Herschel

I am of the mind that multiple personality disorder doesn't exist. I think it's a bunch of pseudoscientific woo, myself.

I bet he is actually bipolar and just gets severe mood swings that make him feel like an entirely different person from time to time.

But as far as having totally different personalities like each with their own name and age and unique experiences and life histories, not buying it.

Here is a link with further information about the phenomenon:

www.csicop.org/si/9805/witch.html

I just watched the show and it is very strange to say the least. Cindy, his ex-wife, said that he put a gun to her temple and said he was going to blow her \"firetrucking\" head off and he told the reporter that he never remembered it as well as never remembering the Heisman trophy presentation etc etc (Cindy confirms that he didn't remember these episodes). He also said he had a bad business deal and that he wanted to AND was going to kill the guy but the show didn't say whether he couldn't remember that either (or I can't remember everything). Cindy said he had MANY \"alters\" and that his voice would change and his persona as well. Most of this was 8 years ago and he says he is doing really well now (treatment etc). Very strange but as we all know, Herschel is very convincing and believable (not to say that I'm convinced of this disorder). All of you shoould try and see the 15 minute show.....interesting (and he looks like he can still play ball today at age 46, amazing).

As someone with a family background in psychology (grandfather and three uncles who are psychologists, as well as two social workers in the family), let's dispel a few things here.

First, multiple personality disorder does not exist. However, the disorder that Herschel has been diagnosed with, Dissociative Identity Disorder, does exist. The most disturbing thing about DID is the first D, Dissociative. People who have DID are disassociating themselves from extremely traumatic events, usually brought on either by childhood abuse or severe trauma -- like combat -- later in life. Children can't handle severe physical or sexual abuse, so their psyches invent a new personality who takes the abuse for them. They are able to go away during it and come back when it's over. The result, of course, is alternate personalities who are not very well-adjusted at all.

Any Georgia fan who's tried to get an autograph or a handshake session with Herschel knows how reclusive the man is, and how little he craves the spotlight. I truly don't believe that he's Pete Rose-ing it here; I think he's genuinely trying to help other folks who have this disorder.

As someone who was once romantically involved with a person who suffers from DID, I can tell you for a fact that it exists and is frightening. Seeing it in action, seeing and hearing and literally feeling a person change into someone else, sometimes at the drop of a hat, sometimes several times within a short period, is a terrifying experience. Knowing what she knows now, I can assure you that the former Mrs. Walker is relieved more than anything to know that Herschel is sick, and that he can be treated and made better. What we should do is to send thoughts and prayers to Herschel and to be grateful that a family member -- a member of our extended Bulldog family -- is doing well and is recovering.

I'm with ya dapolla and thanks for clarifying D.I.D. You seeing it up close is good enough for me. It must have been a horrifying experience for you and am sorry you went through it.

Believe me, it's very tough, but was nowhere near as tough for me as it was for her. This is the big thing to remember in all of this, is that it affects everyone around Herschel but never so much as it affects him. He must have lived through hell and he has my best well-wishes and thoughts.