Dissociative identity disorder is the most extreme manifestation of a dissociative disorder and involves 'multiple parts of the personality' existing within one person. These have evolved as separate 'personality states' as the only feasible way for a child to cope with ongoing trauma and abuse. It involves a basic pretense that what is happening is not happening to me.
Someone who has dissociative identity disorder may have distinct, coherent identities within themselves that are able to assume control of their behavior and thought. Each self-exists in their own unique way and may have their own unique identities (including gender, sexuality, age), interests, ways of speaking, mannerisms, skills/talents, handwriting, and other characteristics. The exact characteristics that change between each self-depend on the individual selves and the body that contains them.
Flashbacks are one of the most common ways in which dissociated memories begin to resurface. During a flashback, there will often be overwhelming visual, sensory and other reminders of the traumatic event, and it may feel as if the experience is being re-lived. A flashback can often be caused by a 'trigger', which is a current-day reminder (either at a conscious or unconscious level) of something traumatic from the past. A trigger could be a sight, a sound, a taste, a smell, a touch, a situation, a location, even a body movement.
In addition to the dissociation and switching between different alters, a person with dissociative identity disorder or OSDD may experience the following symptoms:
inner voices
nightmares
panic attacks
generalized anxiety
depression
eating disorders
drug or alcohol dependency
body memories
severe headaches
unexplained medical symptoms, especially chronic pain
self-harm
suicidal thoughts and behaviors
flashbacks
relational difficulties
issues of shame and poor self-esteem
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Myths:
"Rare?"
Actually, 0.1-1.5% of the population have either of these in some form.
"Schizophrenia?"
Nope. Alters are real, unlike the illusions caused by schizophrenia.
"Easy to spot?"
Some systems might be like this but more often, a system wants to stay hidden. It is usually a covert coping mechanism.
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Alters - Alternate personality, what the other personalities in a system are called.
NOT an alter ego.
Blurred - When one or more alter is
fronting but nobody knows who.
Coconcious - When more than one alter is experiencing things. Like a
passenger in a car.
Cofronting - When more than one
alter is controlling the body.
Dissociation - Feeling out of
contact with the world around you
and yourself.
Fictive - An alter based on a fictional character. May or may not be exactly like their source.
Factive - Alter based on real person. Can be celebrity, close friend, or abuser.
Fragment - A 2-D alter that serves
one purpose only.
Fronting - When an alter in in
control of the body.
Front stuck - unable to leave the
front/give up control of the body.
Grounding - Being in touch with
the world and yourself.
Headmate - Another term for Alter
Headspace - Where alters can
interact.
Host - Alter that fronts the most
Multiple - person with Alters
Little - young alter
Persecutor - usually violent towards the system as their way of helping. Misguided protector of sorts.
Protector - Protects the system
and body.
Singlet - Person without alters
System - a Collective group of
alters
System Name - Name of the
system
Switch - Think of it like a
frequent change in command
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Edit: took the names from this page, we're well over 100 and that'd be a lot and you'd barely remember so *shrugs*
YOU ARE READING
Adventures in the Creative Collective
Short StoryA book of short stories using the alters in this system, consent was given and they may even write some of their own. Thanks for reading - Sage
