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dissociative identity disorder & the types of alters that exist: a thread
this thread will be about the types of alters that manifest in DID, along with what they mean & why they might exist.
ill begin working on it as soon as I'm done with yoga
ill begin working on it as soon as I'm done with yoga
JUST TO CLARIFY: i am not a professional and this thread is going to be exemplifying my own experiences, along with discussions with psychologists and my own research. it may not be identical for everyone with DID, because all systems are different
first lets get some typology down!
+ fronting: when an alter is 'fronting', they are in control of the body.
+ co-fronting: when more than one alter has control of the body, like a copilot.
+ fronting: when an alter is 'fronting', they are in control of the body.
+ co-fronting: when more than one alter has control of the body, like a copilot.
+ co-conscious: when an alter is experiencing the outer world(real world) but does not have any physical control of the body
+ switch: a change in who is controlling the body
+ alter: short for alternate personality state
+ inner world: an internal place where alters reside
+ switch: a change in who is controlling the body
+ alter: short for alternate personality state
+ inner world: an internal place where alters reside
GATEKEEPER ALTERS: My Gatekeeper alter is called Psyche. She's an ENTJ 1w2
+ these alters usually police the front
+ they tend to have access to all memories, all alters, and all spaces in the inner world. they also have control over which alters can access these things too
+ because of this, they are almost always near the front, so they see everything that happens to the body. this can cause them to be under a lot of stress, and can experience large amounts of abuse and trauma
+ in result of this EXTREMELY strenuous role, Gatekeepers tend to present as ageless, genderless and emotionless in order to cope with their job
+ they can prevent unwanted switches, such as a 6 year old alter switching in during college time. or a traumatized alter switching in
+ they can prevent unwanted switches, such as a 6 year old alter switching in during college time. or a traumatized alter switching in
for me, my gatekeeper (Psyche) has the presence similar to a parent that i never had. she is very wise and calm and a gatekeeper can act like a pillar of stability for a system
but, they are people too, and having a gatekeeper alter doesnt just erase all of the difficulties
but, they are people too, and having a gatekeeper alter doesnt just erase all of the difficulties
think of it as a maze. some alters are confined to certain spaces and memories (for their own safety or if they are a trauma holder), but a Gatekeeper would (usually) have access to every space, or at least a wide range of the spaces
i forgot the blanket terms, so let's do that next
ANP (Apparently Normal Parts)
+ these are the alters that deal with day to day life
+ they usually have a lot of amnesia from trauma memories, because they cannot integrate the traumatic information that may have occurred
ANP (Apparently Normal Parts)+ these are the alters that deal with day to day life
+ they usually have a lot of amnesia from trauma memories, because they cannot integrate the traumatic information that may have occurred
+ because of this, they tend to not have any retrievable memories of trauma or abuse
+ they tend to go to great measures to avoid reminders of trauma or triggers that could activate alters who hold trauma, making them prone to drug abuse and avoidant of people/relationships
+ they tend to go to great measures to avoid reminders of trauma or triggers that could activate alters who hold trauma, making them prone to drug abuse and avoidant of people/relationships
+ these avoidant behaviours can also make them prone to depression, anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness, guilt, rage, the list goes on. it's exhausting for them
individuals with DID always have more than one alter who would be considered an ANP
individuals with DID always have more than one alter who would be considered an ANP
EPs (Emotional Parts)+ these are the alters who tend to hold onto the traumatic materials that the system has. this can include memories, conditioned responses/behaviours, beliefs
+ they dont tend to be very grounded, and it can be very difficult to ground them
+ they usually only come to the front when there has been a trigger (either positive or negative)
⠀⠀- positive trigger: a stuffed animal, for a little this might provide comfort
⠀⠀- negative trigger: yelling, aggression, basically just things that you would assume
⠀⠀- positive trigger: a stuffed animal, for a little this might provide comfort
⠀⠀- negative trigger: yelling, aggression, basically just things that you would assume
+ triggers can be unidentifiable, such as otherwise benign stimuli that gradually became associated with trauma or abuse, like a colour, song, words
+ these alters tend to be, quite literally, stuck inside a trauma memory, and will act as if they are still there physically
+ these alters tend to be, quite literally, stuck inside a trauma memory, and will act as if they are still there physically
my advice on how to help them?
patience and reassurance that they are safe, as well as reminders and affirmations of the current date and time, so they can slowly realise that they are safe and no longer where they think they are (where abuse is happening)
patience and reassurance that they are safe, as well as reminders and affirmations of the current date and time, so they can slowly realise that they are safe and no longer where they think they are (where abuse is happening)
ANPs and EPs can be blended and mixed. some EPs may be better at coping than others, but in no way is it an easy experience to be the one who has to carry trauma memories away from other alters
PROTECTOR ALTERS:My system has 2 protectors.
A primary protector, Saturn, an INTJ 8w9, he/him.
A secondary protector, Rae, an ISTP, 19 yrs old, he/him.
+ protectors represent the "fight" parts of the system and their role is to defend, physically or emotionally
⠀⠀- "fight": in the "fight flight freeze fawn" PTSD response
+ they tend to focus on perceived threats, such as close relationships and emotional needs, because these are things that trauma can revolve around. they can act as a "manager" for these things to ensure safety
+ they tend to focus on perceived threats, such as close relationships and emotional needs, because these are things that trauma can revolve around. they can act as a "manager" for these things to ensure safety
i interrupt this transmission with more gateleeper memes
+ protector alters manage emotions such as rage and avoid feelings of shame or hurt
+ they usually represent as men or strong animals, because this is what children usually interpret as 'a protector', and systems are created by the subconscious minds of children
+ they usually represent as men or strong animals, because this is what children usually interpret as 'a protector', and systems are created by the subconscious minds of children
"With DID patients, if they feel hostility or aggression they take it out on themselves with s/lf h/rm... They're self destructive and repeteadly s/icidal, more so than any other psychological disorder."
- Dr Bethany Brand
- Dr Bethany Brand
+ protector alters are usually on the receiving end of abuse, protecting the system from it so that no other alter such as younger alters has to receive it instead
+ there is multiple types of protectors, such as emotional, physical, sexual, caretakers and persecutors
+ there is multiple types of protectors, such as emotional, physical, sexual, caretakers and persecutors
PERSECUTOR ALTERS:My system has 2 persecutors.
Chiron, an INFP 6w5, 15yrs, they/them.
Zeb, an ESTP, 17yrs, he/him
+ persecutors are often referred to as 'misguided protectors'
+ they tend to be EPs and also usually represent the "fight" parts of the system
this is getting tiring so ill be finishing this tomorrow (:
