You're a 'System'??

"Alters": What are they and what do they do?

TW: mentions of abuse, non-human alters, traumatic experiences

"Alters" is a term that refers to the Alternate Identity States in a DID/OSDD system. However, we personally prefer to use the term "Headmates" as this is more humanised and validating for those in our system.

Note: Other systems may use something different, so there isn't one correct term!

What makes an "Alter"?

An alter is created when a traumatic event is too overwhelming and/or difficult for the person to cope with via their 'normal' extent of dissociation. The brain then completely detaches from the experience, creates another person, and the memory is given to the new addition to the system.

These people are usually "created" with traits to help the person survive, cope with stressful and traumatic situations, or even help with daily life. They may hold different memories of the life of even completely new memories, for example, a fictive (see below).

When these people front, they have different perceptions and reactions to the world around them, and may behave differently or very similar to the Host of the system.

'Typical' Roles in the System

Note: Not all identities can fit into just one category. Below, we will briefly explain the 'main' types of alters.

ANP: Apparently Normal Part. Usually, these do not hold trauma and deal with the aspects of daily life.

Big: an identity that is an adult (aged 18-UK or 21-USA and older)

Caregiver: an identity whose primary role is to looks after the younger alters within a system. These may also be a caregiver for children in the physical world related to family or friends

Factive: an identity based off an individual who physically existed, typically abusers or role models the child believes will keep them safe

Fictive: an identity based off a fictional character, whether from a TV show, a book, a game, and the individual's creations, etc.

Fragment: an identity that is not fully differentiated and may represent a single function, memory, emotion, or idea

Gatekeeper: an identity that can control switching, who can access the front, the inner world or certain areas inside, or access to certain identities or memories. May also be an Internal Self-Helper

Host: the person who spends the most time in the body and is most responsible for completing day-to-day tasks

Internal Self-Helper: an identity that has vast amounts of knowledge about the system/others/trauma. May also be a gatekeeper

Introject: an identity that is based off an abuser, family member, caretaker, or another person, even fictional. They may or may not believe they are the individual they represent

Little: an identity that is a child under the age of 8

Middle: an identity that is an adolescent (aged 8-12)

Persecutor: often referred to as a "misguided protector". They hold self-hatred or internalised abusive messages/behaviour and purposely acts to harm the body/system/specific identities. Inflicting abuse on themselves/others is often a way for them to prevent future abuse by being able to control it but it can negatively impact everyone within the system. (BUT THEY ARE NOT EVIL. THEY ARE NOT MOSNTERS)

Protector: an identity that protects the body/system or other specific identities or even groups. Typically, they take physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse so the others do not have to and work to prevent this abuse happening and affecting the rest of the system

Teen alter: an identity that is a teenager

Non-Human Alters

TW: mention of death, ritual abuse, religion, demons, dehumanisation abuse.

Please be careful when reading ahead. We will not go into detail but the content may still be triggering

There may also be instances where a non-human alter is created within a system. This depends entirely on the traumatic events experienced. (They may also simply come from fictives when severely dissociating).

They may be supernatural, mythical, fantastical, or anything in between. Here are a few examples:

- Ghosts

- Demons

- Animals

- Angels

- Elves/Faeries

- Dragons

Why Non-Human?

Many people can accept DID/OSDD systems, but there are still some people who will question the validity of non-human alters. Here we will try to destigmatise these roles and provide a brief insight as to how/why these identities may be created.

Note: NEVER ask a system what their trauma is

We are not saying these explanations are definite reasons for the creation of non-human headmates because any identity can be created if the brain sees a need for it

TW: mentions of ritual/religious abuse, alluding to trauma/traumatic experiences, mention of death/dying

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Ghosts: A ghost alter may be created if the person has had a near-death experience or if they feel as though they are invisible or not completely alive. They may also be formed if they are an introject of a person in spirit either from the physical world or a fictional source

Demons: A demon alter may be created if the person has experienced ritual abuse or led to believe they were "evil" or a "demon". These types of alters are often persecutors. However, a demon alter may also be created as a protector if the child feels they need to be protected by a powerful force that can combat the "evil" they experience in the physical world.

Animals: These alters may be created if the child was treated as an animal or manipulated into believing they have animalistic behaviours. The child may also believe that it would be easier if they were an animal to protect themselves from the abuse

Angels: These alters could be a result of the person needing a positive light in their life and hope that there is an escape. From the angel headmates we know through friend systems, these are often caregivers or protectors

The imagination is an extremely powerful thing, therefore, whatever a child with DID/OSDD can imagine has a high possibility of becoming real for their system. Not all systems will have non-human headmates and some may have them for completely different reasons than suggested above, but:

ALL ALTERS ARE VALID

People with DID/OSDD have experienced traumatising events that there were unable to cope with, so their brains created something to help them manage their thoughts, feelings, and memories.

There are no "wrong or right" identities needed to be a system as we are all unique and it is dependent on our own experiences.