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Perceptual Distortion Disorder: The Invisible Plague

© Kerry Dennis

    You may be wondering why I speak so much about addiction, while I am discussing my MPD. The reason for this is that I truly believe that MPD is a symptom of addiction. No, not alcoholism or drug addiction, although the number of MPD/DIDs with these addictions are highly disproportionate for such an elite group. In reality, drug addiction and alcoholism are themselves only symptoms of the addictive plague that is running rampant in modern society. For those of you who have not yet read my article on codependency, you may want to read that first, before continuing on with this article.

    For a long time I was under the impression that codependency lies at the root of all addictive behaviors and a major portion of our physical and emotional disease, or dis-ease. When I first became acquainted with codependency I thought that it only had to do with taking care of one's self and learning when to say "no". Later, I began to see that the scope of codependency is unbelievably great, and that it encompasses a whole gamut of social and interpersonal interactions. Now that I have been researching it for several years, I have come to see that there is, in reality, a perceptual disorder that pervades everything we do, how we act, how we think, as well as how we interact with others and that codependency, like alcoholism and drug addiction, is itself only a symptom of a much greater problem.

    I have given this much thought and have decided to call this problem "Perceptual Distortion Disorder" as it is based primarily in the distorted perceptions that are promoted by our success driven, consumer oriented, possessive minded society.

    The motto of this society is, "Gotta be it, gotta have it, gotta keep it." From the time that we are children we are told, "In order to be a success in life you must..........," the "You must..." varies with social status, ethnic origin, and religious background. Obviously, different people see success as being different things, but everyone seems to agree that it means affluence, influence and stability.

    Now, in themselves, there is nothing wrong with these things. The problem arises when we mistakenly consider that the lack of any one of these things in our lives as being life threatening. Unfortunately, the majority of society reacts to most kinds of failure as though they were life threatening situations. Of course, this is not on a conscious level, for if it were, it would be much easier to recognize and deal with. No, the need for success, the need for things and the need to control ourselves and