In Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), individuals may not always be aware of their switches between different identities or alters. When a switch occurs, the person might experience a gap in their memory or a period of amnesia for the time during which another alter was in control. This phenomenon is known as "lost time" or "dissociative amnesia."
In some cases, individuals with DID might have limited awareness of what happens during a switch. They may have a vague sense of "losing time" or feeling disoriented, but they may not have a complete understanding of the actions or experiences of the alter who was in control during that time.
On the other hand, some individuals with DID have better communication and cooperation among their alters, which can lead to a better sense of continuity and awareness between switches. In these cases, there might be more co-consciousness, where alters are aware of each other's thoughts, feelings, and experiences, even when they are not in control.
The degree of awareness and memory between alters can vary significantly from one individual to another and can also change over time as therapy progresses. Therapeutic work in DID often focuses on improving communication and understanding among the alters to minimize amnesia and increase co-consciousness.
It's essential to recognize that DID is a complex and diverse disorder, and people with this condition can have different experiences and levels of awareness regarding their identity switches and memory gaps. Therapy for DID aims to help individuals gain insight into their condition, improve communication among alters, and reduce distress and dysfunction related to their dissociative experiences.