In post 0 , Silverclaw wrote:
>> What’s the purpose of this thread?
This thread primarily exists as a safe space to share experiences and provide support for those that identify with multiplicity/being plural. Secondarily, this is a thread to ask and answer questions for those that are either curious of what plurality is, or for those that are questioning their identity.
(Exclusionary practices against the experiences of any one user is expressly prohibited. Please be kind.)
>> What is plurality/multiplicity?
Plurality
(or
multiplicity
; this FAQ and OP will typically use the former term) is essentially
"the experience of many in one body"
. Plurality can be a preferred term for those suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD), as well as a broad umbrella term for anyone who mentally identifies as
"more than one"
beyond the DSM's criteria for specific disorders (which you can find
here ).
Studies show that at least 1-3% of the population may be affected by DID. This does not include OSDD/DDNOS (another 4-7%), or other forms of plurality. But to give a sense of scale, red-haired people are about 2% of the population. So if you know a red-haired person, you've probably met a plural person!
>> How does plurality start or form?
The most common theory as to how plurality can form is the
Theory of Structural Dissociation .
Essentially, the theory assumes that as infants, we all have different personality states that eventually integrate into one cohesive personality at a young age. Traumatic events before this supposed integration can cause these states to become unable to properly merge, and trauma
after
this integration can still cause disconnections of the personality as well.
However
, this theory is primarily directed towards the origins of one
specific
plurality type, of which there are multiple, and not every system of that type may adhere to this.
Here are some of the most common types of plurality:
is plurality formed through a trauma response; they may be diagnosed with DID or OSDD, or prefer to identify their origins in trauma without seeking out a particular diagnosis. is plurality formed without relevant trauma, or in some cases, where trauma isn't the only or most prominent factor. There are several subtypes, including:
or - plurality formed by an act of free will / intentionally. - plurality formed intentionally in order to cope with trauma. - plurality formed around birth, or as far back as the system can remember, with no noticeable singlet phase. - plurality formed to handle a mental disorder (or other disability) that is not
DID/OSDD-1. - plurality of unknown, indeterminate, or unspecified origin; they may not know, care about, or want to disclose their origins, or think it's irrelevant or the wrong question to ask. is plurality of multiple different origins (for example, a system with both traumagenic and parogenic system members).
Regardless of the reason behind someone's plurality,
their experiences are valid
. Similar to asking about other types of personal details, asking about the reasons behind someone's plurality unprompted, is typically considered very personal and/or rude.
In addition, there is no set "amount" or "degree" of trauma required to develop a disorder related to traumagenic plurality. Different people can have different outcomes from similar situations. Even systems that form without trauma at all, are still members of the plural community.
All experiences are valid here.
>> So how do I address plural individ-... people?
The most common term for plurals/multiples is
system
. The common term for those that are
not
plural/multiple is
singlet
.
Many systems will have a system name (e.g. The ___ System) which usually differs from the Body Name. When referring to the system as a whole, terms such as
"you&"
can be used in place of singular terms (unless the system has a different preference - e.g. y'all, singular pronoun, etc.).
The individual members of a system are typically referred to as
alters
,
systemmates
, or
headmates
, among other terms.
Most
alters prefer to be addressed by their chosen/given names and pronouns, although this may vary from alter-to-alter and system-to-system. Some headmates may not wish for their names or pronouns to be known.
Remember to respect each system member's individuality. Even if you've previously known this system by the name of a specific alter (or the body's name), other headmates in the system may not always enjoy being referred to by that name when
they're
the one you're talking to at the moment (known as
fronting
- or
co-conscious
if there are multiple members controlling the body).
If you know a system, it's never wrong to just ask them how they would prefer to be addressed. There may be situations where a system's multiplicity is not public knowledge, and it may be wise to use the Body Name/Pronouns (or a specific alter's) for the system's safety, as opposed to using multiple names or pronouns.
System members may wish to identify themselves in different ways to make referring to them easier. Over the internet, some headmates may sign their posts with emoji or initials, while some systems use tools such as
PluralKit on Discord to show who is currently in control of the body. In real life, systems may choose to dress or carry themselves differently based off of the alter who is "fronting", or by displaying subtle indicators such as buttons or bracelets.
>> What makes plurality different from acting or roleplaying?
Roleplay and acting involve one person taking on the mask of a character and acting as them for a period of time; it requires an active, concentrated effort. Plurality is multiple people sharing space within a body, and is simply how certain brains work for some bodies. Although it can seem to an outside observer that it's one person taking masks and acting in a different manner, the difference is that when someone “shifts” in this manner, either someone else has taken over entirely or there is a second person who is now sharing space with them.
The effect of roleplaying out more than one person would mean having to be “on” at all times and being ready for anything that could come your way, lest you break the mask. This, for many reasons, is something out of scope for most people.
Switching between system members can also result in psychophysiological changes, such as in
visual function (including
blindness ),
responses to medication , and
dominant handedness . These changes generally do not occur during roleplaying or acting.
>> How do I tell if someone is faking being plural?
Just as with any other form of identity - you don't.
You are not in their mind or their therapist.
Their experiences are valid if the words they use are what they believe are the closest to what goes on in their brain.
Telling a system that they are faking ("fakeclaiming") because they don't meet your own expectations of what a system "looks" like or how a system should behave
is not okay and is harmful to the plural community as a whole
.
Often this is the result of misconceptions from popular media. At other times, as is unfortunately a well-established phenomenon within marginalised groups, it can be the result of certain people within the community trying to distance themselves from others they believe "make them look bad" to those outside the community. Frequently the target of fakeclaiming accusations are younger systems who might not be able to express themselves as well as older systems, are still figuring out their identity, or are engaging in subversive behaviours that result in people considering them acceptable targets. Please be kind, and ask questions instead of jumping to conclusions.
>> Is there anything else I should know?
There's many different ways that plurality can manifest itself. Some systems have alters whose appearances, inner voice and such are based off of existing fictional characters (fictives), while others can have headmates based off of actual individuals (factives). Some systems may have all human members, while others may have non-humans in their system.
Some systems have "inner worlds" they can access mentally, while others find it difficult to do so or don't have an "inner world" at all. Some systems have alters that identify with a different age than the body's age, and others can have alters whose ages can change depending on their mental state. Some systems may eventually want to pursue an integration or "fusion" of their parts, while others may seek a route of healthy/functional multiplicity and learn to co-operate with their system after discovery.
Overall, just like singlets, each system is different. If you have a question for a specific system or alter, just ask them (but be nice about it!).
And if you have any other general questions, then this is the thread to ask them in!
>> How can I tell if I'm plural?
In [url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980115121850/http://www.asarian.org/~vickis/label.html]this article[/url], The Vickis wrote:The original poster went on to wonder, when sie would hear a voice inside yelling at hir for crying, or yelling the things sie wished sie could be yelling,
i don't know if this voice is my own, or another. i don't know how to tell.
Well, one way I tell, kind of, is to give these voices a chance to speak aloud or in writing, to us in dialog or, preferably, to others. When other parts say things that we weren't really aware of thinking or feeling, I figure that's a pretty good clue that it is another part. (And this happens
often
.)
But... you know, "real" doesn't really matter. What matters is "works". Does it
work
if you treat those voices as other parts, or alters? Does it work if you listen to what they have to say, treat them respectfully as "valid" points of view? Does it work to let those voices out to tell their own story in their own words, to feel their feelings? Does it work to slowly begin to reparent them, to create an inner sense of safety?
If it works, you get to do it.
I spent a lot of time saying that to myself, believe me. I would go through phases of feeling like I was making it all up, that I was overdramatizing, that what I was doing was silly, that I was just being influenced by my friends, etc etc etc. And I kept coming back to, "If it works, I get to do it."
Plurality, like many other things, exists on a spectrum. Everyone who experiences plurality will experience it differently, and there’s no definitive source on who gets to be plural. “Every therapist may draw the line that says "Multiple" in a different place” because of the sheer variety of experiences.
Are you experiencing some of the things that we talk about in this thread? Well, put on the label and try it for a while. You’ll never know until you try.
This post about alter roles
This post with a series of videos about systemhood. Recommended listening for anyone with questions.
