Dissocative Disorders
Here is a excerpt from Sidran's website regarding DID:
When faced with overwhelmingly traumatic situations from which there is no physical escape, a child may resort to "going away" in his or her head. Children typically use this ability as an extremely effective defense against acute physical and emotional pain, or anxious anticipation of that pain. By this dissociative process, thoughts, feelings, memories, and perceptions of the traumatic experiences can be separated off psychologically, allowing the child to function as if the trauma had not occurred.
Dissociative Disorders are often referred to as a highly creative survival technique because they allow individuals enduring "hopeless" circumstances to preserve some areas of healthy functioning. Over time, however, for a child who has been repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted, defensive dissociation becomes reinforced and conditioned. Because the dissociative escape is so effective, children who are very practiced at it may automatically use it whenever they feel threatened or anxious -- even if the anxiety-producing situation is not extreme or abusive.
Some DID links:
Dissociation.com
Coping With Dissociative Identity Disorder
International Society for the Study of Dissociation
Transgenderism and Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder (MPD) Questions and Misconceptions
Dissociative Identity Disorder @ Hope For Healing
Displaced Parts
The Multiple Journey
Pilgrim's Journey
the crew's house
As Waters Passing By > Aftermath Info > Dissociative Identity Disorder