#polyfragmented did

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other helpful links! ☆ What is dissociative identity disorder? ☆ Common terms in the system community ☆ About the theory of structural dissociation

For this post I will be taking most of my information from this post [LINK] by @/too_many_mes (not tagging them because I'm unsure if they want to be tagged!). While some people might say that being polyfragmented is as simple as having more than 100 alters, it's actually a lot more complicated than that. Polyfragmentation is more about the complex organization and makeup of a system rather than the alter count.

Common features of polyfragmented DID include (but are not limited to!) the following:

Having a long history of trauma/abuse that started very early in life and may have lasted many years, whether consecutive or otherwise. Many polyfragmented systems may also have a history of extreme and/or sadistic abuse (often abbreviated as OEA or RAMCOA).

Having a large amount of alters that have overlapping traits, split easily, and are harder to differentiate. They also may have alters that seem like different versions of the same alter (e.g., *alter* a bit to the left).

Polyfragmented systems may have multiple alters in front at once as a baseline, and switches may be frequent and near-instantaneous. [For us, we often can't tell that we've switched until someone around us notes that we're behaving differently than before.]

Having an expansive, detailed inner world. Alters interact with one another, re-enact trauma memories and situations, process emotions/memories/thoughts, and much more within the inner world. Especially in systems who experienced programming (TBMC), the inner world may contain spaces created by abusers in order to reinforce programming and prevent recovery.

Complex splitting patterns such as splitting multiple new alters at once, splitting in groups or clusters, or splitting fragments that don't take on a solid identity until much later after the stressor is gone.

System resets, also known as "epochal divisions". When this happens, new alters are created and "replace" the old ones, essentially resetting the system. The alters that are "replaced" may remain active or may become dormant depending on the needs of the system.

A high number of introjects (yes, this is actually documented!!). This is especially common in systems who had no other escape besides indulging in creative media.

**General Information:**

* melinoë / dex

* 19 y/o | bisexual • ambi | takes 🤍🌙

* they/them/xe/xem

⁺⊹– ✧ –⊹⁺

* dx did sys

⁺⊹– ✧ –⊹⁺

**Frequent Fronters:**

* melinoë / noë • she/xe/moon : primary host 🌙

* x / xander • he/him/his

* dex / dexter • he/they

⁺⊹—– ✧ –—⊹⁺

​Hello,

​is there much documentation on polyfragmented structures within o9a victims? N​o, information regarding systems from a specific group is provided by survivors. ​Information can me found, that may help, is information regarding polyfragmented systems, the belief system of the group, and, how TBMC is implemented.

i know of the tree of wyrd and star game. i know in my case both were used but i am curious to see if there is much documentation on how they can both be used for mapping internal structure. The Star Game is an esoteric representation of the septenary Tree of Wyrd. The Star Game, which has 27 pieces spread over 7 boards and 126 squares in the simple version, and, in the advanced version, 45 pieces per player over 308 squares and 7 main boards.They are used together in mapping a system.

NAOS should be of some assistance in helping you sort this out. The Seven Fold Way, septenary system, with its seven-fold Tree of Wyrd is used in conjunction with the Star Game for mapping locations within the system.

Ok, so the thing is, as a system that has befriended a lot of other systems and is dating one, there's multiple types of DID and non DID systems (OSSD1a/b)

About 1-1.5% of the population has DID, tho it could be higher bc the entire goal of the disorder is to hide itself so that you don't have to individually process all the trauma

Every system is going to operate so differently, and it's gonna depend a lot on what type of system. You can't rly make overall generalizations with systems bc each of us experiences systemhood so differently, so keep this in mind with what I say and when you write characters with DID. This is going to be accidentally biased bc im a ramcoa/oea system dating another one, so my perception is a bit skewed.

There's OSDD1a/b, DID, P-DID, Polyfragmented DID that can also include RAMCOA/ OEA systems which are the only ones which will have alters purposely programmed by other people into the system for certain roles that often have triggers. This will affect the severity of symptoms, among other things like alter count. The average is 15, some systems only have 2-5, and often with polyfrag systems can to into the hundreds and sometimes even thousands.

New alters arise mostly from stress and/or trauma, and sometimes have specific roles suited for the scenario. Sometimes not. Sometimes, it just happens bc u watched a rly good show and got too attached to someone (Thalia Grace from PJO is an example for me). Different systems will split new alters at different rates.

System communication is different for everyone, and a good chunk of us have what's called an inner world where we perceive our alters in different ways. Innerworlds vary incredibly.

Ok, for stuff to avoid, the evil alter stereotype. The vast majority of systems do not have alters whose purpose is mainly to cause harm (this is almost only actually seen in RAMCOA/ OEA systems where it was programmed as a role). There are persecutors and prosecutors who often will cause some harm, but it's more often reactive, and their goal is trying to keep the system safe. The difference between the last 2 is the first in harm to the system, and the second is harm to those outside the system

A LOT of repeated trauma throughout childhood is required for the disorder to develop, so you will have to take that into account as well as common comorbidities like CPTSD, BPD, autism, etc

Also shit memory most of the time. A lot of us, especially with less good system communication, struggle a lot with memory and, at least in me and my partners' case, often have what I like to call selective memories, which is like not remembering stuff when thinking about it on ur own but often if someone mentions it to you, it comes back. Theres also often headaches when switches between alters happen, and switches are mostly subtle. There's also constant self-doubt about memories bc of how blurry they are, especially childhood ones (I have MAX a dozen memories before the age of 10 i can actively remember at any given time, but im on the more extreme end). Same with overall systemhood, imposter syndrome could honestly be added to the diagnostic criteria.

Systems are supposed to be accountable for their alters, and this can really, really suck

System roles are something that every system has. There are many, and not everyone has a strict role. It varies vastly. There are gatekeepers, hosts, trauma holders, memory holders, symptom holders, littles, protectors, pers/pros, programmed alters (look into different types of programming if its ramcoa/oea), and many more

Non-human alters are very much a thing and are more common than you think on average

Fictives and factives are alters whose origin comes from a source, fictives from non real sources, and vice versa (ex.: a character from a piece of media a person likes or someone in their life). These guys aren't inherently like their sources, it is just an inspiration to different degrees of similarity.

There's also small things like different alters can literally have different physical reactions to certain things like drugs and even certain allergens.

There's also alter fusion where 2 or more alters will combine into a new one. Some systems can end up as one single alter, but there is always a chance of splitting again. This is not the goal for many systems

Sometimes, alters go dormant and disappear, sometimes permanently

a. We are not coming to an agreement.

b. The majority is voting no.