What are Dissociative Disorders?

A system refers to a person with a dissociative disorder that leads to them having alters. The term refers to all of the alters, or parts, as a whole. Dissociative disorders that cause one to have alters are always caused by repeated childhood trauma.An alter or part is a part within a system. More information on how they are created can be found by reading further down at Splitting.A subsystem is a system within a system. Subsystems are alters that have their own system or can be multiple alters that are similar and present as one alter. Some subsystems have their own innerworlds. The other type of subsystem is a group of alters that are separated in some way from the main system. This can be by communicative or amnesia barriers, or by other ways.Fronting is when an alter is in control of the body and is fully present. Can be related to being in the driver's seat of a car.Co-fronting is when an alter is comes into front when another alter is in front. Two or more alters in control of the body.Co-conscious is when an alter is aware of the outside world and what is happening, but is not fronting or fully present. Can be related to being in the passenger seat of a car, they can give passive influence to the fronter.Switching is when an alter who was previously not in front moves to front. Can happen for many reasons and can be triggered, forced, or consensual. Usually causes external symptoms.Possessive Switching is a type of switching. When a possessive switch occurs, it feels as though you are 'watching' the body be controlled by another alter.Non-possessive Switching is another type of switching. When a non-possessive switch takes place, it feels as though one 'becomes' another alter and is not the one that switched out.Blending or blurring is when two or more alters consciousness' merge or overlap. May be caused by switching or dissociation.Splitting is the act of a new alter being created. According to the theory of structural dissociation, a new alter is formed when already existing alters cannot integrate new memories, emotions, perceptions, ect. due to them being threatening or being perceived as conflicting too strongly with the trauma already being held. New alters can split due to trauma, stress, or other overwhelming experiences that cannot be handled by any preexisting part.Frontstuck is when an alter in a system is stuck in front and cannot switch out. Can last for hours, days, weeks, and even months.Innerworld is the world in a system's mind in which alters that are not fronting reside. Some systems do not have innerworlds. Some alters cannot access the innerworld, if the system has one.

• alter terms
• controversial terms

The host is the alter that is in the front the most often.Cohost is an alter who fronts almost as much or just as much as the host.A little or younger alter is an alter that is a child. Most consider alters ages 0-10 to be littles. This is not a role, just a descriptor.A middle is an alter that is a young teenager or pre-teen. Some systems call their teen alters middles. Often categorized as 11-13, or in other cases as 11-17. Same as little, not a role.An introject is an alter that is based on an outside source. Can be fictional or factual.A protector is an alter whose job is to protect the system or body. They can be physical, emotional, sexual, (etc.) protectors.A gatekeeper is an alter who controls and/or monitors who goes in and out of front and can have control over innerworld (if applicable). Their job is usually to regulate fronters and happenings in the system.A caretaker is an alter that cares for, watches over, or otherwise helps the system, other alters, or the body. Caretakers sometimes perform self-care acts for the system that other alters do not. In some cases, caretakers take care of little/younger alters in the system.A soother is an alter whose job is to soothe other alters or the body.A persecutor is an alter that tries to harm people inside or outside of their system as a means of coping or as a response to trauma. Persecutors are not evil and should not be treated as such.A trauma holder is an alter that holds the memories, feelings, or symptoms of trauma. They often have flashbacks to the trauma they hold and may be stuck at the age of when the trauma happened.A symptom holder is an alter who holds symptoms of a disorder. They may be more affected by the symptoms or experience them more frequently as a way of alleviating the other members of the symptoms.An emotion holder is an alter who holds certain emotions, feelings, or their effects. These alters may feel these emotions almost constantly, or may hold/take on these emotions for the system. Emotion holders are often, but not always, also symptom/trauma holders.

The term core is used to describe the body before the initial split. This term is controversial because according to the theory of structural dissociation, no one is born with an integrated personality. More info on this can be found here.Monoconscious is an endogenic term for non-possessive switches. It supports the idea that alters are not medical and that systems can share a collective consciousness.Alter race is a concept that is based in the idea that alters can be/experience things that the system bodily or collectively does not. It is racist and cultural appropriation. Alters can have physical traits or characteristics of another race, but are not that race if the body is not.Personalities is a term that refers to alters. It is no longer in use or accurate. Alters are not personalities, as they have their own thoughts, thought patterns, behaviors, etc. You can use this for yourself, if you please, but don't use it on others.

DID is a dissociative disorder that includes amnesia that impacts everyday life. This amnesia can be seen as black-outs, emotional amnesia, and/or full amnesia. Amnesia is often in regards to remembering everyday life, personal information, trauma/traumatic events, and many other parts of life.DID also includes two or more distinct parts, better known as alters, and amnesiac barriers between said alters. Switching is very often accompanied with memory loss and gaps.PF-DID or polyfragmented DID is a form of DID in which a system splits frequently, in multiples, and/or has many fragments. Another term for C-DID.C-DID is a form of DID that is more complex. It stands for complex DID. C-DID systems have complex splitting patterns, split fragments or in groups, and/or have layers.

OSDD-1 is a dissociative disorder that is like DID, but it does not quite meet the full criteria. There are two types of OSDD-1, a and b.OSDD-1a is similar to DID in the amnesiac barriers between alters & full amnesia, however the alters are less developed and present as the same individual at different stages of life when trauma took place.Each alter may go by the same name and view themselves as the main part, due to the lack of awareness between each other. Although it is not impossible to discover one is part of a system. Switching is accompanied with memory loss and gaps.OSDD-1b is similar to DID in the differentiated alters who have more independent senses of self, but they do not experience full amnesia when switching. Alters may experience partial and/or emotional amnesia.Alters are more developed and have their own sense of self and identity, more then OSDD-1a. They do not experience major memory gaps in day-to-day life. Switching may feel like your body is being controlled by someone else while you watch (possessive switching) or like ones identity fully changes and you “become” another alter (non-possessive switching).

Unspecified Dissociative Disorder is a diagnosis that is given to systems that either do not fit the diagnosis criteria for any of the other disorders or when there is not enough information to give any other diagnosis. Someone with this disorder does not necessarily not have one of the other disorders, but is labeled as such because of lack of information, resources, or time to give a full diagnosis. There are not specific traits or symptoms that are associated with this disorder. Please note that this term is not always used in reference to plurality.Alters may or may not be similar to how they appear in other dissociative disorders.

Partial DID, often abbreviated to p-DID is a dissociative disorder disorder that is similar to DID and OSDD-1, but does not meet the criteria to be either. Partial DID has little to no amnesia between alters and switches. P-DID systems often have emotional and/or partial amnesia. In p-DID, there is a 'dominant' alter that fronts most often and has most control in functioning in everyday life. There will be intrusions in the dominant alter's functioning, known as dissociative intrusions. These occur when another alter fronts, co-fronts, or is co-conscious. These intrusions do not happen very often and can last for a short or long period of time.Alters often front or co-front during stressful situations for the dominant alter and/or body. They may front outside of these times, but it is not as often. People with p-DID may refer to themselves as "frontstuck" as the dominant alter. P-DID systems may have trouble with communication between alters and it may be hard to discover that one is plural (a system).

Can I use system terms as a singlet? No, you cannot. It is not appropriate to use terms for systems as a singlet (non-system). Find different terms, please.Can my alters use names from closed culture I am not apart of? No. It is cultural appropriation. Even introjects cannot, even if it is a source name.Can AFAB perisex systems have transfem alters? No. If you do not experience something as a collective or bodily, you cannot claim the experience. AFAB perisex people do not experience transmisogony and therefore cannot be transfem.Can AMAB perisex systems have transmasc alters? No. Same reason as for transfem alters in AFAB perisex bodies. You cannot claim the experience.How do I know if I am a system? Research. Please do not research intensely and frequently, as it may lead you to believe you are a system when you are not. That said, please do research before claiming anything and give it time. Finding out about plurality can be stressful and time consuming. If you have access, please contact a specialist. Bring forward your symptoms, not necessarily a disorder. They may be more receptive to this. There are also many disorders that present similarly to complex dissociative disorders. Schizophrenia and similar, psychotic disorders, BPD, bipolar, etc.Can a system form after ages 7-9? No, they cannot. This is because after those ages, the child's identity starts to integrate. If trauma starts past this age, it will not cause plurality.Is it okay to ask for help or join system spaces if I am discovering my system? In most cases, yes! Always ask for help, but know that some system spaces only accept people who are sure they are systems. That said, please don't be afraid to ask for help or resources. Feel free to join any open system spaces that accept questioning systems, but do not intrude on things you aren't certain about.Can I join system spaces as a singlet? Sometimes, yes. If the space allows supportive singlets, that is. However, do not intrude or force yourself into system spaces that are not for you.Am I faking? Most likely no. If you experience symptoms when no one is around, you are not faking. People with factitious disorders almost always know they are faking. Please don't feel like you're faking when you have actual symptoms. I assure you, you are very real and valid.Where can I find support for plurality? Online spaces, group therapy, and one-on-one therapy/counseling. Be careful in online spaces, as people can and will fakeclaim people or make you feel inferior. I highly suggest finding other system friends, if you are stable and comfortable. They can help you understand yourself and plurality better!Is DID real? It is very real! It has been recognized for a very long time and is a real disorder. Do not fakeclaim people without proper reason and proof.Do people fake DID? Yes. This, however, does not mean everyone is faking. Most people aren't. But some people do fake this disorder.What is MPD? MPD, or multiple personality disorder, is the outdated term for DID. MPD has not been used since the 90's. Please, do not use it for people with DID or similar disorders.

What are Dissociative Disorders?
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Dissociative Identity Disorder Wikipedia Page.
Info on OSDD & UDD.
DID/OSDD1 Terminology Carrd.
Non-Possessive Switching.