9. Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), known formerly as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a terrifying mental illness that is included in myriad movies and television shows, but is extremely misunderstood. Very generally, the less than .1% of people who suffer from DID often have 2-3 different identities (and sometimes more). The American Psychiatric Association explains that victims of dissociate disorders suffer from problems with their memory, identity, emotion, perception, behavior, and sense of self.
Sufferers routinely cycle through their personalities, and can remain as one identity for hours or for years. They can switch identities at any time and without warning, and it’s nearly impossible to convince someone with DID that they have it. For these reasons, those with Dissociative Identity Disorder are unable to live normal lives, and therefore usually live in psychiatric institutions.
10. Factitious Disorder
Most people cringe at the first sniffle indicating a potential cold or illness, but not those with Factitious Disorder. This scary mental disorder is characterized by an obsession with being sick. In fact, most people with Factitious Disorder intentionally make themselves ill in order to receive treatment (this makes it different than hypochondria). Sometimes, sufferers will simply pretend to be ill, a ruse which includes elaborate stories, long lists of symptoms, and jumping from hospital to hospital. Such an obsession with sickness often stems from past trauma or serious mental illness. It affects less than .5% of the general population, and while there’s no cure, it is often able to be limited via psychotherapy.