#dissociativeidentitydisorder

[syllvarin]

Non-traumagenic plurality: How could it be possible?

First off, let's start with what some anti-endo folk mean versus what they don't mean with traumagenic plurality

They mean systems caused by/as a response to trauma and traumatic events, and those who are still affetced by them, aka systems who are disordered, DID/OSDD/UDD.

What they don't mean is systems who have trauma in their origin along with other causes. They do not believe a system can very well be traumagenic but function smoothlessly due to recovering, or have multiple origins.

Note: We are a diagnosed DID system with mixed (trauma/ramcoa/neuro/para) origins. Yes, we know what we are talking about. No, that doesn't mean we can't do mistakes, but we will try our best to be as accurate as possible. We will include scientific articles, DSM-5 DID checklist, and many more in this post.

How can that be possible?

1st: Brains are quite complicated. Research on brain functions is far from being complete, it is a long road that we are still at the very beginning of. We still don't know how brain exactly works let alone how it can form seperate conscious identities and work them together. We do know headmates exist based on brain MRI's ( link here ) That proves us that systems indeed, exist.

2nd point i want to make is that science is not done in a linear fashion. We are studying to be neuroscientists ourselves and the very core of what makes science doable is MONEY. Yes, in this capitalist system even the most seemingly basic research requires funding, money, and a goal that can be monetized to get done. Reseaches on female autonomy, rare disorders and "demonized" disorders such as DID is therefore not often as it is not easily capitalized and funded.

Therefore we do not have enough research to prove or disprove that the only way of becoming a system is through childhood.

And that brings me to my 3rd point, where we will take a look at what DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) says about diagnostic crietria of DID. We will see how it is a dissocative disorder, not a trauma disorder.

Found under dissociative disorders (not trauma disorders!), checklist for DID is as follows:

See how none of those checklist include trauma as checklist? Yes DID is commonly caused by trauma but not always. Yes it commonly is created during childhood but not always. Those arent in diagnostic criteria.

Definitive feature is not trauma, it is distinct personality states or experience of possession.

DID is associated with traumatic events, does not mean it requires it.

DID can manifest at almost any age (DSM-5 is saying that, folks)

What's more is OSDD doesnt even have a definitive checklist like DID. it is found under differential diagnosis, with other disorders. PDID (partial DID where one part is frontstuck a majority of the time) is also up to psychiatrist's evaluation rather than a concrete checklist.

4th point is : What about Structural Dissociaton Theory?

This theory is as it goes: The theory of Structural Dissociation works off of the assumption that everyone is born with different ego states that later merge in life. Those different ego states operate for different actions in life, that later integrate into one person during ages of 4-6. Trauma disrupts that integration and causes ANP (apparently normal parts) and EP (Emotional parts). EP's are stuck in the trauma while ANP's are not.

source: The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation and the Treatment of Chronic Traumatization" by Onno van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis, and Kathy Steele. 

Yes, theory. Theories are not concrete. They can be disapproved, they can change, they may not fit every experience. Structural dissociation only explains how DID can manifest at childhood, but we already know by now that DID can manifest at almost any age.

So I personally think basing everything on a theory about how DID might've been caused (which doesn't even perfectly explain every possible way) is not as fault-proof as one might think it is.

Point 5: experiences of "multiple identities" exist for so long into history (people who are possessed, talk to themselves, act weird at times, are very different at times, etc), way before any DID/OSDD terms were created. And actually, how can we know how many people in history have had this experience when the very society we are in is very scared of them? It is fair to say only the disruptive cases must've been noticed, and majority of them probably were either deemed as crazy or exorcised as they believed those people were possessed by spirits. Just because your experience does not fit with others and just because science hasnt done anything to back them up, doesn't mean people's lived experiences are false. Why would so many people tell that they are a system when they are not? We are not living in a place where being a system is happy or fun, we are not in a society where its profitable or anything. It literally gives a person zero + points for being plural if they arent. It would be a nonstop roleplay they have to keep up throughout every aspect of their life; and at that point, it must be either impossible or that person is already plural and not roleplaying when no one is looking at them.

Creating headmates is on the same basket. A person with DID can create headmates in blink of an eye (we know from oursleves) sometimes splitting threshold is so low you may split off multiple people at once. You cannot know what is going in a person's mind, and what mechanisms work for creating a headmate. If they claim they did, it is very much no chance they are faking being different people 24/7. It *is* a real chance that they actually did develop a headmate. If you do not believe them; ask them about their experiences. I am %100 positive that if you actually listen to them, you will see those people are only trying to live their life.

Also, if you think healthy systems cannot exist and only way to be a system is through dissociation and dysfunction; then why would DID systems try to heal anyway? Wouldn't that just be sanist and ableist to expect all of them to turn into singlets because healthy multiplicity isnt a thing?But no, it is a thing, and healthy multiplicity and recovery is possible for systems. DID and other disordered forms of plurality do indeed exist, and they are indeed, treatabe in multiple ways according to what a person feels comfortable with. That is also a system's right to heal however they please. They don't owe anyone their right to stay as plural or become a singlet.

6th point I want to make is about: Why do we even care?

If a person says they have multiple people in their head, why do we care and tell them they are faking? They are not claiming to have a diagnosis, even if they did; if their situation is causing a distress to them, then they ARE diagnosable and that therefore is none of our business, again.

Last point I want to make is how endogenic DID is possible. yes, possible. remember how trauma is not in diagnostic criteria and DID can happen at any age? If endogenic plurals can happen, they can also form DID at later in life. They can also become disordered due to an event in their life. They can lose harmony and become so dysfunctional they need professional help. That doesn't mean they are no longer endogenic or some other origin, that simply means their state is different than what it was and they need help.

End of our post. Thank you for reading.

[can-d-i-d]

[paradoxesofgalaxies]

If You Wake Up After a Nightmare, Coping With Trauma Related Dissociation

[image ID: If You Wake Up After a Nightmare

If you wake up at night after a disturbing dream or nightmare, or feel anxious and panicky, it is important to be able to calm down and comfort yourself and other parts that are anxious. Work with yourself and your therapist to develop various ways to help yourself.

• The first step is always to get your bearings in the present. Use all the anchors to the present you have put in your bedroom. Talk to yourself quietly and tell yourself out loud where you are.

• Turn on the light and get out of bed. Perhaps have something to drink and find something to distract you.

• Splash cool or cold water on your face, hands, and the back of your neck. This will help you get more present and awake.

• Consciously slow your breathing. Try some breathing exercises.

• Do some gentle stretching exercises to help your body reorient to the present.

• If you have a pet, spend a little time petting or cuddling with him or her.

• If you have physical symptoms, such as a bad taste in your mouth, or pain or discomfort, be mindful in talking to yourself inwardly as you do things to soothe yourself (for instance, brush your teeth, have a noncaffeinated drink, suck on a mint or hard candy, massage painful muscles): "I am in the present now. Whatever happened to me is over. I am safe. My mouth, my legs, my body, etc., are in the present. I am doing all I can to help all parts of myself." Try to be aware of any internal sense of what might help.

• Some people find that it helps if they write down a distressing dream or image and then put it away, tear it up, or bring it to therapy. The idea is not to go further into the experience, but to contain it by putting it on paper and leaving it until a more appropriate time.

• You might try "changing" your nightmare. Add a supportive or strong person to the dream, invent a way out of the situation, or give yourself special powers to overcome any sense of powerlessness or fear in the dream. Your therapist may be able to help you with this kind of technique.

• Some people wake up from a nightmare and find they are unable to move. Although this is extremely uncomfortable and even frightening, it will not last for very long. It is simply the state of being paralyzed by fear. If this happens to you, make sure you have some anchors to the present visible from every angle from the bed: on your left, your right, even on the ceiling. Even though you cannot yet move, you can begin to see the anchor and gradually perceive you are in the present. This perception will help your body shift out of that paralysis mode. Try starting with a tiny movement, for instance, blinking your eyes, and just barely twitching your toe or little finger. When you can do this, then move the opposite toe or finger. Then make a slight movement with your hand or foot, then your arms or legs. Continue slowly and patiently until your entire body has become more able to move.

/end ID]

[jemmasspace]

Literally so spacy and tired right now but I never get to be out so I don't want to go to sleep

[traumaanddissociation]

Actors role playing DID can be identified from differences in brain activation patterns, compared to people with DID - and brain activation patterns depend on whether an trauma holder alter / EP is in charge or a Apparently Normal Part / host - supporting the Theory of Structural Dissociation of the Personality (TSDP).

Multiple brain scan studies support structural dissociation, brain activation differences between alters, brain activation differences between people with DID and healthy controls or trained actors pretending to have DID.

Regions of the brain activated are those known to be associated with self-referencing and sensorimotor actions, but not the regions linked to imagination

Schlumpf YR, Reinders AATS, Nijenhuis ERS, Luechinger R, van Osch MJP, Jäncke L (2014) Dissociative Part-Dependent Resting-State Activity in Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Controlled fMRI Perfusion Study. PLoS ONE 9(6): e98795.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791283/

[littleashthings]

Good morning lovelies! Progressing through learning how to rig and I can’t wait to improve on this draft. 🖤 Is starting to look nice and squishy! 

[dissociative-memes]

Top text reads: “Can’t find keys” Bottom text reads: “Little hidden them in fruit basket again”]

Ah yes, microamnesias...

[ra-ra-rum-ma-ma]

I don’t think I realised how deep this unhealthy attachment I have to my mother actually runs. 

My mother was just as involved in everything as my dad was, but for some reason i can’t seem to bring myself to break contact with her. The idea of losing touch with her completely breaks me every day, despite knowing she isn’t the woman my child brain made her out to be. 

I’m learning that there’s no right way to process this kind of thing. That it doesn’t make the abuse any less true, and that it doesn’t make me a coward. Nights like these make that a bit of a hard fact to swallow, though. Especially when you have that child part of you that is constantly crying out for her mum. 

[pace-hospitals]

National Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple personality disorder) Awareness Day, 5 March 2025

National Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Awareness Day, observed annually on March 5th, aims to raise awareness and promote understanding of this complex psychological condition. It combats stigma, educates the public about DID's realities, and supports those affected. 

Advocacy efforts focus on increasing access to proper diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care for individuals with DID, while encouraging research and public discourse to foster a more informed and supportive society.

Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Dissociative Identity Disorder, earlier known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a severe dissociative condition often linked to childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect. Individuals with DID experience disruptions in identity, memory loss, emotional detachment, and may have multiple distinct personality states. Despite being a recognized medical condition, DID is often misunderstood due to misrepresentation in media and societal misconceptions.

Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

DID is a serious mental health disease followed by struggling in identity, memory, and perception. The symptoms can differ in severity and may affect daily life and functioning.

Multiple Distinct Identities: Individuals with DID experience two or more separate personality states, each with their own unique behaviors, emotions, and memories.

Memory Gaps (Dissociative Amnesia): Significant lapses in memory, including forgetting important life events, daily activities, or traumatic experiences, unrelated to normal forgetfulness.

Depersonalization and Derealization: A sense of detachment from oneself (depersonalization) or feeling like the world around them is unreal (derealization).

Sudden Mood and Behavior Changes: Unexpected shifts in emotions, reactions, or personality traits, often without the person's awareness or control.

Hearing Voices or Internal Conversations: Some individuals report hearing voices or experiencing internal dialogue between different identities.

National Dissociative Identity Disorder day 2025

[sylvester2224]

I was having a hard time with inspiration for my collages. I was always worried about what others would think or how I would be made fun of, but I’m doing my best to let it go and try to just do things for myself. There’s this Bowie interview that they said to keep focus on your creative process and to not worry about what others were doing or saying, that the entire reason we decided to create something was because we saw something special in ourselves somewhere along the way. That’s where we should focus our inspo, on the special memories and feelings. As a kid I loved drawing and playing fairies in my yard, and as a teenager I would go on walks to the fairy garden I made in the woods. Sometimes I wonder if it’s still there, before I left people were adding to it and I wish I could see it now, feeling very homesick.

[livingfictionsystem]

This time last year, Rune was shadowing us just to gauge the vibe of everything and I'm loving some of her first impressions.

"Is *everyone* depressed? I'm asking because I want to fit in."

"So, we mostly use the Plural app to argue over what the next Audible credit will be used on?"

"Do *all* of your friends do drag?"

"So, to decide who works at the hotel for the night, do one of you just lose a bet, or...?"

-Xanthe

[jemmasspace]

God I feel so unfunctional sometimes! Like why can't I just do something? Why am I always so exhausted from just living? Why do I feel so stuck and asleep?

[littleashthings]

I finally got to debut my straitjacket for my Vtuber. Well worth the over half a year it took to make. I'll update soon with a video detailing the process!

[systemlani]

DID - On Self-Doubt

A shorter excerpt today, from our blog post titled, "Lani - A Life as 'Multiple' and Introducing Us" (full version on our website, lanisystem.com). It took a rocky and overwhelming few years to figure out that we had DID, and to understand that we were a system. It's something we still struggle with today. But it was also a rewarding experience, once I knew how to manage being a system.

Systems Q&A: What was it like when you DIDN'T yet know that you were a system or had DID?

[ra-ra-rum-ma-ma]

For those claiming that trauma doesn't cause dissociation - I ought to remind you that this is a coping mechanism adopted by the child so that they don't have to face what they're going through.

It affects developmental milestones, more specifically the time frame in which a child discovers a sense of self.