professional. Answer based on your experiences when you are **not** under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Part 1/3: Amnesia & Lost Time
Part 2/3: Depersonalization & Derealization
Part 3/3: Identity Confusion & Disruption
Your Informal Results
Your total score: 0 out of 30
These results are for reflection only. They do not represent a diagnosis.
A Note on Your Score
This is not a diagnosis. A high number of “Yes” answers may suggest that you are experiencing a significant level of dissociation. These experiences are valid and distressing, and warrant a professional, compassionate evaluation by a qualified mental health provider.
Related & Overlapping Conditions
Experiences of dissociation don’t happen in a vacuum. This section explores the complex and often-overlapping relationship between dissociation, Autism (ASD), and ADHD (AUDH), which can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis.
Understanding the Overlap
It is possible for a person to have DID *and* be autistic or have ADHD. It is also possible for autistic or ADHD-related experiences to be misidentified as a dissociative disorder, or vice-versa. Emotional dysregulation and “zoning out” common in ADHD can mimic dissociative states.
Masking & Identity
Autistic individuals (especially those diagnosed later in life) who have spent a lifetime “masking” (camouflaging their autistic traits to fit in) may report a diffuse or fragmented sense of self. This experience of an unstable identity can be confused with the identity confusion seen in DID or Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
Sensory Overwhelm
An autistic person experiencing intense sensory overload may “shut down” or enter a state that feels very similar to depersonalization or derealization. This is a coping mechanism to protect from an overwhelmingly painful sensory environment, which is different from a trauma-based dissociative response, though they can feel similar.
Trauma Vulnerability
Research suggests that neurodivergent individuals may be more vulnerable to experiencing trauma (such as bullying, abuse, and social rejection). Since severe, repetitive trauma is the known pathway to developing DID, this co-occurrence is logical. A skilled, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed clinician is needed to untangle these overlapping experiences.
What to Do Next: Resources
If you are distressed by your experiences, you are not alone. This section provides links to professional organizations and further reading. This is a starting point for seeking help or learning more. The most important step is to seek an evaluation from a mental health professional who is trauma-informed and, if applicable, neurodiversity-affirming.
Support & Helplines