#jessicasnow

I'm going to address each question one at a time, as some of your phrasing implies you may have been fed misinformation at some point, and I would like to correct it.

1-

Alters are not present from birth. DID, OSDD, and similar dissociative disorders form during early childhood as a result of repeated, severe trauma. So there's really no "knowing your alters from birth" in DID, though I suppose if it forms young enough, it may as well be the same thing.

I first became aware of my system when we were... 16? 17? Right around there. A friend of mine who I went to school with started expressing concerns that he had DID, so I looked into it later on to try and understand what he was going through. Everything I read felt... just a bit too relatable for my comfort at the time. I knew. Deep down, I knew. But I ignored it. I had a lot going on in my life during that time, parents splitting and trying to stay afloat during it. I really couldn't process something of this magnitude, so while I don't like that I denied it, I absolutely understand why it happened.

About two years afterwards, when finally things had calmed and I was around 18, I started thinking about it again. I never truly forgot, it just sat at the back of my mind. But now it was at the forefront, and I finally felt safe enough to try facing it. And ever since, I've been working to try and accept it, to work with my system instead of against it. It's been difficult, but progress has been made, and I'm proud of myself for that.

2-

You're talking about the Headspace! That's the word systems typically use to describe this place. We do have a headspace, but I've only been there once or twice. I have a general idea of what it's like, but it can vary greatly from system to system.

Ours is a vast black expanse. If you've watched Stranger Things, you know that black void that Eleven goes to when she's using her powers to listen to people or something? It's similar to that.

There's the front room, which is just a small, sectioned off place where alters go in order to switch in or out. For instance, because I'm the one typing this, I'm in the front room right now. Behind me, there's a red couch, and it's leather and every time I've sat on it my legs have gotten stuck like it's a warm summer day. No matter what temperature it actually is. But it's comfy enough.

To my right is what we call the Library. That's where our Gatekeeper, Wubbzy, keeps a collection of memories - good and bad - and retrieves them when necessary.

There are other areas beyond the front room, too, like the City. It's a loud, bustling place full of neon lights and rushing cars, though I'm not sure who's driving them. Then there's the Forest, which is mostly trees and greenery, with one little playground in a clearing somewhere in there. Then there's Freddy's, which is just a copy-and-paste of the pizzeria from Five Night's at Freddy's 1. Those are all of the specific locations that I know about.

So, to put it simply, yes we have one, and yes I have an idea of what it looks like!

3-

I've heard of this before. System dating isn't too unusual. We see each other as separate people, so if romantic interest is shared, why not pursue it?

Personally, I think of my headmates more like family. I don't think I would be comfortable pursuing any of them romantically. They feel more like my siblings. Yes, I love them, but no, not like that.

No hate to any system out there who does date within their systems though! The human brain is fuckin' weird and I've learned pretty quickly to just focus on my own shit and not stress over what other people are doing with the people living in their brains.