Pakistani drama Behroopia starring Faysal Quraishi and Madiha Imam takes us on a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how individuals affected by DID – Dissociative Identity Disorder or Multiple Personality Disorder and their families navigate every day life. While drama reaches a critical point in the narrative with Mikael, played by Faysal Quraishi, now married to Zara, played by Madiha Imam, one wonders to what extent Mikael’s character is aptly depicting the real life disorder. To find out more, we asked our onboard couples therapist and executive coach, Dr. Sheeza Mohsin. Read on to know more.
The recent drama Behroopia has brought elements of DID – Dissociative or Multiple Personality Disorder into public discussion with remarkable sensitivity and accuracy. The portrayal of the lead character, Mikael’s triggers such as being overwhelmed by touch, linked to childhood trauma and the depiction of anxiety around large crowds resonated strongly with clinical understandings of the disorder. The drama also highlighted the family’s reluctance to host a big wedding, subtly reflecting the potential for such events to trigger episodes in individuals with DID.
Dissociative Identity disorder (DID) is a mental health condition where you have two or more separate personalities that control your behavior at different times. When personalities switch, you’ll have gaps in your memory. The identities are usually caused by living through trauma. Psychotherapy can help you manage your symptoms.
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According to Dr Sheeza, formal research on the existence of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in Pakistan remains limited. In many cases, what might clinically be recognized as DID is often interpreted as possession syndrome, a belief deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions across the country. Multiple personalities are frequently attributed to an individual being possessed by spirits, making accurate diagnosis a challenge. Additionally, diagnosing DID requires thorough psychological assessments involving multiple interviews, which further complicates the process and contributes to frequent misdiagnoses.
To deepen our understanding of DID as shown in Behroopia, we sat down with Dr. Sheeza Mohsin, a practicing therapist, who shared valuable insights into the complexities of this disorder.
Dr. Sheeza Mohsin shed some light on Mikael’s portrayal of DID, how accurate was it?
“One aspect that proved more complex was the character’s presentation of extreme success and stability, which contrasts with the typical irregular behavior and emotional instability commonly associated with DID.” She responded, yet adding context that “this portrayal may be an intentional commentary on how wealthy families in Pakistan often conceal psychiatric or psychological conditions due to the significant stigma surrounding mental illness. Over the years, many cases have surfaced where families arrange marriages without openly discussing psychiatric or psychological challenges, fearing rejection in the marriage proposal process an unfortunate reality that often leads to further difficulties.”
What exactly is Dissociative Identity Disorder, and how is it different from other mental health conditions?
Dissociative Identity Disorder is recognized by the presence of two or more distinct personality identities. Each may have a unique name, personal history, and characteristics. A lot of times, elements of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are confused with DID. Whereas in both of these, there are depressive symptoms, anxiety, and changes in mood and energy level, the personalities don’t change.
In Behroopia, Mikael’s character often shifts between multiple personalities with a major reveal in episode 10 where he introduces his multiple personalities to Zara, his wife, by way of the portraits he had sketched, each personality embodied very specific personality traits for Mikael and also belonged to different genders.
Mikael is also taking anxiety medication to alleviate his DID symptoms but has apparently denied therapy for the same.
What causes DID — is it something you’re born with or does it develop over time?
Most often, DID occurs as a result of childhood trauma that may be physical, event-based, or sexual in nature.
What is important to remember is that DID, like many other disorders, is the most severe form in the spectrum of dissociation (which can be experienced by anyone).
Mikael was subjected to severe trauma in childhood by his father Qasim, flashback of which are screened from time to time in the drama, especially connected to a trigger and a switch from one character to another. The character also bears scars on his body, his back, from physical abuse possibly inflicted on him by his abuser.
What are the signs or symptoms that someone might have DID?
The person who might have DID may experience having many different types of personalities with their own voices, mannerisms, and personality traits.
People also feel amnesia and blackouts, which means that they won’t remember the previous personality in which they may have shown up a little while ago. The personality shifts are usually caused by a trigger that may be related to their trauma.
The is was demonstrated in one episode of Behroopia, Mikael experienced a blackout, he also seems to suffer from amnesia as he switches back and forth between characters, not always able to have complete control over his state of mind or ability to stay in a particular identity. The only exception is when Mikael is at work or with Zara’s father, he seems to be totally in control of his state of mind (unless he skips his medication), and this might be questionable for individuals afflicted by DID who might often not have control over switching from a dominant personality, which is Mikael in the drama, to others.
What does it mean when someone says they have “multiple personalities” — are these completely different people?
Typically, these are very different personalities, sometimes even a different gender and manifestation.Research shows that developing countries have more people who show symptoms of DID. So, while the global percentage could average around one percent, the percentage could be up to 5% in developing countries.
How does switching between personalities work — is it something the person can control or are they even aware of it?
“There is the main personality (in the case of behroopia, it is Mikael, we assume), that the world knows, and the person with DID can switch back and forth from that. If trauma is triggered, they can sometimes go from one personality to the other.”
We assume trauma could be a life event, such as marriage which has led Mikael’s DID to worsen as Zara attempts to get to the bottom of his illness, and he tries hard to shelter his multiple personailities and their negative traits from possibly harming her?
Can someone with DID live a “normal” life — go to work, have relationships, raise a family?
That is a difficult question because it depends on the intensity of the changes as well as the severity of their symptoms. Typically people who have been diagnosed with DID struggle with their rules in relationships as a parent and in family relationships and can be stressful for family members
Is DID real? Some people think it’s exaggerated or made up — what does science say?
Yes, it is real, but a very rare occurrence.
It shows up a lot more in developing countries, and historically, a lot of research was done in developing countries in Africa and Asia, where the cultural or faith-based belief around the idea of ‘possession’ or ‘jinns’ was attempted to be understood from a psychiatric perspective.
What kind of treatment or therapy helps people with DID, and can it ever be “cured”?
People with this diagnosis have the potential of working in therapy to develop a more integrated personality, so different elements of the personalities that show up can be integrated into one. However, it is long-term and a lifelong commitment to healing and health.
What should friends or family members do if they suspect someone they love has DID?
The most important thing is to be patient and not be in conflict with the personality that’s showing up.It’s important to identify it to confirm—especially family members, who can recognize the traits that appear and whether there is a name for that personality.
The most difficult relationships are usually parental and marital, because boundary management becomes a big challenge in those dynamics.
This challenge is once again, depicted well in Behroopia where Zara wants to reach out and help Mikael and perhaps, as she interrogates him further, unknowingly oversteps boundaries, leading Mikael’s alter personality to attack her.
If someone with DID is only taking anxiety medication and not going for therapy, how effective is that in managing their condition?
Medications alone cannot effectively treat DID, as psychotherapy is critical. There are many approaches to trauma therapy, such as Somatic Experiencing based on the Bessel van der Kolk model, or EMDR therapy, which helps process trauma and can be beneficial.
And this is why Mikael’s symptoms are barely controlled through oral medication, he needs therapy which he has been avoiding so far, leading to a traumatic resurfacing of his multiple personalities.
Is it important for family members or close friends of someone with DID to also seek therapy?
It is absolutely critical for family members or friends of the person to seek therapy, because loving someone with this challenge can be very hard.
Again, Behroopia has shown Mikael’s half sister Zara seeking therapy. She seems to be most invested in Mikael’s health struggles and attempts to manage his medication and behaviour changes, however, the ordeal is taking a toll on her own mental health as well.
About Dr. Sheeza Mohsin:
Dr Sheeza Mohsin is a Couples Therapist, and an Executive Coach, focusing on Mental Health for Men, with a Global Practice. Her newly created website www.dilkirecipes.com and related social media platforms are just now launching to support the South Asian diaspora in the United States and abroad.
