QUESTION:

Hi, Jan.

One of my students has a split personality named "Cooper." It is amazing to see this come out; it's scary and sad, too. He will be in counseling soon, but he is draining me emotionally. I need help in handling him, when "Cooper" appears. The doctor told me to "ignore it, and it will go away." I don't believe that. Where can I go on the Internet for help?

Thank you so much,

Eva

JAN'S REPLY:

Hi Eva,

You are right, of course. Ignoring any form of mental illness will not make it "go away." Fortunately, there is a wealth of information and support for those with this disorder and those who care about them.

"Understanding Dissociative Disorders Through Dissociative Signs and Symptoms" by Cecilia Pearson offers an overview of dissociative symptoms.

For a more thorough discussion of this disorder, see "The Spectrum of Dissociative Disorders: An Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment by Joan A. Turkus, M.D.  Dr. Turkis is the medical director of the Post-Traumatic & Dissociative Disorders Program at The Psychiatric Institute of Washington.

Other recommended sites are listed at the Divided Hearts Reading Room. Jan