What is Rapid Switching?

[Cammy]

While rapid cycling is in reference to bipolar disorder, many of us with D.I.D. can experience rapid switching. It simply means quickly switching from one personality to another. I have experienced this from time to time, and it often is in relation to severe triggers like an emotionally charged situation. I once rapid switched through four personalities in my therapist's office within a matter of a few seconds between each switch. At the end of this, I looked up at her and in amazement asked, "What the heck just happened to me?" She explained that I had skipped through multiple personalities in less than 30 seconds. At the time I was emotionally very upset, and it was almost as if I was trying to find a personality that wasn't feeling the negative emotions. I do not know if this term is used in the professional literature, but it does accurately describe the phenomenon. I also recall that this occurred during those first few tentative years when I was newly diagnosed, and still had a poor understanding of my internal world or a clear feel for my alternate personalities. As you are newly diagnosed, it is possible that you may be experiencing what I did at first. For me, this settled down as time went by and I became more familiar with myself. Hopefully this will be the same for you.