DID - Dissociative Identity Disorder 1of2

Herschel Walker is widely regarded as one of football's greatest running backs. He led the University of Georgia to victory in the Sugar Bowl on the way to an NCAA Championship and he capped a sensational college career by earning the 1982 Heisman Trophy. Herschel spent twelve years in the NFL, where he rushed for more than eight thousand yards and scored sixty-one rushing touchdowns.

But despite the acclaim he won as a football legend, track star, Olympic competitor, and later a successful businessman, Herschel realized that his life, at times, was simply out of control. He often felt angry, self-destructive, and unable to connect meaningfully with friends and family. Drawing on his deep faith, Herschel turned to professionals for help and was ultimately diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

While some might have taken this diagnosis as a setback, Herschel approached his mental health with the same indomitable spirit he brought to the playing field. It also gave him, for the first time, insight into his life's unexplained passages, stretches of time that seemed forever lost. Herschel came to understand that during those times, his "alters," or alternate personalities, were in control.

Born into a poor, but loving family in the South, Herschel was an overweight child with a stutter who suffered terrible bullying at school. He now understands that he created "alters" who could withstand abuse. But beyond simply enduring, other "alters" came forward to help Herschel overcome numerous obstacles and, by the time he graduated high school, become an athlete recognized on a national level.

In Breaking Free, Herschel tells his story -- from the joys and hardships of childhood to his explosive impact on college football to his remarkable professional career. And he gives voice and hope to those suffering from DID. Herschel shows how this disorder played an integral role in his accomplishments and how he has learned to live with it today. His compelling account testifies to the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome any challenge.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• DID
• Hershal Walker
• Herschel Walker
• NFL
• football

[nobodyzsukey]

All D.I.D's I've ever met (including myself) go through times when they themselves doubt the diagnosis seriously. Herschel, hang in there. You ARE doing the right thing. It's not controversial, it's PAINFUL. So people don't want to accept it. It is beyond their experience. But that is not a good, sound or logical reason to state that D.I.D. does not exist. Thank you for speaking up.

[guitardude499]

U.S. of tara.

[u2rwise1]

I guess he could be normal like everyone else, broke unsuccessful and compaining or weird and successful! Put a label on it if want.

[crazyjolson]

@Jay2300Cee i live with DID. with respect, doing a paper on it, doesn't make you an expert. and yes the alters can be different races/ethnicities, ages, genders, etc. i applaud Hershel Walker for speaking out and raising awareness of DID. 

[RioEllington]

One of the biggest misconceptions about people with more than one person up there that really grinds my gears is the myth that all people with MPD/DID function the exact same way. That they all fit the same criteria, have to exhibit x y z symptoms, have to have gone through this as a kid, etc. There are people who have had happy, normal lives and didn't have to have trauma to have other people in there. There are people who were born with MPD/DID. I wish this guy best of luck.

[Fichengafter]

@Ecompass4 A serious case of D.I.D is normally from years of either and or physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse. They escape into other Alters that are tough, strong or other that have better coping skills than they themselves have.

[Jay2300Cee]

this is Bullshit. i did a paper on DID. and everything this guy is talking about doesn't go with it. DID patients Alters have different personality..

5:31 SERIOUSLY? GTFO

[292skydiver]

encompass4-in a d.i.d. person, all those facets of the peronalities take on their own life to cope.You're lucky you can cope and remember.You're blissfully normal.

[tallyhoman911]

i think everyone has multiple personalities

[Ecompass4]

Wtf... So when i go to school im a student, when I go to work im a PCA, when I go home Im a son, when I go out im a friend, and when I make love im a boyfriend.. Oh my GOD! I have DID!... Give me a fucking break.

[kentrob61]

As a DID patient and sufferer for all my life, I think Herschel (which, happens to be my father's name) Walker is a brave man to come "out of the closet" to share his story! thanks.

[antediluvian99]

Wow.  Okay. ...Sure.