Family Members May Not Mention That They Have Seen Multiple Personality, Because They Assume That the Doctors and Therapists Already Know About It

Although friends and family often don’t know that a novelist (or other loved one) has multiple personality, sometimes they do know, but they don’t tell the doctor or therapist. Why?

There are at least seven possible reasons. First, they may mistakenly assume that the multiple personality is obvious to the doctor or therapist. Second, they may mistakenly assume that the doctor’s diagnosis—e.g., bipolar—includes the multiple personality. (Bipolar does not include multiple personality). Third, they may think of multiple personality as a common, minor, personal quirk that is not worth mentioning. Fourth, they may think of the multiple personality as too crazy and embarrassing to talk about. Fifth, they may think that the doctor or therapist would not be interested in multiple personality. Sixth, they may not be sure about the multiple personality. Seventh, they may have been told not to “interfere” with the treatment.