Sybil: A Brilliant Hysteric? | Retro Report | The New York Times

In the 1970s, the TV movie “Sybil” introduced much of the nation to multiple personality disorder and led to a controversy that continues to shape mental health issues.
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Sybil: A Brilliant Hysteric? | Retro Report | The New York Times
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[@Yesica1993]

How sad that already troubled people are further abused/exploited by those who are supposed to be helping them.

[@oliviacadena2036]

It really is!!! Help is needed!! What's happened???

[@damiresq]

you just described my country's church and religious institution lol

[@patricialear8001]

Shirley was abused by the people writing this video.

[@Yesica1993]

@@danielrazulay Yep. I've seen it among people I know. Instead of dealing with their problems, they're told, "take a pill" as if that magically fixes personal issues, family relationships, etc. When you have the title of M.D., you're just assumed to always be right.

[@GottliebGoltz]

It does seem to happen too much.

[@vonlossberg]

I will never forget Sally Fields performance when she played her.

[@mbr8870]

oh the peoplllllle the peopllllleee

[@vonlossberg]

I know it. So sad.

[@butterfly-pf8lj]

Excellencebperformance but the little girl who played sybal stole the performance

[@Susanc06]

Christine Von Lossberg It's interesting how one that has the ability to act can play different characters and make it appear like they really are two different people. I actually for fun made a cartoon of myself and played two different characters but it was a comedy and I really thought I did a great job and even changing my voice and personality.

[@staceyezell9685]

Wish i cd see it ..luv sally great great actress

[@lala-gj4oo]

sally field is really a phenomenal actress. no one could've played sybil better.

[@peggymcmillin660]

Agreed. When she auditioned for the part, they laughed (because, after all, she was Gidget and the Flying Nun), until she started talking. They were stunned and knew immediately she was right for the part.

[@user-tp2bz7ve8r]

❤

[@ultradian]

My mother claimed she had multiple personalities just like Sybil (she showed me the book as a child). She used that as an excuse for her cocaine fueled psychosis and abuse of me. She’s just a arrogant psychopath who thinks they can get away with everything.

[@jacquiethebibliophil]

I am so sorry you had to go through that.

[@englishcountrylife3805]

I saw that film as a teenager. It really spooked me, however as an abused child myself I can understand the way someone can sink into a ‘fantasy existence’ to survive, I know I did, but I didn’t sink into other personalities. Mine was a fantasy life with fantasy cousins and aunts that loved me. I was 60 years old when I recovered after years of treatment.

[@christiemoore232]

I did the same. My fantasy family and friends were far safer than my reality yet always knew my conversations with them weren't real. It was extremely hard to stay in the current reality and hard to stop my fantasy life.

[@serene5345]

If anything, the movie exposed the horrible emotional and mental effects that sexual abuse has on a person.

[@RachelMills]

No, in all probability, Maddie (Shirley's mom) was a nice lady and a good mom. The abuse likely didn't happen, it was suggested to Shirley under the influence of pentothal, to which she became horribly addicted. The abuse came from Dr Wilbur.

[@serene5345]

@@RachelMills The movie exposes the horrible emotional and mental effects that sexual abuse has on a person, behavior that appears to be rampant these days on little children.

[@mike62mcmanus]

DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT NEEDLE? At 2:50? No wonder the guy was shaking.

[@rem2267]

Mike McGomer Yes. OMH, WTF? Horrible.

[@mike62mcmanus]

@@rem2267 Unless it's filled with cocaine, then it's ok... Lol.

[@legendarymayormarylikestur8874]

Archaic psychiatry is brutal!! They still eclectroshock autistic people :(

[@mike62mcmanus]

@American troll girl girl If a doctor pulled that out I would run like a turkey, they're fast...

[@notsosilentmajority1]

Mike McGomer Yeah man, at first I thought it was an enema. Lol. 😱

[@jessienewburn4643]

I so remember watching that movie as a young teen (14) and how much that impacted me that a parent could be so horrible to a child. And a child would have to endure such horror. Fascinating exposé.

[@irajayrosen4792]

As a retired clinician, I've always been fascinated by Disassociative Identity Disorder. I agree that the early treatment relied to heavily on suggestions from the therapist. We know better now to avoid planting false memories, especially in forensic cases.

[@raea3588]

It upset me that Debbie Nathan entitled her book Sybil Exposed. I think a much better title would have been Dr. Wilbur Exposed! Shirley Mason was a victim and with this new information many people talk as though Shirley did something wrong when she was only looking for help. There is evidence that proves Shirley Mason had an abusive childhood and that she was disturbed, that she did show signs before being treated by Dr. Wilbur of a dissociative disorder. This is different than having DID and I believe Dr. Wilbur made it worse by suggestion and Shirley, finally getting the love and attention she needed, believed every word and action of Cornelia Wilbur to be true. Wilbur wasn't just Shirley's therapist she became her mother. She was obsessed with her and turned her into who she wanted her to be. They even lived together! After living half her life in loneliness and instability is it any wonder that Shirley clung to Cornelia with dependency and without question?

[@Emmewantspeace]

Rachel A. Great comment

[@gurlgenius11]

Great comment, and well written. I agree. However, no one knew the name "Dr. Wilbur" and everyone seems to know the name "Sybil." If she really wanted to get the attention the exposure needed, she had to use the title she chose. The story about Sybil having different personalities has been accepted as fact. It's a travesty.

[@joaniekelstrup2550]

Rachel A. Yet she did not exhibit until after the psychologist gave her a book on multiple personality. The dr knew how suggestable she was. And instead of getting peer reviewed for her work, she went to a journalist friend?

[@raea3588]

Joanie Kelstrup My point is that, whether she exhibited signs before or after this was not Shirley Mason's fault. It was Cornelia Wilbur's.

[@raea3588]

gurlgenius11 Yes, you're right. I just wish Debbie Nathan wouldn't speak as though Shirley was such a willing party to this in her book and lectures because it's not as simple as that.

[@XxXShevampXxX]

Sally Fields is just an amazing actress. I love her work.

[@notsonutsomills593]

Field

[@msoda8516]

We have multiple personalities. I believe the Japanese have the best explanation of this. The Japanese say you have three faces. The first face, you show to the world. The second face, you show to your close friends, and your family. The third face, you never show anyone. It is the truest reflection of who you are.

[@foofoobear66]

I like that analogy......

[@JoeSmith-zg7in]

And the fourth face ,the one you don't show your wife.

[@Ruby321123]

That's not quite the same concept.

[@rachellynch5497]

@@JoeSmith-zg7in Lol if you're a cartoon character

[@fanaticat1]

That IS a great analogy!

[@dizzzylizard]

I have DID (currently under limited control with a team of docs). It's not separate personalities but a fractured state. Under extreme stress a shift can occur and I will have no memory of what occurred after until I'm back. I've moved 2,000 miles without a memory of having done so. That's DID. It's definitely scary but it's not actually other "personalities" and they don't have names. It's just the ability to separate oneself to an unusual level, at will or sometimes not. The separation was a protective measure against violent long term abuse. It just lingers though it's no longer necessary. Disassociation is the best way to describe it.

[@angelymorales5180]

dizzzylizard I think you did an did excellent job describing it

[@thecelticcrone7927]

dizzzylizard ...because we are similar, I'm going to be as respectful as I can possibly be. Without the Separate 'Others', it's not really DID, but DAD, that you have. Dissociative Amnesia Disorder. I Know this...only because I Do have the Others. This might be helpful to you... www.hanbleceya.com/blog/exploring-different-types-dissociative-disorders-necessity-treatment/

[@danis4898]

I know several people did. Personally I didn't like how it explained. Also a lot of people did I know get comfort out personality and don't seek integration but cohabitation. I'm sorry if this video offended u kinda of offended me

[@nechma13]

This sounds alot like dp/Dr more so as someone also commented dissociative amnesia. I have dp/Dr but the new name for mp being DID is a bit confusing

[@lesliewilliford7327]

me too!!!

[@grytlappar]

Multiple personality disorder wasn't rare before Sybil. KNOWLEDGE of it was rare.

[@raea3588]

Preach! Well said. And the movie "Sybil" shouldn't be discounted because although made back in the late 70s it still shows to this day, whether or not the story of Shirley Mason is accurate or not, that the effects of child abuse are tragic and real and can lead to Dissociative Identity Disorder!

[@raea3588]

You explained that very well! Thank you.

[@drmayeda1930]

@@raea3588 According to the book, Sybil, they found evidence to corroborate her story.

[@TheHamilton26]

It isn’t rare, cause it doesn’t exist

[@raea3588]

Educate yourself. You're surrounded by those who are living with it!

[@TS-wf2rn]

This Dr really took advantage of her client! How is it legal to expose such details about a client? What about confidentiality?

[@lilakilonen5663]

Dr. Wilbur was inappropriate, did not keep the healthy boundries you would expect a doctor to keep. I see transference and also i see betrayal bonding, and abuse of these rules to gain power. I have never sat in the arms of any of my therapists nor have they ever called me sweetie. That is just not respectful or acceptable. Under these circumstances how is it possible that Shirley would have been able to heal and fully integrate?

[@seaturtlepoppy7679]

When I was a teenager, my mother had me see her therapist ... We eventually got pretty close and he pretty much told me that he saw me as the daughter who ran off ... It was odd ...

[@cristinaflorina9538]

What's wrong with a woman calling you sweetie? Women tend to do that to show love and compassion, especially towards children. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Now I don't know if Sybil's story is true or not, I have yet to read the book. But if she really was tortured by her mother, an older woman talking compassionate to you makes you feel like you are finally safe, like this is a mother figure that you never had. Idk about you, but I see nothing wrong with that.

[@cristinaflorina9538]

@@steveb1164 Women calling men "sweetie" is harassment? My God, you're one of those people.

[@jillwerner8133]

@@steveb1164 don't think so. I agree with Christina because I had gone through childhood sexual abuse before I was 5. And on top of it my mother never believed in me or spoke to me also she never once gave me a word of affection,hugs or encouragement. So she's right to say there is nothing wrong with that. Actually mental health has gotten a helluva lot worse since the 60s and 70s. Drs now want to keep you sick for the$.

[@raea3588]

No. There's nothing wrong with that. But Dr. Wilbur took advantage of Shirley Mason by molding her into what she needed her to be as a patient and as a daughter that she never had. That's what was wrong. It wasn't to help Shirley, even though we hope in the long run maybe some of it did, it was to help the psychiatrist herself.

[@jkcliff2956]

I believe Shirley, but anyone who wants to be taken seriously shouldn't go on Jerry Springer.

[@yourrnamee1280]

I believe Shirley too. She stated, she does not have DID/MPD at all. true

[@oliviacadena2036]

Yes. Lolll. 😟😟

[@stacie7766]

His show wasn't always the insanity it is now. He actually discussed very serious topics.

[@oliviacadena2036]

@@yourrnamee1280 Are you serious.???? Well, why did they say she did then??? I don't understand. It probably (her diagnosis) affected her entire life!!! 😥😥😥🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@laurajohnson5836]

@colette s That he did...loved his show when it wasn't a joke...

[@greylady2690]

I lived with my grams when I was young, 1969 -1975. She was a multiple. There was no mistaking which personality I was dealing with it anytime. So while Sybil may or may not have been legitimate, I truly believe it is a condition that exists

[@richardtucker5686]

Great trauma (most difficult to deal with in early childhood development), can cause a person to split apart. The dissociative states are a defense mechanism to protect the prime personality.

[@karate4348]

absolutely and pain finds it's way back to the truth when health and care and love stay present.

[@sphinxrising1129]

It's hard to take DR. Wilber seriously, as for starters, instead of publishing a paper for peer review, she contacted a writer of fiction & enriched herself at her client's expense. Secondly, there has been much debate on if MPD & Hypnosis are "wish fulfilment instead of actual mental states. Lastly, it was noted that Wilber asked leading questions, which could plant false memories.

[@Chimonger1]

I agree. And that some of the acting in the movie was terrible! However, let that Not detract from the fact that mental ills, and specifically D.I.D., are real. And, that it starts from abuse. And that people make mistakes. And, parenting is a huge issue. Abuse repeats generationally...”a gift that keeps on giving”.

[@J0J02007]

And yes there were actual reports back years ago about people going to psychiatrists and then being convinced their dad sexually abused them, when they didn't. But again, that was media reporting, so was that true, and if it was true, was it just an isolated case with a bad psychiatrist or two, taking advanced of the woman. Probably, but not all psychiatrists. Just like all priests are not bad, or all coaches or all teachers or all police. A number of years ago you could get just about any certificate online and be whatever you wanted, with a degree to prove it. The media is an entertainment company and they LOVE to exaggerate on everything. If some story for the news is not entertaining enough, they add to it, give it a spin. Chop up a conversation and make it sound a different way. So don't always believe what you read, see and hear in this world. Even this entire comment. LOL

[@amrita3000]

I was listening to the tape and thinking just that. That question was " so there were two Shirlies, one 11 and one older right? " That was like feeding someone thoughts and words.This was not real.

[@oliviacadena2036]

Sad!!! 😩😩😩😩

[@bajemo359]

Sphinx Rising Maybe Dr. Wilber herself had a narcissistic personality disorder, driven by a need for recognition and $$$.

[@RaysDad]

During the time that Dr. Wilbur was living in Lexington Kentucky she diagnosed the mother of a friend of mine as having multiple personalities. The family discontinued treatment because they felt the therapy sessions were misguided. Dr. Wilbur had the reputation by then (around 1980) of an attention seeker who was always looking for another Sybil.

[@jeanettebartha8778]

I agree. My doctor was a colleague of Wilburs'. She was a God back then.

[@oliviacadena2036]

That's very interesting. Thanks for saying this here. It all seems SO strange to me!!!

[@brianarbenz1329]

I live in Louisville and I remember reading that Dr. Wilbur was teaching at the University of Kentucky at (or about) the time the TV movie aired. Her professional example shows the dangers of what might be called the "Score a Big Hit Syndrome." It goes well beyond psychiatry. When the supposedly stone age tribe called the Tasaday were "discovered" in the Philippines, their story became managed, shaped and rewritten by a lot of self-seekers to the point where it is unclear today how authentic they were.

[@RebeccaOre]

Brian Arbenz , apparently not at all, but people paid to play the roles.

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@RebeccaOre , I have read of credible evidence that the Tasaday were likely real, not just actors. Some believe they were descendants of group which fled the agricultural tribes of the coastal regions of their island around the mid 1800s. That would mean they were not stone age, but retreatists whose group history was lost.

[@candysmith8724]

This movie terrified me as a child...the mother's abuse was unbelievably cruel.

[@DavidSmith-fr1uz]

This demonstrates how easily people can be manipulated into believing something absurd. Something we all should all be keenly aware of.

[@hebneh]

Although the book "Sybil" was very influential in spreading the awareness of multiple personalities, "The Three Faces of Eve" predated it by years, being published in the 1950s. And it too was made into a film, starring Joanne Woodward as Eve, the MPD person. Notice that Joanne was then cast as the psychiatrist who treated "Sybil" in the TV film, which was an acknowledgement of her having performed as the other person in the dramatization of the similar, earlier case.

[@freddurst3212]

P

[@jeanettebartha8778]

The film is "The Three Faces of Eve".

[@gotch09]

The real Eve wasn't 'cured'. And the doctors really ripped her off. I think Eve's REAL name is Chris Sizemore.

[@raea3588]

Yes, her name was Chris Sizemore. She wrote her own book(s) I believe on her life and diagnosis. DID cannot be cured only treated and Ms. Sizemore did experience healing over many years of therapy. She eventually lived as normal and happy a life as possible. Some of her original doctors did try to take advantage of her diagnosis I believe by sensationalizing it before she was well and able to consent to publicity. Including persuading her to sign away certain rights for "The Three Faces of Eve". However, the way Ms. Sizemore comes across in interviews she is not sorry that the story of her diagnosis, the first well documented diagnosis of DID, helped so many who do have it.

[@jkcliff2956]

Joanne Woodward was incredible as Eve. She won the Oscar for that role.

[@nancycastle9027]

Regardless of what Shirley's diagnosis was, it is a tragedy that she suffered so greatly in her life. She was the victim of the political times of psychiatry. A lot does have much to do with the notion that a woman suffering from hysterics may not be truly comfortable with the maternal nature of her own personal self - specifically how it relates to societal norms. These are very old fashioned notions that often still prevail today. Shirley Mason's memory should be remembered, and she should finally rest in peace.

[@brooke1639]

So she displayed multiple personalities only AFTER the psychiatrist gave her a book on it. The psychiatrist had her own agenda, the patient played along.

[@oliviacadena2036]

Yes, terrible!!! Should've never happened!!!! 😝😝😝😝

[@susanatwood9761]

Not played along...guided/manipulated to that end.

[@debbiepotter4592]

That’s exactly what happened

[@blackwiskers3192]

Who

[@dutchray8880]

The case of Sybil was fabricated because extraordinary stories sell. The DID diagnosis is being kept alive by a few clinicians who apply it often, and recklessly. It's not a scientifically valid condition, and it is based in outdated Freudian theory. DID relies on the notion of repression, which is also not validated by scientific research. Elizabeth Loftus demonstrated how false memories can be induced by a clinician and labeled as "recovered" memories, and she took a lot of guff in doing so because the assumption of repressed memories had been fixated in the mental health community.

[@doreenmitchell7596]

I had disassociated disorder. Through years of therapy and looking through my life as a whole I was able to put the pieces back to a fragmented puzzle. Myself.

[@lostpelican1883]

i am happy for you, I hope your life is more peaceful now. Therapy is never easy.

[@marilynschneider2514]

I remember that movie. Sally Field gave a stunning performance. It was a real STOMACH ACHE movie. I will NEVER forget it!

[@mb-yn1lh]

It probably came easy for her. Sally Field has multiple personalities too.

[@cece8095]

That’s not true. No she doesn’t. Sally field is an actress, a mother and an activist. She had a rough childhood, where she experienced horrific sexual abuse by her stepfather for about ten years. Started when she was 4:/ Most abuse survivors instinctively compartmentalize different parts of their personality well, as part of survival. Everybody does it on different levels, survivor or not. But abuse survivors do it more. Everyone’s different tho. Her book explains everything. She’s a remarkable lady with a good head on her shoulders. But her sad childhood doesn’t define her. I think her family and her career does. She’s amazing. Legend. 👏🏻

[@maggiesmith856]

The doctor is Joanne Woodward, who is the actress who REALLY introduced people to the notion of multiple personalities as the title character in The Three Faces of Eve, for which she won the Oscar.

[@bellamartino730]

My sister was bi polar and erratic. She started abusing pills and would be a different person sometimes. Like not just in the way she acted but her eyes and speech would be different. It started to scare me. She would talk about hearing voices and feeling like she “clocked”. God she was so tormented in her last few months of life. She dated an abusive man on and off for about ten years which I think really fueled her psychosis. She hung herself in our apartment and my mom found her first than mty dad and I saw: the real sister I knew would never have done that!!!! Never. I really think she had so much more than bi polar and wasn’t properly diagnosed. Now I’ll never really know. My poor sister. rIP. She was a beautiful person.

[@victoriajarvis2260]

You will see her in glorious "health" when your time comes. This I know. He is All.

[@hands2phones]

I'm so sorry

[@terr777]

I saw this happen in the '90's with Munchausen by Proxy... somebody went to a conference. All of a sudden we had three parents with this extremely rare disorder.

[@Mrscreamcheeselover]

This is so sad. I have DID and seeing people try to bash it all day is really depressing.

[@artisticafflair408]

16 personalities wow I struggle with my one.

[@dominicdiamond5375]

Same 😂😂😂

[@texicanamerican9346]

😂😂😂

[@meghandarlin1050]

Facts

[@jahnavisepthyd255]

Hahahaahahha

[@Iceis_Phoenix]

She FAKED every one of them....yup she admitted it.

[@jamesjeffreypaul]

Wow! I finally got to hear an actual recorded session between Shirley Mason and Dr. Wilbur! Thank you so much!

[@johnbrowneyes7534]

James Jeffrey Paul Yeah, heard so much about the Sybil tapes, I couldn't believe there was a sample in this video. Would be interesting to hear more. Wonder how much of her story was fabricated, and why Shirley went along with it, to the point of cutting off almost everyone in her past when the book was released.

[@nik4456]

James Jeffrey Paul Same thought I had! I really want to hear a full session. I wish whoever has copies would put them online.

[@johnbrowneyes7534]

Ni N Would like to see the entire TV segment w/Wilbur & Schreiber - I find the whole story fascinating.

[@lr4439]

I know! I was so excited too. creepy but awesome :)

[@shewhoiskay1]

But why did the doctor Wilbur leave Sybil $25,000.00??

[@1956blueeyes]

I have straddled the fence over Shirley for many years. But, according the the experts who examined her artwork, the stroke techniques showed different personalities for each group of works they examined. By the time you reach high school, you have your own unique long-hand signature. Her work showed multiple unique drawing and painting techniques where there should have only been one. Unless she was an accomplished master forger, what she did with her artwork is supposed to be impossible.

[@FOLIPE]

This shows that the problem with psychology is that humans are reflexive animals, and we can and do adapt to fit what the other person expects from us. Not only do we change ourselves to meet other's expectations but someone's eyes is inclined to see what they are looking for even when it isn't there... So we have to be very careful with those things...

[@krazyoldkatlady192]

Thank God! That something has been done about psychologist asking blatantly leading questions like the ones Dr. Wilbur asked.

[@SamLyn]

My good friend suffered from DID but, yeah, it wasn’t like MPD. She would black out and lose time, forgetting entire conversations. But she didn’t seem like a different person or anything. And she actually did experience trauma in her childhood that might have caused something like that to re-emerge during adult stresses. Fortunately, she only ended up on one medication: lexapro to treat depression.

[@drmayeda1930]

Interesting. That's why Shirley mason went looking for medical help.

[@ThinkOfAwesomeName]

Ok so MPD was renamed as DID in the 90s and since then the diagnosis and treatment is better. You haft to keep in mind that part of the reason why she didn't seem like a different person is because DID is a defence mechanism. When I switch you can barely tell the difference unless I let a person know or you can tell the subtle differences in body language but you haft to really be looking. That goes for most people with the disorder.

[@HolyHeinz]

The relationship, patient and psychiatrist is very special and fragile. Closeness and distance, especially when it comes to the diagnosis, a therapist's own agenda is completely counterproductive! Greetings from Germany 🧡🧡🧡

[@TheAskesis1]

Long before Sybil was a movie with Joanne Woodward called THE THREE FACES OF EVE which was heartbreaking and scary in the 1957. Her name was Christine Sizemore , diagnosis of multiple personality disorder , based on her true story

[@kathleenmagee228]

Watched this movie Sybil when I was a child. Scared me whitless.

[@shadrach6299]

Kathleen Magee Scared me shitless!

[@gailstovall17]

Kathleen Magee what I can remember of it. Lol

[@camdelsol365]

It really affected me watching Sybil as a child. It exposed me to the fear and loneliness of an abused or neglected child and the helplessness of the situation. Neighbours and relatives may entertain suspicions but do nothing about it. It made me realize just how vulnerable children are and as a child myself it was scary to discover that adults were not all good people. Rather like the horror and disbelief when you learn about the Holocaust or war atrocities and realize that people witnessed these things and just carried on their lives as though everything was fine.

[@allthingsharbor]

I watched it, too. When the movie was over, I told my mother that I think one of my classmates has this disease. I learned decades later that this classmate was sexually abused by a much older half brother.

[@trekgirl65]

@Kathleen Magee witless*

[@1060michaelg]

That dim-witted poor soul at the beginning; "The Dr. asked me how I was feeling and I said 'I just feel like a boy'. And the Dr. asked, 'What's you're name?' And I just said the first name that popped into my head..." Wow, this lady could have stopped that charade at the start. i had a traumatic childhood that was like the one described (fictional or not) in SYBIL..while I never came close to being a "multiple", I do believe, no, I KNOW that my personality was (55 now) and still is partially fractured. I think there are more people suffering with this, I think it would be better to label it a form of PTSD.

[@alansmithee4150]

Oh good lord, for a second I thought you ment you have 55 personalities! Lol, I was guna have to fight you or something. Oi, *sorry*😶... that's *not* what you were saying, lol. Sure though, you're probably right. PTSD sounds plausible. Of course, what the heck do *I* even know 🤓

[@1060michaelg]

Alan Smithee LOL-- 55, THAT would be a lot of plate spinning, eh? Yes, what do any of us really know? Life is just one big improv, innit? Take care!

[@taticatnineland]

1060michaelg Brilliant comment, very insightful. True, that one woman (and Shirley, and all the others who have agreed with the MPD/DID diagnosis) *should* have put the brakes on from the beginning, but mentally ill people, especially victims of horrific abuse, frequently do not have the inner strength and resources to say to a figure of authenticity that they are wrong. Distorted ideas of the role and reach of 'authority' is expected, really; it's supposed to be the therapist's duty to not take advantage of injured people, and many therapists have failed in their duties because of their own weak minds, greed, peer pressure, and so on. And I'm inclined to agree with you that, had this all been dealt with appropriately from the outset, we'd likely have a different, more accurate definition of PTSD, cPTSD, and so on. As it is, many therapists and most Americans have a confused idea of what mental illness is, and a muddied understanding of the difference between psychiatric and psychological disorders (and their respective tools and implications). I'm happy that you are making sense of what has happened to you without falling for the showy nonsense.

[@taticatnineland]

*authority, sorry

[@1060michaelg]

Taticat NineLand Thanks for your awesome comment...beautifully stated and well informed!

[@robynsegg]

My Mom has this book. 📕 I remember being intrigued by the cover as a kid. Once I became and an adult, I came across her book again and read it from cover to cover. A few years ago, I saw the movie 🎥. Such a fascinating subject. I hope the real Syble found peace at last.

[@pheart2381]

A man wouldnt be described as hysterical.

[@miguelgomes2555]

Well hysteria, as a psychiatric disorder, isn't really a thing nowadays. Now it usually falls under other diagnosis. However, on Freuds time, when hysterics was a common diagnosis, there were some male cases even though the diagnosis of females was much more frequent. Read his Studies on Hysteria for more information.

[@kerrytopel9835]

P Heart I know some men given to hysteria

[@kerrytopel9835]

Smarter Than You well I guess you are smarter than me

[@zoeobua1908]

P Heart riiiiiight?

[@wendyleeconnelly2939]

it could happen. men are sometimes described as hysterical. just not as often

[@nursegrace7492]

11:27 The fact that Dr. Spiegel diagnosed Mason as a "hysteric" (a term applied to (supposedly) immature women who wouldn't accept their maternal role, and had displaced wombs) shows he's no psychiatric genius, himself.

[@2degucitas]

agreed

[@DeladisKythera]

I agree, that was very sexist and out moded

[@kathleenmagee228]

Nurse Grace

[@jacquevino9664]

This made, by doctors. what a shame! ice hockey

[@KB4QAA]

NG: You are inferring far too much into a single word. Dr. Speigel never claimed any of what you said. Don't try to drag old psych interpretations into the discussion. Go read what Dr. Speigel wrote about her and his experiences and problems with Dr. Wilbur.

[@PeteWatts48]

I've read Sybil, and in it Schreiber reports that Mason said "Every feeling in the book is true" - by implication,that suggests there are things in it that aren't.

[@missolesoul]

When I feel overwhelmed sometimes, the part in the movie when she says, "The people, the people, the people", runs through my brain, because I feel like I know exactly what she meant at that moment.

[@holypicklesmofo]

I shadowed a clinical psychologist and saw a woman write separate paragraphs with each of her hands in different yet perfect handwriting while carrying on a conversation as usual and practically not realizing she was writing, not even looking down. She originally had been referred when she had moved across the country and lost touch with her family, then moving back months later completely confused and scared. I do think DID is perhaps too publicized and overdiagnosed, but I now certainly believe it exists.

[@LyricalXilence]

So Shirley reads a book on multiple personality disorder and all of a sudden Peggy appears?

[@TJaidan]

that's what I thought the entire time listening to this. it would make more sense not to introduce her to the disorder you want her to have because you're obsessed with the disorder. this seems... manipulative. not saying "sybil" didn't have psychological issues. just... I don't think she had DID.

[@eartianwerewolf]

Yeah she had other mental health issues.

[@danis4898]

People with multiple personalities disorder aren't aware of them until they realize what happening. I had friend who had seizure because of it and finally when the doctor explain what happening they were able to understand. They're not really happy with all their personalities and a quit a nice group of people to talk to and they doing really well.

[@msarie0543]

Exactly sort of makes you wonder. I highly doubt someone could have all these personalities and be a college student. Hypnosis is questionable too. Made a great movie though

[@rosannalantigua5769]

Msarie 05 completely agree

[@itsamadmadworld4728]

It was the abuse. The horrific abuse. This woman could of had a good life if the doctor who was treating her for bladder infections had jailed her evil mother.

[@ziziscorsese9475]

I think a lot of shrinks need to go for help.

[@edvaughn5389]

Zizi Scorsese agree

[@peggysullivan5396]

Zizi Scorsese lol

[@michellebranch7972]

When I studied mental health (mh) the instructor told that there are many providers in the mh community who have mental illness theirselves.

[@kat8434]

The majority go into the profession to figure out what is wrong with themselves

[@lizabellastephenson7182]

I was diagnosed with MPD years ago because I suffered from Disassociation. But I was never MPD and I knew that. Which goes to prove that Doctors can make egregious errors in judgment. I learned to disassociate as a child to get away from a bad childhood. I still do it today but much less frequently and have learned to face the reality of most situations. When I do disassociate, I just become completely numb of feeling and physicality and sit, sometimes for hours.

[@dhucke4assembly]

This is very interesting....and it was great to finally hear part of an actual session between Mason and Wilbur.

[@stinkycatz]

I remember seeing this in the 70"s . It freaked my little mind out something seriously .

[@sandrajeanne6132]

Fascinating. Sally Fields was amazing as Sybil, & it was a frightening glimpse @ mental Illness and extreme trauma from child abuse. But, equally disturbing, that the Doctor and reporter who wrote Sybil, had such an impact on mental health and turned the story into a "for Profit" book & TV Minnie series. Ironically, sadly one of my sister's schizophrenia would manifest, & I cannot tell you how many people confuse it with MPD. I have experienced my own traumas, including verbal and physical abuse from that sister, for which I got treatment for, & have gone on to study & research, & recover from PTSD.

[@pamelacoston1142]

My father. I also screamed no. My mom came and rescued me from that crazy man. I'm 64 now.

[@paulornelas2991]

I worked as a caregiver. One of our consumers loved Dr. Pepper, one day he drank to much and threw up. So they diagnosed him Bulemic. Even though he loved to eat and was about 200+ pounds.

[@kateh6706]

To be clear, many patients with eating disorders are overweight and bulimia presents as overeating followed by purging.

[@clairegibbons7805]

Sally Field is far and away the best actress of our time. Se was brilliant in this film and so many others. Team Sally! And where is her lifetime achievement award already????

[@artsyfartsy8899]

You are so right!

[@barbaraarnold5584]

True that!

[@debravan1167]

What time? In the 70’s. It’s the new millennium boomer.

[@mrs.thomas-usmcwife5686]

Sybil was a horrifyingly wonderful movie! One of Sally Field's best. Your heart breaks at the end while you are angry at the outcome.

[@patriciasloan5122]

I think it's interesting to note that Joanne Woodward played in the movie the three faces of Eve and also as Sybil's doctor.

[@emahansen5315]

Did a very interesting study into DID and concluded that while people definitely can disassociate, it's far less radical than how it is portrayed in the media. These people are usually highly fragile and suggestible, and after poor therapy can believe false memories or even pushed to believe there separate behaviours are different identities. Basically how you treat a mental disorder has changed a lot since the 1970s, we know not to push concepts onto patients. For example in India, people who believe they have DID change identity after sleep, but in the US it's random. Very susceptible to social influence.

[@NB-wu7zo]

Ema Hansen People in the DID community can tell when someone hasn't done all their homework. You use the term dissAssociate. There is no A in the middle of dissociate. It's Dissociative Identity Disorder. Don't feel bad, people who are mental health professional's make the same mistake. At least you know enough not to call it multiple personalities. Compared to those who deny the existence of the disorder, you're quite a few steps ahead. Study more and you can start to dispel the myths about therapist induced traumatic memories being implanted. Very few therapist's treat the disorder after the false memory scares of the past. Those still willing to work with DID are very careful to follow treatment guidelines for the most part. Not that bad eggs aren't still around, but ask people with DID and most will tell you the therapist had nothing to do with planting traumatic memories. My therapist rarely let's me talk about the traumas in the past yet. That can be year's down the road in therapy if you follow the ISSTD treatment guidelines. If you don't know what ISSTD stands for, you have some more homework to do. There are studies you can read, but not many. Not a lot of research has been done because of a lack of funding. But do some deeper research and you'll find the iotrogenic myth has been dispelled. Just don't tell the people that still believe in the false memory syndrome. They're on a weird witch hunt to disprove the fact that young children are being abused. Makes you wonder about the reason why? I don't comment on their content. I appeal only to those with open minds to do further study. Your mind is open so I hope you'll go to the ISSTD and do further studying. It's a good website.

[@PB-ff9tj]

Totally this I remembered the abuse and even found proof of it outside of therapy I only talked about it in therapy. I never call myself different names I just space out and it feels like looking through someone else's eyes and afterwards I don't remember anything. Sure I heard names in my head but I don't know about them and they don't "switch" out... It is not as histrionic it is more like PTSD gone wild... I am pretty sure it is wayyy overdiagnosed but I don't care!

[@jeanettebartha8778]

The "iatrogenic myth" you speak of is probably the only real aspect of this "disorder".

[@Cristozen1]

You "did a very interesting study" and now you're an expert? DID exists on a spectrum with those severely affected and those who are able to maintain a semblance of normality. No one has to convince a person who truly has DID that something is wrong. They are already struggling and oftentimes very frightened. I have been diagnosed with DID. I am highly intelligent (a characteristic of DID sufferers) as evidenced by my writing and communication skills and I am very strong-willed. I am not fragile nor suggestible. I'm a survivor of on-going early childhood sexual abuse and violence that began before the age of 4. Read the manual on mental health diagnoses for Pete's sake! Therapy has been very helpful for me, but I suffered prolonged symptoms while I was being treated by a psychiatrist who refused to believe that DID was real. I now see a trauma-informed therapist who has at least eased my feeling of isolation at suffering from a malady that for some reason is so controversial. It's a thing. Deal with it. My God, it's bad enough that we have been victimized by our own parents as small children, but then having to listen to this arrogant crap is just too much! DID is the most extreme form of ptsd. It is the result of extreme early childhood trauma and is the mind's way of allowing children to escape the unthinkable. You are not an expert. You seem incapable of realizing that people with DID are suffering. We are people. Not some fictional show you enjoy on television. This entire conversation disgusts me.

[@annab6726]

I realize this is off-topic but who adivsed the two psychiatrists appearing on the Cavett show to wear those outfits?? Good god, talk about not being able to take them seriously...

[@ArchieLovesMe]

The tape on the woman's chest and shoulder was the icing on the cake of hideousness.

[@engleharddinglefester4285]

They probably just wanted to look nice and overdid it.

[@megapookie762]

@@ArchieLovesMe THANK UUUUUUU....WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE CAUGHT THIS...😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@rebradroot]

Anna B The more vocal guest was the co-author of the book Sybil, not a psychiatrist.

[@ginad5618]

Anna B lol! I came looking specifically for this comment! 😂 That ball gown though!

[@Figgatella]

I suffered from long term abuse and as a result I was a poor student in school because I was always daydreaming and it was difficult for me to focus. I still have problems because when I’m doing something I can completely zone out and not remember things. I know most people can do this but mine really interferes with my life. It’s like driving somewhere, your brain takes you but you don’t know why you ended there with no memory of getting there. No, I do not have Alzheimer’s. I’ve been in therapy for years.

[@rachelrosen5501]

"are you with me?" "Hahahaha....NO"

[@phototristan]

I hate psychologists to this day because when I was a kid I had a child psychologist who was trying to coax me into talking about if I ever touched myself and stuff like that.

[@KealaniAlexandra]

"Sometimes the media is the brilliant hysteric in the mix." Oh my, were truer words ever so casually spoken?!

[@amishbull6544]

Amazing the damage that occurs when the ones who are suppose to love you the most betray that love.

[@yukowade4495]

I read this book too young, it scared tf out of me. I wasn’t brave enough to watch the movie till I was 20

[@user-kk2pc7ik7t]

Being intelligent is not the same as having an easy life. I suppose being extremely good at something can help make it easier to have different challenges, but to say that being extremely intelligent is the same as having an easy life, is like saying rich people dont have it bad(and you can, in spite of being rich).

[@GlowandLuna]

as an "intellegent" women myself i can tell you life is not always easy. I think that intellegent people think more deeply wich would lead to unhappiness and depression

[@aprilwest9852]

M so true!!!

[@aprilwest9852]

Torie Paige thinking to deeply can be done by people with no education.

[@exeuroweenie]

You're very right.The higher IQ and (sometimes) wealthier people I know are often the least happy.I have to admit I'm from a fairly brainy upper middle class background.I'm hardly boasting about it.It can make living easier materially,but that's the extent of it.

[@happypickle244]

Torie Paige. You're "Intelligent", yet you can't spell it. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[@marigeobrien]

One of the key aspects of Sybil's particular case that was included in the book but not in the movie, was the fact that Mason had no memory of the time when these other "personalities" took over. This was not discovered during hypnosis sessions. It was one reason she went to a psychiatrist to begin with-- because she kept losing time. She'd "wake up" on a bus and have no idea where she was going, what she was doing. She would go days without remembering anything. It turned out another personality had taken over. But this was discovered during regular sessions, when the personalities revealed themselves, not during hypnosis. In fact, the only thing covered in the hypnosis sessions were early traumatic memories. It seems to me other doctors, anxious to find their own "MPD" patient afterwards, might have influenced their patients, coaching them and misdiagnosing them. For instance, by putting them under hypnosis (with or without drug therapy) but I know Dr. Wilbur didn't. Lumping Sybil together with many dubious cases and saying none of them were real is as over zealous and misleading as diagnosing everyone as having MPD. It is rare, but it does happen. But, as with any condition, there are key symptoms that must be part of it to be a verifiable case. I believe Sybil's was.

[@marie-helenemartel7147]

I love this retro report series. Nice job NYT

[@StopXPlease]

I have a friend who's struggling with DID, and watching this made me realize the horrors of the way I used to view it. I'm glad I informed myself.

[@missyrogers7098]

"Sometimes the media is the brilliant hysteric" - brought to you by The New York Times

[@Stevez61]

Sometimes it is. And these days, it's the president who's the moronic hysteric.

[@lars1296]

Stevez61 No it’s still the media

[@andyanderson6522]

#irony

[@andyanderson6522]

@@candyjohnson3302 wow what a lovely person you are, name calling and stereotyping. Eat a big one.

[@sumego4180]

Frank Quitely What? 90 million welfare recipients, $400,000,000 in different currencies sent covertly at night to our proclaimed enemy, spying on Americans, taxed us to the slowest economic GDP growth in our history, all on top of his ineptitude. He was a train wreck and I thank God that America was strong enough to survive it. It was miserable.

[@Serai3]

As an aside FYI, most people don't know that "Sybil" was made into another movie for HBO. It never played in the US but aired in Australia. Very good version, with a bookend that introduced the viewer to Mason's paintings and explained who she was. Jessica Lange played Dr. Wilbur. Worth seeking out.

[@merricat3025]

Serai3 I think it did are in the United States too. Sounds familiar

[@Serai3]

Oh, didn't know that! I tried to look up airdates but could only find references to it airing in Australia.

[@seaturtlepoppy7679]

Sweet - thanks!!

[@hallieharker4384]

I live in the United States and I've seen it. The whole movie was uploaded to KZbin at one point, just in segments of about 10 minutes each. In some ways, it's scarier than the 1976 version!

[@lunarmartian3840]

I watched it in Australia back in 2008. It was one of those random movies on cable tv i watched out of boredom but it always stuck with me. Great movie

[@msgasmdc107]

My ex has DID. It was strange to deal with. Hard to believe at first. Paired with a whole cocktail of other mental health problems brought on by horrifying childhood trauma.

[@robertandjulie]

I can never forget Sybil. She was a topic during our Psychology class.

[@ampleoloruntogbe1434]

I’m always fascinated with learning abt DID and watching people who have it. It’s so sad they all experienced severe trauma as children which leads to them developing multiple personalities. The human brain is full of wonders.

[@brandieblank5822]

DID is nothing like all of this mess. As a child I dissociated frequently. An example: 6th grade....I zoned out for hours. Like I wasn’t there. Snapped back...drool covered my desk. I screamed “Who drooled all over my desk?” I was terrified. The girl next to me said “you did”. There weren’t other people inside of me. No names etc. I’d just...go elsewhere. I have complex ptsd and had an extremely traumatic childhood.

[@D_skeptic]

Brandie, what you are describing sounds more like dissociative amnesia than it does dissociative identity disorder.

[@freddurst3212]

B

[@dianeschmidt409]

Brandie Blank could have been absence seizures associated as less severe than an epileptic seizure but a form of it.

[@jeanettebartha8778]

Everyone dissociates. It's creating alter personalities and fractured personalities that turn treatment into a witch hunt for events that never happened in the first place.

[@tdelbruegge]

yep, daydreaming is a form of dissociation...moments of forgetfulness too (like when you know you are going someplace that means you have to make a left but you make a right out of what you dismiss as a habit).

[@mackthnife3]

I met Bennett Braun when I finished grad school in 1980....he and his colleagues really went nuts with hypnotic meds, had his own unit and had the multi hospitalist approach to treatment and demolishing insurance coverage .

[@stephenbaker3284]

I would often ask my ex wife what personality am I talking to, and every time a violent woman personality would emerge. Very sad.

[@jeannichols2459]

ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lmao.

[@moladhdodhia1580]

Joanne Woodward did such a good job in the movie The 3 faces of Eve playing the patient and then plays the Doctor in Sybil.

[@jcjcc1960]

Joanne Woodward did not play the doctor in Sybil

[@jcjcc1960]

Yes she did... She is an amazing actress so is Sally Field

[@melissasmith3820]

Just like Patty Duke played Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker then later played her teacher Annie in a remake of the movie.

[@CutestDogSisters]

Look if schizophrenics can distinctly hear different voices then we don't know what the human brain can do...you cannot just dismiss multiple personality disorder.

[@DenverDeathrock]

Schizophrenia is very biological. Multiple personalities seem to be more psychologically caused; you're not born with Multiple Personalities. Children's behavior can often be an indicator of future psychotic issues.

[@Chimonger1]

People are not born with schizo. They’re not born with bipolar, etc. They develop it. Sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly. Relatively few ills are hard-wired genetic...those show in the fetus, or immediately at birth or shortly after birth. Most ills that develop, are a combo of genetic weak points + learned behaviors + environmental factors, etc. Biological function absolutely is part of psychological function, of experiential function. Trying to separate those away from each other, is dysfunctional! What we experience, 24/7/365, can and does affect our biology, which can and does affect our psychology, and vice versa. One of the most badly mistaken models in medicine, is that a single-element is the only cure, and/or, that one body system can be segregated from other body systems and treated without doing anything for the other systems, and, that cookie-cutter medicine works for everyone. Everything is connected; when one system has an injury or illness, that affects the others. The really hard issue, is determining What the Root Causes of some illness really are; of getting as close as possible to really treating the root causes. Germs are not a root cause, for instance...germs cannot trigger illness unless the body’ defenses are faulty. Schizophrenia, depression might appear to be caused by neurotransmitter imbalance, if we stop looking more deeply..but...what caused that? And, why has medicine clung obstinately to refusing to allow or believe that what we eat, Matters, that nutritional repletion, Matters? (And a laundry list of other weird attitudes).

[@MaddyBlackbart]

Yeah but TBF the difference here is that people who develop MPD (That I've heard of or seen studies of) don't have any family history of it generally speaking. People who develop schiz or depression, for instance, can and do have long traceable family histories of it. Not only that but a child of a schizophrenic is significantly more like to also have schizophrenia when compared to that of the average population. So these illnesses can and ARE biologically based and not just environmental. Not to say that MPD couldn't be real I'm just stating that schiz as an example can be genetic and not triggered by truama persay.

[@Chimonger1]

Emily H , Kinda what I said...genetic weakness towards something, can cause it to show-up in repeating generations...Then, that is hard to tease-out, because, how much is from genetics, and how much is from triggers/poor early childhood, like abuse/neglect? IF/When other triggers push it to manifest; IF those triggers don't happen, the ill tends to not show up. Genetic factors can be scant, or can be very significant..there's a range. So, some with little genetic propensity, may not show Schizo until they are in their 20's, for instance...but someone with a larger component of genetic weakness towards it, might show signs of Schizo in early childhood. Increasing numbers of Psych Docs are starting to understand, there is a rather large "emotional/spiritual distress" component that seems to be a major trigger to manifest mental ills...not just MPD/DID, but also Bipolar, Schizo, etc. HOW ills repeat in generations of same family [remember... abuse/neglect is a "gift that keeps on giving, repeating generationally. Abuse/neglect triggers emotional/spiritual distress. AND, families tend to repeat generationally, what they choose to eat and drink...nutrition absolutely makes a difference...poor nutritional repletion, is itself a trigger for mental ills...can cause them to start, make them worse...and, done right, can help heal them. Hard part is, though, few Docs test for nutritional deficiencies, and even less try using nutritional helps. And, there is the "Learned behavior" component...Kids LEARN how to mimic their caregivers...it seems "normal" behavior to them, and, they become unwitting victims of others [not family] dysfunctional behaviors, over their lifetimes, unless and until they figure this out, and try to change how they interact with people to more functional patterns. One classic pairing, is the Substance Abuser and a Co-Dependent.

[@karenshaub8273]

No one is dismissing schizophrenia. We're dismissing demonic possession. The human body is basically plumbing and wiring with some architecture to hold it together. It seems logical that there could be wiring problems between the 2 hemispheres of the brain that could lead to multiples. Have you ever seen the phantom hand syndrome that results when the 2 hemispheres are separated to help control very frequent epileptic seizures? If one hand could do things without it's owners knowledge, why not complete or partial personalities? Just a thought.

[@TheKazadoodle]

Ah the 80s, when satanic panic meets false memories meets multiple personality disorder (as it was then known) - what an era for setting back the psychiatric profession.

[@8rr725]

lmao Please. Now they just believe that children's probable homosexuality or typical childhood role playing means they're trans and need puberty blockers. I'd say so far this decade is way worse for that reason alone. MPD was known well before the 80s. The only thing that was different about that era was the satanic panic. They probably just stole the idea from heavy metal. lol Most Psychiatrists are nothing but drug dealers anyway. And you're lucky if you find a really good therapist. The whole industry is bs in a lot of ways.

[@janedoe6704]

After insulin comas, shock therapy, lobotomies, and a long history of asylum horror stories (not all of them were bad) it wasn't really setting anything back if anything it wasn't as bad as their past.

[@TheKazadoodle]

@@janedoe6704 They were setting back because they knew better. And there were plenty of asylum horrors still going on in the 80s - far too many, in fact, considering the past. On a side note, shock therapy has back as it's proven to work in some cases. Not in the same manner, of course, but the basic idea apparently was valid.

[@catherinerosner970]

I was a junior in HS in 1976 and watched this movie in my psychology class. It was scary and fascinating at the same time. We were astounded and talked about mental health issues which was something people didn't much do back then.

[@nancymcmonarch]

It's disturbing that anyone would show an ABC Movie of the Week as some kind of an educational film in a psychology class.

[@MaliceMouse]

My mother is one of the rare people to be diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, so it does exist. It is controversial, but not a diagnosis handed down without a great deal of thought.

[@Cristozen1]

Thank you for your comment. I too have suffered with DID and am much better but only after years of therapy and hard work. Hope your mom is doing okay.

[@jodynerhoodedwards8572]

I actually met the woman (I don’t recall her real name) that “All About Eve” was based on. All I’ve got to say she came across as very authentic and believable. For example, becoming an alter who didn’t drive while driving (lol). I’m a retired Advanced Practice RN and despite my skepticism I believed her.

[@JPMJPM]

Was this in Georgia?

[@maggiesmith856]

It's The Three Faces of Eve, not All About Eve.

[@melanietoth1376]

I have DID. I dont have distinct identities but I've lost time due to trauma even as an adult. Its managed now and I'm not worried about it. I definitely had personality during those times that I dont recall but I dont have multiple personalities. I actually now live in a state 2,000 miles from home and I dont recall how I got here but I have pictures and people who remember for me. I got better here and I haven't had a DID episode in over a decade. ♡

[@melanietoth1376]

I was horribly abused as a child. I'm a survivor. Sometimes, if something very traumatic occurs, I have disassociated but I'm still me. I just occasionally lose time...because I "leave" when something is horrible. I'm on three meds now and not very high doses. Its helped and so has maturing. Theres hope

[@maryland8532]

When I watched "The Three Faces of Eve," I wanted to help Joann Woodward's character. Excellent acting. Love the fact that I went to the same high school Joann did, Greenville High School in upper state South Carolina. I only attended to achieve my GED but it was long enough to realize the original wood floors were there and they creaked with history!

[@evelynraymond]

Sybil may have had more personalities but I still remember the movie The Three faces of Eve with Joanne Woodward introducing the idea of multiple personalities back in 1957

[@purplebutterflies6824]

I saw both of those movies when I was a little girl.

[@tureadumonceau1897]

I read the Reader's Digest version of The Three Faces of Eve when I was in grade 3 or 4! It was my introduction to multiple personalities

[@yonnualynch6647]

I remember watching the movie Sybil in high school and this movie has stuck with me and I don’t ever think I’ll forget it

[@gwhiz5109]

My father was horribly abused by his stepmother after losing his mother in China during a small pox pandemic at the age of 5. Long before I heard of multiple personality disorder I understood him to switch - I saw it as Dr. Jeckle & Mr. Hyde, and once to a small child. This was not an act. Being aware he had 3 or 4 personalities, I was able to navigate the confusion of my childhood. After a near death experience he seemed to “integrate”, announcing he changed his name which he used until his death at 102. Being integrated didn’t mean all was well. He still had unresolved issues such as BPD and was a classic communal narcissist.

[@TinTin-gq8tv]

Wow, so obvious this patient was led into being Sybil and her 16 characters. Leading questions under hypnosis, creating false memories, and the subliminal suggestions such as reading the book about multiple personalities before actually exhibiting any of her own. Sheesh.

[@KimSearch865]

I have so little confidence in modern western medicine. The brain is so complex and we have no idea what it’s capable of yet. It took Drs 10 yrs to diagnose me with fibromyalgia. Of course their plan was to medicate me. I was blessed to find a Dr that thought out of the box. And, helped me realize my body was in pain because I was in emotional overload. Fibromyalgia has nothing to do with overactive nerves! I’m an emotional empath and was taking on everyone else’s pain, anxiety, excitement, sadness etc.. . I over empathize with people. But just like with multiple personality disorder, no one had heard of it in ‘06. Today, I see so many women saying they have it. And they’re being drugged instead of being helped. I read Sybil & saw the movie when I was 13. It had a huge impact on me and I’ll never forget it. So, because Shirley Mason’s psychiatrist manipulated her, she believed she had MPD, and lived that way. She also seemed to “inter-grate her personalities,” and go on to live a more productive life. That’s what was portrayed in the book anyway. She ended up living with her Dr., who became her mother figure. Which seems to me what Shirley needed most. So, we look back at that time period and think all the Drs were crazy and didn’t know anything. Yet, we think our Drs know everything today? Well maybe they think that. In 20 yrs., what’s being done now will look just as barbaric.

[@ronricherson6685]

I have DID. In 1995, I had a massive breakdown and "woke up" in my car behind the wheel at a stop sign with my foot on the brake. The car was running and it scared the living daylights out of me. The disorientation and fear was horrifying. From that day forward, I lost all concept of who I was. I saw 12 doctors and therapists over 3 years who could not explain my symptoms. Number 13, my 3rd psychiatrist, diagnosed me. Unfortunately, he really did not know how to treat it, because DID is not taught and many psychiatrists STILL reject it as a disorder. Why? Because there are no DRUGS to treat it--and most psychiatrist just dispense pills and then you see them just to see if the drugs help you "feel better" and that the side effects aren't so bad. With no drug, and no desire to really work with someone suffering, DID gets marginalized. Some people think it's something someone does for attention. I lost my marriage to a woman I loved, my kids, my home, my ability to to work and 99% of all my friends and suffered alone. Why on earth would I have done all that for "attention?" I spend 99% of my time alone because going out and the danger of being triggered and switching is difficult. Why do I have DID? DID is caused by trauma. I was sexually abused by my father and later by my mother as soon as I entered puberty. My father physicall abused me. He broke my neck and I have had 2 operations to fix this. He banged my head into the wall. My neck was so mangled, my spine was pressing up against my spinal cord and cutting off circulation to my arms. I had shoulder surgery as well because he used to "jerk" my up by the arm. It got so bad for that for over a year, I could not lift my arm. "We" don't take care of ourselves--i suffered with this physical pain and trauma or years before getting real help about 5 years ago. I've been broke, homeless and lonely for over 20 years. DID is not fake. I have about 20 parts, 12 of which are most prevalent. DID DOES NOT LOOK THE SAME ON EVERYONE, because we are all different, suffered different trauma that began at different ages, that lasted for different lengths of time. However, my perception is that people with DID tend to be intelligent, sensitive, creative and we are not able to handle violence and abuse because of that nature. DID--dissociating--allows one to escape within our mind as a solution when there is no escape otherwise. I did not want this! I was an outgoing person and had a good job, good family, good home, good neighborhood and a beautiful city to live in. I've been waiting over 5 years for social security disability. It's now in federal court. Why? Because they have denied me based on "depression!" The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest mental health entity in the world with a $1.5 BILLION annual budget. Try to find something about DID there. It's not. THESE are all reasons why DID is considered the most isolating of all mental disorder--and why you don't see and hear it. Those who go on TV or make KZbin videos about it with a "look at me!" persona may be fake. It's embarrassing for me to switch to a younger part or an angry part when triggered. Someone reading this may say, "Wow, you sound intelligent, articulate and mentally stable to me!" That's another reason we hide. You probably don't find yourself on the other side of town or a place you've never been and wonder how you got there or why you are even in your car, or suddenly "switch." My name is Ron, but Frederick is here too, doing most of the writing. I don't want to say this much--but perhaps he believes these things need to be said. Does this sound odd? Or "impossible?" So does driving without my glasses when a younger part takes over and doesn't need them. Yes...that happens; and I've heard that from others with DID too. OK, let's stop here please. No one will read all this anyway!

[@FallingGalaxy]

I think consciousness is SO complicated that science hasn't yet caught up. I don't think it's JUST that they don't have drugs to treat it (I'm not ruling that out as a reason people would not be interested in diagnosing it and officially recognizing it, I'm just saying they couldn't ignore it for long if there was scientific evidence backing it up) but one day we'll get there and people will be validated. There are so many different things going on, people can black out from other issues as well. My ADHD alone has me forgetting important things even when I've been conscious of them all along, they slip out of my conscious stream of thought even if they're very significant. And other people don't have DID but do have traumas that have caused them to not remember things in their lives, I've seen it. So I do think one day it'll be cleared up once science catches up and understands the body/brain better. Good luck to you. I can't imagine how terrifying and frustrating this much be for you.

[@ronricherson6685]

@@FallingGalaxy Thanks for all of that. Sorry about your troubles too! The symptoms I experience are vast and complicated--and it is hard for people to believe it. Western thought wants rational answers "empirical evidence." Well, I'm not a scientist and can't explain--and therefore, if i can't explain it, "it must not be real." Your screen name prompts something: about 100 years ago, science thought there was only one galaxy, then a handful and now they know there are BILLIONS. What will the next 100 years reveal?

[@YHWH101]

Sorry to hear this. Did you get some help?

[@ronricherson6685]

Thank you. If you read my entire account, I'm impressed. To answer your question, I've had about 13 years of therapy, half of which was focused on "anxiety and depression." I did find a therapist in 2015 who has been trained in DID. I was a tough case. LOL. His emphasis was on going back to bad memories and essentially learning how to let them go. It takes a lot of time. But also, I've just finished writing a book based on my own research and experience and employs the creativity God gave me. I could say more, but in a nutshell, I've come a long way and am doing much better.

[@bluewaters3100]

What a horrible childhood. I can't believe you aren't able to get SSI with all your symptoms That is criminal. I hope you find a real friend soon. You need someone out here in the world to advocate for you and just be a friend. Many blessings and may you find some love and peace.

[@BreezerBeej]

I have a report on this book during my freshman year. Fascinating storytelling.

[@beckylieb2637]

These Psychiatrists made these people ill, coaching them into psychosis

[@melthomas6519]

Becky Lieb you were born in the 90s right? Either that or you’re brain dead or both

[@oliviacadena2036]

😨😨😨 It's very shameful to do this!!!! Lord Jesus help us all!!

[@melissasmith3820]

They were already ill. Their doctors manipulated and exploited them.

[@ambriellemason5925]

That's what they still do to this day

[@ambriellemason5925]

@@melthomas6519 Stfu

[@camillepotter9580]

I read the book. It was very detailed and fascinating, and very much from a caring position that I remember, from the therapist. It seems very hard to believe the whole thing was made up, and I really loved the idea of the Victoria personality that seemed to be Sybil'a wisest personality that was aware of all of the others and wanted to help Sybil integrate all of them again. She seemed to understand they all needed Sybil to heal and the therapist often called on her to help give clarity. I read it during an emotionally difficult time in my 20's and it really helped me question and discern some of the confusion I felt. I didn't have this, but the emotional neglect I felt resonated enough to step beyond the nebulous. It's an amazing read and has a caring hopeful ending. I recommend it to anyone truly.

[@EGarrett01]

I really enjoy this series. Videos on stuff that was famous before there was a KZbin, and before I was old enough to really understand what was going on.

[@mariap.thisislife8735]

I am so thankful for the therapist I have. He should go see someone after his session with me. He listens, he doesn't feed me BS, he is very kind he asks about my husband as my doc knows his health issues, he also does not have one foot out the door like many do, I will miss him when the inevitable time for him to retire. Sending positive and happy thoughts to everyone 🌈💖💖🌈