Before I officially launch this story I need to tell you guys that this is heavily based around a mental health disorder called Dissociative Identity Disorder. I will explain more about that later. But a few things to know. There will be quirks. I don't know about ships yet but I might add one. Once you read this chapter please comment down below if you have a ship in mind and I will explore that idea. No teacher x student and sorry but not doing shindeku for a reason yet unknown to you. ;) So, first on the agenda is a shit ton of info on DID then I will list trigger warnings than finally notes you will need to know. Okay? Here we go!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What is DID? and How it comes to be:
DID short for Dissociative Identity Disorder is when the personality is split into different people known as alters. This happens because a child at young age experiences any trauma (physical or mental) and the brain couldn't process the trauma so before the personality fully integrated the mind split into several different states of consciousness or alters. Putting up amnesic walls between alters to allow the host to live without worry of the memories of the traumatic experiences that the body went through creating a way to let the body/system live a somewhat normal life.
Notes on DID and related topics:
Definitions and Terminology:
Dissociation: the disconnection or separation of someone from the conscious state of mind.
Alters: AKA Alternate State of consciousness state of mind, they are their own person, will have different looks, genders, sexualities, memories, opinions and the like. THEY ARE THEIR OWN PERSON! Can be deaf, mute, blind etc. Will have different mental or physical issues. Created to make sure that the host can carry on in their daily life without worrying about the trauma that they have experienced in the past.
Inner World: A place where alters live/ trauma is kept. Its a subconscious mechanism that allows the body and mind to connect and process the trauma giving it a place to go. It is not a manifestation IRL it is merely existent in the mind. Alters may interact with one another and may be like cities or countries where they live as normal people or it can simply be a house. There most likely will be a place that serves as a reminder of trauma. Like a dungeon for example.
Switch: One alter is in the front than another switches in and takes front. Therefore they are in control of the body. Often dissociation will happen before/during the switch
Fronting/Out: The alter is controlling the body.
Host: Alter(s) is fronting the most. Takes care of daily life like school, work, chores etc.
Co-Conscious: 2 alters are sharing/fronting at the same time. Control can be split or may be uneven control. The alters can communicate with one another and may switch at any given time
Trauma: An experience that the brain will have difficulty processing. It may be related to physical, emotional, spiritual, phycological damage. It makes the child/person feel like they will die or are extremely hurt. Trauma can be minor or major.
Structural Dissociation: Theory that says DID is not a split its not a single personality that isnt fully formed instead its when children up to the age of 8 we only have and need basics as we get older we become more aware and become a single personality. However, that process was interrupted by trauma putting up walls between different fragments of mind called amnesic walls. Therefore unable to integrate making DID seeing as the mind stays fragmented and creates whole different people who experience things that another alter/the host may not experience. Hence the amnesic walls that keep them separated.
DSM-V: It stands for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders. It is a book of recognized mental health disorders that most health care companies abide by. It defines mental health orders and states treatments and recommended treatments.
Multiplicity: Means that you have more personalities and have alters
Singlet/Singleton: Branch term for people without DID
Integration: Type 1: Memory integration: All alters will have access to memories of trauma and that memory is within all of them. Type 2: Integration of Alters: They join together to become another alter altogether. They retain memories of the previous 2 alters but they are their own person just like any other alter.
Split: When a new alter is created. Alters can be created later on in life due to traumatic experiences.
System: A group of alters that live in one body. Usually systems have names like Ex) The Cloud System and if you're looking for one here on wattpad there's the_space_raiders !!!
Trigger: Causes repressed memories/feelings come rushing to the front of the mind. It reminds the brain of that memory and can cause fight or flight and panic attacks. Triggers are very random and dont make any sense that doesnt make them any less valid though!
Roles and what they are:
Host: The alter that fronts the most *Does not mean they are the original alter*
Protector: They look after the system as a whole and make sure everyone is happy and healthy. There are many forms of protectors.
Persecutor: Persecutors are alters who purposefully harm the body, system, host, core, or other alters, sabotage the system's goals or healing, or work to assist the system's abuser(s). Persecutors might hold self hatred or provide an outlet for internalized abusive and negative messages. They do this because they believe that what they are doing is right even if that is the perspective of an abuser.
Littles: An alter who is younger than 10
Gatekeeper: Controls memories/filing memories. Controls alters access to places in the inner world and access to memories/alters that the system isnt ready for yet. Also, controls who is locked
Caretaker: Mostly to soothe alters, take care of the system, and take care of littles
Trauma Holder: Holds memories of traumatic experiences keeping them away from the hosts and other alters so they can live normally
Fragments: Alters that are not fully formed that have one role. They are a person that has their own personality and opinions they just may not have a big purpose or front often.
Spiritual Protector: Keep the body, relaxed, carefree. To keep the mind relaxed. The embodiment of childhood freedom that the system never got to have.
Sexual Protector: Deals with sexual trauma and intense times especially in sex and to protect the host from unpleasant sex trauma. Sometimes they even front if the body is aroused.
Physical protector: They front in cases where the body is in physical danger
Factives: An alter that is based on or is a person from history or the real world.
Fictives: An alter that is based on or is a fictional character
Animal: An alter that is created when the child is forced to act like the animal or needs the protection of a strong animal or simply needs it to survive. Ex) A child forced to act like a dog. Ex2) A child is being physically abused. What can survive this? A wolf. Ex3) When arms and legs are bound what can survive without limbs? A snake.
Dead: Created when the body is/has been close to death
Mystical creature: Created when a child wants to be strong (dragon) or wants to be able to fly away (fairy)
Demonic: Demon and demonic alters are a type of spirit and supernatural alter but are not actually supernatural beings and may result from spiritual abuse and an abuser who blames the child for the abuse. In abusive groups, a young child can be severely traumatized in order for abusers to intentionally create an alter, and the alter can be tricked into believing they have been possessed by, and have become, a demon. Some survivors report being dressed to look like a "demon" with costumes and theatrical makeup, and being told to look in the mirror and told that they are a demon. Hallucinogenic drugs may also be used to cause supposedly "spiritual" experiences. Some demon alters may be told they are animals. They may be very intimidating, with names such as Demon, Lucifer, Satan or Devil, however they should be able to engage with psychotherapy, and all alters should be accepted.[16]:61 These "demonic" or "evil" alters may have the role of maintaining loyalty to the abusive cult which created them, in order to keep the whole person alive. They are often a form of protector known as a persecutor. These alters are usually hurt children who have been tricked into believing they are "evil", and may have been tricked or forced into harming others. With "patience, persistence and kindness" they can be allowed to choose a different role once the person is safe from abusers. Attempts to banish them using religious techniques such as "deliverance" or exorcism do not work permanently, can be harmful and may prolong any internal war between alters and preventing healing.
Introjects: Introjects are alters who were split off to represent outside people, most typically an abuser (but not limited to that, by any means), and thus create the appearance of being introjected within your system from an outside person. They are splits from your own mind, and they are there to help you remember / contain specific, detailed information related to whoever it is that they are being within your system.
Introjects are as convinced as the other parts of the system that they are the same as the external people they represent. They think they are separate from the survivors, and separate from the body of the survivor. Many negative introjects will adamantly believe that they could hurt or harm the survivor / host of the system and not be hurt themselves. Introjects typically truly believe they are separate people, but they are, in fact, part of the DID system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Next on the list is trigger warnings.
1) Abuse
2) Yelling and Explicit Language
3) Sexual Abuse
4) Maybe Self-harm
5) Torture
6) Kidnapping
7) Suicide baiting
That's all I can think of for right now but I will add trigger warnings before each chapter!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Notes for the story going forward:
1) Bakugo is still a bully. I just don't show much of that as I want to focus on his home life for the first 2-3 chapters
2) DID IS a mental health disorder. It is NOT fake. I am raising AWARENESS
3) I will NOT be perfect I am NOT an expert. All I have to go off of is the research that I have done. So this may not be 100% accurate.
4) I am NOT a system. IF you ARE part of a system and notice I did something wrong or I used a stigma. PLEASE PLEASE let me know in the comments or DM me. I will fix it right away.
5) If you have CONSTRUCTIVE criticism let me know in the comments or DM me and I will put it to use. If it is NOT constructive criticism but HATE I WILL report you and block you!
6) Kick back and have fun! This story (I hope) will be engaging and it will have twists and turns. Definitely a little angst but in the end it should end up happy.
Oh! One last thing @Official_Kirishima you asked to be notified when this story came out well here it is! The next chapter will be the first of 2-3 chapters of the prologue.