System Misinfo Clear-Up

Fictional and Factual Introjects (also known as Fictives and Factives) are a common type of Alter in Systems. They are Alters Based off of external sources, either fictional characters or real life people.

Fictional Introjects

A Fictional Introject (also known as a Fictive) is an Introject that is based off a fictional character. A fictional Introject can possess characteristics, appearance, and name of the fictional character they have introjected from. Of course, it is not guaranteed or the 'correct' way to introject. Introjects are still alters that possess their own personality, appearance, and possibly name. Furthermore, Introjects can, of course, become disconnected or move on from their source, distancing themselves. A Fictional Introject can also split if the source character is similar to an abuser.

Factual Introjects

Factual Introjects (also known as Factives) are Introjects of real life people, oftentimes abusers. As is the same with Fictional Introjects, while they can possess characteristics and appearance of their 'source', they can just as well not possess every trait. They are still their own people and can (and in a lot of cases will) move on from their source.

How are Introjects formed?

While Introjects split off the same was as any other alter, due to extreme stress or trauma, they are set apart from non-Introject alters. Furthermore, Fictional Introjects and Factual Introjects split due to different circumstances.

Fictional Introjects form because of a connection to a fictional source or character. If the system finds comfort in a source or a character, it is likely that an alter will Introject from that source.

Factual Introjects will either be based off an abuser (this also includes perceived abusers) or off people the system have idolized. Factual Introjects only form due to a very strong connection, either good or bad, to the person.

Factual Introjects, especially Abuser Introjects, are not inherently evil or bad. It is not the Introject's fault. Introjects can not choose their source or choose to be an Introject.

As a system is formed by trauma, and every alter splits off due to trauma, Introject purposes are to deal with trauma. The brain will Introject a character that might be useful for the healing and stability of the system. Someone who's characteristics or abilities can help in recovery (or halt recovery)

'Introject' is not a role, and Introjects can just as well have any other alter roles. An Introject can be a Trauma Holder, a Protector, a Persecutor, a Gatekeeper, and even a Host.

Introjects do not only form in childhood, but can, like any other alter, split at any given time.

At the end of the day it is important to remember that Introjects are just as much alters like any other alter. Do not treat them like a character and do not reduce them to their source. They are also not similar to fictionkin. Treat them like people. They are people.

(x)

hey, we are the Bastard System or Max.

we're a DID system with about 20 known alters. all of our posts will be tagged with #modmax and our signoff will either be just Max or -[Alter Name] (Bastard).

our body age is 20, and we are from germany :)

There is a common misconception that alters can die. This is untrue.

You may perceive them as have died, but they are not dead!

All alters in a DiD/OSDD1 system are dissociated parts of one larger Self. In DiD/OSDD1, the host is also a part, and is not the larger Self, nor is the host more human or more of a person than the other parts/alters. Of course most parts have personhood, excepting fragments (I am not saying that they aren’t people!), however it is important to remember that due to their nature as parts, there are some things they cannot do.

It is impossible to kill a part of your larger self. What we hear described as “alter death” is usually dormancy, or integration.

We ourself have dealt with dormancy misread as death. In middle school (before we knew what a system was and that we were one) our host (whom is still host) fourced a persecutor who believed se was the body’s original owner into dormancy. Our host genuinely believed that he killed er, and for years was stricken with guilt until se fronted again.

Complete Integration is one of the two most common end goals in treatment of disordered systems. (The other being functional multiplicity.) However, a lot of systems forget to mention that integration can occasionally happen on its own. Integration cannot be done without the consent of both parties involved, but sometimes you don’t really know what’s going on until it’s over.

When I say that alter death isn’t real, sometimes people react like I’ve told them that their experiences are false and it’s foolish to mourn.

Your experiences are not fake. They are real to you and that is important. However, it is possible to misinterpret your experiences. That is okay. We’ve done it too.

It’s perfectly fine to mourn an integrated or dormant alter. If it feels like a loss to you, then you should be allowed to grieve. It is also perfectly fine to grieve anything that feels like a loss.