How do you identify alters?

Characteristics of Alters
  1. different ages, for instance much younger or older;
  2. a different gender to the physical body;
  3. different names, or no name;
  4. different roles or functions, either related to daily life or to trauma;
  5. different attitudes, and preferences, e.g, in food, or dress.


How do DID alters appear?

In DID, alters are created unconsciously as a way for the brain to cope with trauma. Typically, it has characteristics deemed desirable to keep one safe. Each alter holds a different memory, role and meaning within the system. These alters can have different ages, gender, names and perceived appearance.

Can you talk to your alters out loud?

Alter communication varies across different DID systems, but the common communication methods include: talking aloud, to their alters or seemingly to oneself. communicating internally, to their alters.


How do alters get their names?

The names of the alters often have a symbolic meaning. For example, Melody might be the name of a personality who expresses herself through music. Or the personality could be given the name of its function, such as “The Protector” or “The Perpetrator”.

What kind of alters can you have?

Types of Alter Personalities. Several authors have described alter personality types: Child, persecutor, helper, opposite gender, memory trace, and suicidal alter personalities are among them [6].


A visual understanding of how alters / parts are formed by trauma in DID and OSDD



What is a gatekeeper alter?

Gatekeeper: A gatekeeper is an alter that controls switching or access to front, access to an internal world or certain areas within it, or access to certain alters or memories.

What does switching feel like DID?

They may appear to have fazed out temporarily and put it down to tiredness or not concentrating; or they may appear disoriented and confused. For many people with DID, switching unintentionally like this in front of other people is experienced as intensely shameful and often they will do their best to hide it.

Can an alter have no name?

My alters don't have names. I identify them by what they are for, what they do, how do they act or how do they feel. Like, the one who doesn't feel, the one who doesn't speak, the one who is depressed, the one who is confident, the one that resembles a child. It may sound complicated, but it's all clear in my head.


Do DID alters have different voices?

The different identities, referred to as alters, may exhibit differences in speech, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts and gender orientation. The alters may even present physical differences, such as allergies, right-or-left handedness or the need for eyeglass prescriptions.

Can DID alters be fictional?

There are many different types of alters in dissociative identity disorder (DID), including fictional introjects (Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder Alters). Fictional introjects, also called fictives, are alters that are based off of fictional people or characters.

Can two alters speak at once?

A specific form of co-consciousness is known as co-fronting. When two or more alters are in control of the body at the same time to varying degrees, they are said to be co-fronting. Alters may be aware of each others' actions or own each others' actions as their own to varying degrees.


Can you have DID without trauma?

You might have these feelings constantly rather than in episodes. It doesn't have to have been caused by a traumatic or stressful event. Many people think that this disorder might be more common than previously thought.

What do alters sound like in your head?

What do alters sound like? They sound more like thoughts than they do actual voices and they stay inside unlike auditory hallucinations. Sometimes you can almost hear a distinct voice speaking and other times it's a quick faint thought. Imagine like when reading a book and think of a particular voice for a character.

How can you tell if someone has DID?

What are the signs and symptoms of DID?
  • Anxiety.
  • Delusions.
  • Depression.
  • Disorientation.
  • Drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Memory loss.
  • Suicidal thoughts or self-harm.


Can an alter create an alter?

We came to call this personality, "Mother." Any one of a person's alter personalities can create a new alter.

Can an alter become the host?

An alter is another name for a part. An alter can take over at any time for any amount of time. An alter could be in control of the body longer than the original host, thus becoming the new host. So yes, an alter can become the host.

Can you hear your alters?

Yes. They are sometimes misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia, because their belief that they have different identities could be interpreted as a delusion. They sometimes experience dissociated identities as auditory hallucinations (hearing voices).


How do you talk to your alters?

Things to Say in Your First Conversation
  1. Welcome Them. Make the first move and take an interest in the alter you are speaking with. ...
  2. Set Boundaries and Rules. ...
  3. Use Their Name. ...
  4. Offer to Help. ...
  5. Listen. ...
  6. Feel.


How long do DID alters last?

Dormant alters act the same as dormant volcanoes. They may become silent for days or even years, but because they still exist, they will, under the right circumstances, make themselves known one day.

Can you force an alter to front?

Forced switches are agreed upon by some of the alters, but not all of them. A stronger alter might be pushing out in front of a weaker alter in a particular situation. Triggered switches are not intentional. Rather, they occur when a situation forces a particular alter to come forward.


What does switching alters look like?

Some indicators that a switch may be about to occur include the following: feeling "spacey", depersonalized, or derealized; blurred vision; feeling distanced or slowed down; feeling an alter's presence; or feeling like time is beginning to jump (indicating minor episodes of time loss).

Do alters have birthdays?

Some alters may age every year on the body's birthday or on a specific date that holds meaning to them, often the date at which they first came into existence. Other alters may age sporadically as they process their trauma and come to accept the current date and the age of the body.

Does switching Hurt DID?

People with DID have varying levels of awareness about their switching. Often people will experience some kind of physical symptom, like headaches, just before or after switching occurs. Loosing track of time could be another indicator that a person switched.


Can someone have DID and not know it?

Most people with DID rarely show noticeable signs of the condition. Friends and family of people with DID may not even notice the switching—the sudden shifting in behavior and affect—that can occur in the condition.

Can alters switch for no reason?

Alters (headmates) can switch for all types of reasons depending on the trigger. Switching between headmates is usually involuntary, and can cause a great amount of distress with the alter. Every DID system is unique. Some people with DID have more control over their switching than other people with DID.