Dissociative identity disorder (DID), a condition formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder, is very rare almost everywhere in the world except for one place: Hollywood. Not among actual people there but among characters in movies that are often very over the top. So while you and I might know people with depression or anxiety, the only reference we have for people with DID are fictional characters.

We change that today. Dr. Shelley Kolton is an OB/GYN in Manhattan and the author of the book Brain Storm: A Life in Pieces. She tells us about how she came to finally get diagnosed later in life and how the condition developed as a means of coping with childhood trauma.

We also talk with Dr. Richard Schwartz, a family therapist behind the notion of internal family systems (IFS). He argues that we all have multiple personalities inside us, even if we don’t dissociate when they are active. Listening to those voices and communicating with them about what they want and what they’re trying to tell you, he says, can be extremely beneficial to your mental health.

Visit Dr. Shelley Kolton's website at ShelleyKoltonMD.com. Get your copy of Brain Storm: A Life in Pieces wherever books are sold. Learn more about Dr. Richard Schwartz, his books, and Internal Family Systems by visiting the IFS website at ifs-institute.com. 

Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.

Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at [email protected].

Help is available right away.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.

International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

The Depresh Mode newsletter is available twice a week. Subscribe for free and stay up to date on the show and mental health issues. https://johnmoe.substack.com/

John's acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is available here.

Find the show on Twitter @depreshpod and Instagram @depreshpod.

John is on Twitter @johnmoe.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh