the-andromeda-collective

[the-andromeda-collective]

Some points to be learned from this article:

A massive analysis of 1.5k+ studies contrasted the different theoretical models for DD & concluded that DD are posttraumatic in nature. 

There are no clinical studies that support the iatrogenic, sociocognitive, or fantasy models.

DID is a posttraumatic childhood onset disorder.

DD patients are at a huge risk for suicidal and self-destructive behavior.

DD patients have been found to have the highest rates of suicide attempts in many studies. Despite this, they are often overlooked in suicidality studies.

The lack of adequate treatment and recognition for DD is a major public health issue which is leading to substantial human and societal costs.

“By the time many DD patients are correctly diagnosed, they are demoralized and have suffered substantial secondary losses from years of unproductive treatment, hospitalizations, suicide attempts, disfiguring self-harm, disability, and careers as chronic ‘treatment resistant’ patients.”

“A major public health effort is needed to raise awareness about dissociation/DD, including educational efforts in all mental health training programs and increased funding for research.”

[the-andromeda-collective]

"You need to relax"

Best I can do is dissociate

[the-andromeda-collective]

The tools that worked while you were surviving are usually not the tools that work while you’re healing. It’s okay if you struggle with the change. Be patient with yourself as you figured it out and show yourself compassion.

[the-andromeda-collective]

I gotta go Cecil Palmer mode and start saying “And now, the weather” before listening to any song. I think becoming him could fix me.

[the-andromeda-collective]

So we definitely need more positive representation of DID, but you know what would be funny? Mildly inconvenient representation of DID.

Oh the world is ending and you need to know about this one specific thing? Yeah I have a guy for that but he doesn't feel like fronting right now

Sorry what's happening rn is this the bad guy? Yeah I just switched in idk what's going on

I know you're dating one alter but we're currently co-con with another alter who hates you so idk how I'm feeling rn

And just who do i think I am? It's funny you should ask that I actually don't know right now

[the-andromeda-collective]

hello! when u have did or osdd how do u deal with the reoccurring denial that your alters are just mood states or normal singlet multidimensionalness of identity that you’re just misidentifying as alters? 😵‍💫 what can be said to prove to yourself otherwise? are there any sources/explanation on the differences between the two things (alters vs normal singlet variation of identity)? I saw your post on things that were actually did but u thought were normal.. and I was wondering if u had anything else related to say related to this topic?

For me, I eventually came to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter if what I'm experiencing are "alters" or "mood states" (or something akin to that) because ultimately it doesn't really matter if they're "truly" alters or not, what I experience is dissociation and a disconnected sense of self (among other things). Instead of trying to ascertain if what I'm experiencing is an alter or a mood state, I've found it more useful to just observe myself and my experiences. By noting things down that are actually observable, I can start to spot patterns and draw conclusions that way- and also keep an open mind that whatever conclusion I come to may not necessarily be fully accurate or correct.

Two analogies come to mind for myself- the first is that of stars and constellations. In one area of the world, we may draw shapes in the stars in one particular way. In another area of the world, we connect them differently. Are either of these patterns more correct than the other? No, we merely see different patterns in the same night sky, and it doesn't mean one is more or less correct than the other. The second analogy I have is that of scientific models- science is ever-evolving after all. The models we had hundreds of years ago may no longer hold up in current day due to new information and discoveries. With each new bit of research and observation of the universe around us, we grow closer to understanding how this universe functions and thus we need to change and update our models are we learn new things. Does this mean our old models were wrong? More often than not, they weren't wrong so much as they were incomplete- and in either case, it merely means that we now have a better understanding of the world and the universe around us.

Unfortunately I don't have any papers or research off the top of my head that can differentiate between alters in a dissociative system vs singlet "parts of selves". I'll post this ask either way, in case any of my followers can provide anything for you, anon!

[the-andromeda-collective]

dear systems,

— its okay to have inconsistent amnesia barriers.

- its okay to not recall times when you were fronting.

- its okay to have full amnesia blocks sometimes, and emotional amnesia other times with no identifiable pattern.

- its okay to not have amnesia between switches sometimes.

— its okay to not have gatekeepers.

- its okay to not know if you do or do not have any gatekeepers.

- it is okay to wish you had a gatekeeper.

— its okay to have no control over switches.

— its okay to have no communication.

— its okay to feel upset that youre a system.

- its okay to feel frustrated that these things are out of your control.

- its okay to not be making any “improvements” in communication or functionality.

- its okay to be angry.

— its okay to be scared.

[the-andromeda-collective]

I was about to make a silly little post about how dysphoria seems to be contagious as several of us who thought we were basically fine with the bodies presentation have more and more bouts of it, but, uh, now I'm just thinking that we're probably just becoming more aware of our own feelings as we try to be more ground and present in our own life.

[the-andromeda-collective]

There is no I in team

But there is several I's and a team in

Dissociative amnesia

There's also an ass but we don't talk about them

[the-andromeda-collective]

I just saw a TikTok that actually made me think.

It basically said something about how when you’re talking about having a “normal” childhood, consider whether you’d want your child to have that childhood.

And I don’t have a child, but it still made me think. I wouldn’t want any child to have my childhood. It really hit me.

So, I thought I’d share that here as something to think about.

When you’re struggling with wondering whether your childhood was “bad” or whether you’re valid to feel upset by it, consider whether you’d be okay with another child having your childhood.

[the-andromeda-collective]

are you ever like. i’m not the right Me right now to hang out with people. wait until the better guy shows up lol this one kind of sucks 

[the-andromeda-collective]

I recognize this isn't the best wording and I do understand why a lot of system have alters of different genders and I understand why we have a lot of male alters and I do love and appreciate them.

But sometimes, I don't know if it's second hand dysphoria or what, but it's just this weird feeling in my chest about it. Like, feeling that even through clothes freaked me out as kid and was literally traumatizing for me and you want the physical body to have one? But why?

Granted, I do think purity culture is also a culprit in this situation because I was taught that I abstain from any type of sexual thought, and the way the natural human body is sexualized due to purity culture, it also sexualizes dysphoria in my brain. Because it's not a simple thought of "my body doesn't fit my identity, I wish I had something else", it's more like "I don't think my body matches my identity, but I feel like I can't want anything else because that's just being lustful and lust is gross."

Do any other afab systems ever think about their male alters and just like... "You want to be a guy with a dick? The thing that abused us?"

[the-andromeda-collective]

Do any other afab systems ever think about their male alters and just like... "You want to be a guy with a dick? The thing that abused us?"

[the-andromeda-collective]

you never know what someone is going through. for instance i didnt know i was going through anything until about 2 years later. i thought i was just chilling

[the-andromeda-collective]

Guide to Voluntary Switching

I/we have known we are a system for around a decade now. One of the most helpful things we have ever learned to do is switching on command. Believe it or not, although it may not feel possible, it is possible to control switching. Sometimes it is harder to do and the switch may not last long, but overall it is very possible to learn how to consistently switch in and out as needed. We are a traumagenic system but this should work for other types of systems as well.

One useful application of this skill is for studying. The alter who learns information is the one with the easiest access to this information. It is possible to keep track of who studied and deliberately call them out when the information is needed.

It is also a great skill to use when processing trauma during therapy. It makes accessing dissociated materials that are specific to one alter much easier. It can help access alters with traumatic memories during something like an EMDR session. Outside of therapy, voluntarily accessing other alters has a wide variety of uses related to accessing compartmentalized ideas and feelings, or the opposite - switching to a capable alter when a young or traumatized alter is not up to handling an unavoidable responsibility or letting a tired alter rest and allowing a new host to become prominent.

The Skill of Gatekeeping

Gatekeeper alters are a well-known alter type. They are present in many systems. If you are in contact with one or more gatekeeper alters, try to get to know them. They may be able to teach you how to think in the way that they do that allows them to control who is and isn't in the front.. It is also possible to develop a good relationship with a gatekeeper alter and ask them to voluntarily trigger switches as needed. This is one method of learning how to control switching that works for some systems.

From what my gatekeepers have shared,

"gatekeeping is in essence: remembering who everyone is, and remembering how they feel allows you to find them inside and pull them out. There is also a feeling of pushing internally that pushes alters back and temporarily makes them go dormant. "

Alter Relationships

Some alters are closer to other alters. These alters may remember the existence of other alters that others may not remember. They may be able to trigger in alters that are close to them but not to the other alter.

Internal World Dynamics

It is possible to call inside for an alter, ask for them to switch in, and they may in fact switch in, although if they are especially dormant they may not hear this request at all. Do note that just thinking about the other alter may trigger a switch to that alter.

What helps is to make an area inside where alters can be found. This could be a specific room or place for each individual alter, or a general meeting area. It can be easy to find alters there because if you last remember seeing them inside somewhere, going back to that place sometimes allows you to access them much more easily. Grouping alters that want to front together/more frequently into a similar place can help them co-front together and find each other more conveniently to trigger switches.

Positive Triggers

All alters have certain things that they are passionate about and interested in. Many alters have specific roles that they automatically come out to perform when the situation calls for it. Pay attention to these triggers. If there is a certain behavior or situation that calls out an alter, make note of that. If an alter especially enjoys doing something, doing that activity can trigger them out - as can even just thinking about doing the activity. If an alter really likes something the other alters do not have a particular preference for, keeping a reminder of this thing around can trigger a switch. If this trigger is easily encountered voluntarily, it can be used to call out the alter.

Network of Associations

All of our alters and other types of thoughtforms are connected to memories and ideas that belong to them. The brain can only process so much information at once, so all living forms within the mind cannot be active at once. The information that is salient in our mind determines who is fronting. The brain can be tricked into pushing specific alters to the front by activating information that is associated with this alter and pushing away information that is not.

Memories

All alters are connected to at least a few memories. These are typically memories that they were personally present for - but could also be memories of creative or analytical ideas, or memories of having a strong emotional reaction about something. This often comes with a sense(s) of nostalgia that is associated with the alter and often occurs when the alter fronts. Remember each one for each alter. Some may overlap. This sense of nostalgia as well as any of these associated pieces of cognitive information, such as specific memories or ideas, can be used to voluntarily switch. They may also have an area of the internal world that is associated with them where they may easily be found.

Essence

Each alter has a distinct sense of self. Particularly in systems with strong amnesia barriers, it may be difficult or impossible to directly experience this firsthand. If it is possible to remember what it feels like to be them when they are present, this can be used to trigger a switch.

Using These Associations to Make the Switch Happen

Reflect on something associated with the alter, and the feeling of their nostalgia or what it feels like to be them. This will usually trigger a switch within a few minutes of doing this constantly or repeating it every few minutes. It may help to pay attention to what areas are active in the internal world as you do this. Try to go to areas where you know that alter often is; you may make a meeting area for the purpose of these voluntary switches to make this easier. Keep talking inside to see if they respond and are co-present. Once you feel their sense of self, imagine yourself/feel yourself mentally falling behind them and push yourself backwards inside. As they begin doing things outside of the mind in the real world, eventually you will either become coconscious, you remain present but are somewhat dissociated and may only be active in the internal world/mind's eye, or a full switch will happen and you won't even notice you're gone.

Types of Triggered Switches

It is possible to trigger a full switch (either one with or without coconsciousness,) as well as to trigger partial switches. Partial switches happen when an alter is awakened and present in some form, for instance they may be able to converse or remember events, but they do not fully front.

Coconsciousness

It is common for voluntary switches to lead to a switch wherein the triggered alter fully fronts and switches in while the original alter that provoked the switch also remains present. If this type of switch is specifically desired, it can be achieved by making an agreement with the alter that is going to switch in. Together, one alter can remember to trigger the other alter whenever they notice the other is not present, and this keeps them present at the same time. If co-consciousness is difficult for a system, this may feel like playing tag at first as both alters get used to the skill of triggering switches.

Complete Switch

Complete switches are common in response to voluntary switching. If the switching alters are all in agreement, they can maintain a planned switch by engaging in a voluntary switching method to keep the intended alter in the front. It can help to have a place in the internal world where they can go to symbolize they are leaving the front and going inside. The alter that has switched in can use the voluntary switching methods as a grounding technique to reduce dissociation and keep that particular alter in front. Particularly in dissociative systems, the brain naturally attempts to depersonalize which causes cyclical personality switching; grounding on the essence of that alter's sense of self reduces this dissociation and keeps them in front.

Ground to Maintain

It is common for the triggered switch to not last for very long. You may need to trigger the switch multiple times before it sticks. It helps if the alter switching in tried to ground themselves. If you remain co-conscious, which can happen in a succesful triggered switch, it can help to reflect on the stimulus (such as the feeling of the alter or their memories or favorite things) you used to trigger the switch to help solidfy and maintain the switch.

Fatigue

It can feel mentally exhausting to try to trigger a switch too many times. It is not uncommon to have to trigfer a switch multiple times, failing each time before giving up. Sometimes, you just cannot trigger a switch at all for some inexplicable reason. Don't be afraid to give up for a bit and try again later. It gets easier the more you practice. Don't be discouraged.

Host Switching

It happens to us all from time to time - our host(s) becomes tired or depressed and needs a break. Maybe our host is functional but is not as interested in daily life as another alter that would like a more active role in their life (perhaps because it involves something that is a positive trigger for them.) There is a way of chronically using these alter switching techniques to change hosts.

In order to change hosts, you have to trigger a switch to the intended new host frequently. Some people set an alarm on their phone to trigger a switch several times a day (depends on how long the triggered switch lasts), or make an in-system agreement to always trigger the intended host when host responsibilities (like going to the doctor or paying bills or going to class or eating) come up.

By chronically triggering a switch to a different host, over time (a few days to a few weeks, generally) this becomes the system's default pattern of switching.

Hostile Uses of Deliberate Switching

Remain in good communication with your alters and make sure that the switching alters are okay with what is happening. Don't try to force alters that don't want to leave to go away, and don't try to force alters that don't want to be present to the front. Going against an alter's will can feel painful at the moment and can cause long term problems if it becomes a chronic habit.

[the-andromeda-collective]

[the-andromeda-collective]

reblog to diminish the horrors from the person you reblogged from