theory of structural dissociation

the theory of structural dissociation suggests that no one is born with an integrated personality. instead, infants operate based off of a collection of different ego states that handle their different needs. over time, these ego states naturally integrate into one cohesive personality, usually by 9/10. childhood trauma disrupts this process, different ego states are left unable to merge with each other due to conflicting needs, traumatic memories, or learned action paths or responses to trauma. the theory of structural dissociation of the personality proposes that patients with complex trauma-related disorders are characterized by a division of their personality into different prototypical parts, each with its own psychobiological underpinnings. ANPs (apparently normal parts) are divisions in which partake in daily functioning activities, while EPs (emotional parts) are fixated in traumatic experiences and survival mechanisms. did is not the only form of structural dissociation, but it is the most evident.

systems

every single system is unique. individuals are shaped by their trauma differently, for did systems this often involves the creation of new alters based off of traumatic experiences or out of necessity. systems do not choose their alters. alters may be very similar or very different. some are different ages, sexualities, and genders than the body, some are even nonhuman. some alters have roles, some don't, but all are valid. there is no standard as to what a system should look like because each has its own purpose for functioning. some systems switch often, happening multiple times daily, others don't switch for weeks or even months, as well as everything in between. all are still systems.
but most importantly:
**DO NOT ASK SYSTEMS ABOUT THEIR TRAUMA. **

feel free to reach out to us about any questions you may have about did, systems, or otherwise.

terms

partial did - osdd1a/b and other system experiences that exist in between diagnostic criteriaosdd1a - similar to did, except having less defined parts, often different ages or different parts of one 'personality' separated by amnesiac wallsosdd1b - similar to did, except having limited or no amnesiac wallsalter - altered state of consciousness, a person within the systemsystem - a collective group of alters within an individualsubsystem - 1. a group of alters that exist within one alter, typically considered polyfragmentation. or 2. a portion of a system that only a limited number of alters have access tofront/fronting - the alter(s) in control of the body at the time and experience what's happening in the real worldconfront/cofronting - more than one alter in the front is typically referred to as confrontingco-conciousness - being able to experience what's happening in the real world but not having control of the bodyswitch - passing off the front to another or a group of alters, usually stimulated by a triggeramnesic walls - amnesia, blackout, or completely forgetting what happened before an alter switched usually as a trauma responsepassive influence - influence of an alter not currently co-con or frontingtrigger - something that reminds someone of past trauma or are key parts to their identity, often bringing an alter to the front or back into the inner worldintroject - a fictive or factivefictive - an alter based off of a fictional characterfactive - an alter based off of a real personsource - the media an introject derives fromlittle - a child alterfragment - most commonly an ego state that hasn't been fully formed. often exist as set ideas, memories, or patterns. have potential to form later onpolyfragmented - systems with a large amount of alters and complex subsystems

roles

host - alter(s) who front the most and do most daily things, can be split up among co-hostsprotector - an alter that's job is to protect the systempersecutors - alters who purposefully harm the body, system, other alters, etc. often misguided protectorstrauma holder - holds specific trauma the body had experiencedgatekeeper - an alter who has the capability to control who is fronting, many also have the ability to control amnesic wallssoother - an alter that's job is to soothe the system or a specific altersystem-specific - many systems have different roles, some are specific to the system themselves

recovery routes

fusion - when two or more alters join or fuse together to create onefinal fusion - the process in which all alters fuse until there is only one remaining. on average takes nearly a decade for most to achieveintegration - two alters being close enough to dissolve dissociative barriers and share memoriesfunctional multiplicity - improving communication system wide as to perform functionally while still being multiple. most systems choose this route

fakeclaiming

i don't want to have to make a statement about this, but i know i have to.
i do not support fakeclaiming in any capacity.
fakeclaiming is essentially telling a system that you don't believe they're a system for whatever reason you may have. it's extremely harmful to systems, but also to those 'faking' being a system. the road to unraveling identity issues is long, tedicious, and extremely hard. having the addition of people consistently telling you that you aren't who you believe you are makes it that much harder. unless you know this person's extensive mental health history and have lived days in their brain, simply don't. it's a covert disorder, and it's not something you can tell just by interacting with someone. it harms no one to just say nothing and block the system you wish to fakeclaim. let people figure out their own identity issues without the complication of invalidation. it's shitty, it's stigmatizing, and it fucks up actual system acceptance far more than you understand. thank you