The month of May is not only mental health month but also more specifically Multiplicity May.
Multiplicity is the name given to DID, and OSDD systems living with more than one personality. These disorders are real, valid, and caused by childhood trauma. When a child is developing their single personality, trauma prevents all memories, feelings and experiences to remain together and harmful things get compartmentalised to prevent further damage. These compartmental aspect, develop into their own identity and have completely unique wants, likes, feelings, opinions and appearances.
These parts are called alternate states of consciousness, or alters.
Now that we have some background we can do the A-Z of DID!
A- Alters
Alters are the different parts or identities of a DID/OSDD system.
B- Blackouts
A common symptom of DID are amnesia blackouts that occurs during switches or periods of dissociation.
C- Consciousness
Consciousness is defined as the state or quality of awareness or of being aware of an external object or something within oneself.
D- Dissociation
Detachment from self and surroundings in a daydream like state.
E- Emotional Parts
These parts in a DID/OSDD system contain unresolved trauma memories and can be angry, sad, or anxious all the time.
F- Fragments
An alter that has one specific purpose or role with a system and can be more 'flat' than other alters.
G- Grounding
This is an important part of living with DID as it keeps you present and calm while being in control of your body and surroundings.
H- Head-mates
This is another term for Alters as they 'live in your head'.
I- Inner world
Inner worlds are the place that alters live that isn't a physical or external location. They can all be unique to the system.
J- Journal
Journal keeping is a special way to let alters communicate and express themselves in the external world. (I have a post about this).
K- Kindness
Very important to be kind and respectful to everyone in and out of the DID/OSDD community :).
L- Littles
Alters between the ages of 0 and 9.
M- Memory Loss
Another common symptom of the disorder and can result in not remembering trauma, childhood, daily activities and even life events.
N- Non-human Alters
Alters that are animal, spiritual, imaginary, fictive, unworldly, or just not identifying as being human.
O- OSDD
Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder.
P- PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Q- Questioning Gender
When alters identify as a different gender to that of the body, people with DID often question their gender.
R- Real
This disorder is real and impact about 2% of the worlds population.
S- Self Care
Important for anyone and everyone.
T- Triggers
Triggers are things that bring alters forward, push alters inside, cause a negative/positive reaction or cause flashbacks. (I have a post on this).
U- Unique
No one with this disorder has the same alters, inner worlds, symptoms, or even traumas. This disorder is unique to everyone and impacts everyone differently.
V- Valid
This is a valid disorder and those who have it are also valid.
W- Worries
A lot of anxiety comes with the disorder and majority of these worries come from the negative stigma and how we are seen by others
X- (e)xperiences
Everyone has different experiences with the disorder and there is no right or wrong.
Y- Youtube
There are some amazing DID you tubers to there who bravely share their lives with this illness and inform others about it.
Z- ZZZZZZ
Switches make you sleepy and drowsy all the time so sleep is important.
YAYYYYY!!! That was the A-Z of DID. I hope that you liked it and found it helpful in some way. Please try to share this and my other DID posts to celebrate multiplicity may!
Thank you all for supporting me and being so kind :)
Jen xx
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