#scripturient-manipulator

/pol/ is the ‘’’’’’politics’‘‘‘’ board on 4chan, though i use the term politics extremely lightly- it’s a pretty infamous den for neo-nazis and other right-wing extremists and their ilk, ad has been the breeding ground for actual domestic terrorists in the past. a lot of more modern ‘wojak’ memes (easily searchable) originate there or on other parts of 4chan, and the format sees heavy use on /pol/. another easily identifiable format that sees a lot of circulation these days is the ‘nordic gamer’ meme which. like. i feel like perhaps gives its roots away with its very name. it involves this guy or some variation of him, usually pitted against a much less masculine guy meant to represent the opposing side:

And don’t even get me started on variations of [this one]!

Oh my god okay I’m super honored you’re asking but also I have so many ideas and I’m also exhausted so let’s see how we do

#1 Big Thing for dissociative disorders, is knowing not everyone will be a system. Some people just have strong dissociation. #2 Big Thing is making sure those systems that are present, are helped through abuse, but carefully. If there’s memories that they verbally do not remember, don’t push on them. They’re gone for a reason. Instead, ask about emotions. Question why an alter thinks a certain way. If you see signs of potential programming, try to find out what kind. Which goes on to #3 Big Thing is learning about cults, programming, government/military programming, and how it’s done. Studies of brainwashing and psychological torture on POWs is actually a good reference too. Learn the methods cults use, and then learn the major ones. And then remember -- cults, and programming, can be formed from anything. Even non-religious, non-government entities. And then make sure you know how to interrupt that programming as well as how to recognize it.

@unwelcome-ozian is usually my go-to for some of that.

Now, as for our system, we’ve just recently remembered and realized we ourselves were programmed by a New Age cult. So we’re still reeling from that, but fortunately, we’re all aware what the programming was, and now hellbent to reject it. We still do, unfortunately, have alters stuck in that programming.

I’ll go over each alter type I have, by the alters that they are. 

I’m the core programmed alter. Helping someone to identify what the programming was -- the narrative, the behaviors they were taught, the beliefs that were ingrained into them -- and then helping reject them, and relearn who they are independently of them, would help best. It’d also be good to look for other alters who might be reinforcing that programming directly or indirectly. 

Our programmer alter is Iso. Programmers enforce the programming that was taught and brainwashed into the system. Teaching them that it’s better to reject the programming, or giving them a new job, would help. But programmers are like abusers -- they’re extremely hard to work with. The slightest change can set off alarms that urge them to push that programming as a safety net. So dedicate a lot of research and experience before approaching a programmer alter.

Our emotional parts (AP) are Sludge, Black and Yin. Emotional parts are really alters that contain one or multiple emotions that the brain (or other alters) simply couldn’t handle without becoming overwhelmed with stress. Helping these alters express those emotions, in a healthy way, and helping them work through where those emotions originated and why, can also be a benefit.

Our persecutor is Helen. Helping a persecutor is extremely difficult, because they truly are protectors who are only doing what they (unconsciously) think is best for the system’s survival. At some point, we felt that we really were to blame for our own beatings. Once we had escaped our abuser, she showed up, continuing the abuse because ‘that’s what we deserve.’ Our brain had become so used to the abuse, it couldn’t comprehend life without it. It became our normal. So helping an inner abuser means identifying what was the root catalyst that caused the alter to carry on that abuse, and then helping the persecutor review where that treatment originated, and then evaluating and putting into effect better methods to serve the system’s survival in a healthier way. However, working with persecutors is difficult, and can easily go awry if not careful, so I suggest reading up on that extensively first. 

Our fictives are Iris, Gabriel, Genesis, and Ratxhet. Fictives tend to not really have much trouble with bad behavior based on their fiction source. (Example: Genesis’s canon self is a war criminal and madman, but our system Genesis is gentle, and takes care of the littles. He’s nothing like his canon self.) Who the character is doesn’t matter. Pay attention to what the fictive does, their job, and how they carry it out, as fictives can be persecutors or protectors just the same as any other alter. 

Our only introject is Serenity. She’s our ISH - Inner-System Helper. They have all the know-how of the system, the way it functions, and how to take care of each alter. If an ISH needs help, it’s likely because they can run themselves ragged taking care of others, so helping them take care of themselves is good.

We have quite a few littles -- seven. Each of them holds an emotion or set of memories connected to our childhood, that we either lost touch with or reflect abuse we endured. It’s good to help littles know the abuse isn’t their fault, and that it’s okay to be scared, or upset, or still in pain from what happened. Littles that are only happy should be given attention so they’re not completely ignorant of abuse, or have emotional attachment to abusers that could be dangerous. Sometimes littles do not remember abuse -- if so, and there’s no risk they could find out, it’s best to let them be.

Our protector is Ratxhet. Protectors tend to get very aggressive towards anyone who might pose a threat to the system. Normally this is a good thing, but it can get out of hand, like if a new potential date comes into the person’s life. If they have had marital or domestic abuse in the past, a protector might look out for potential abuse, and be hostile to the new person to try and prevent it. Helping protectors learn to trust, and let their guard down and be vulnerable while keeping an eye out for danger, can benefit the protector immensely.

Our caretaker is Genesis. He tends to run himself ragged taking care of us all, and exhausts himself. Helping caretakers care for themselves, with some self-care and some personal time, can be helpful.

Gabriel and Iris do not have any ‘jobs.’ Sometimes alters serve no visible function to the system that can be perceived, other than simply being there. There’s a common theme that alters split for a reason, but once a brain splits the first time, it can keep splitting, and eventually the brain uses splitting as a coping method for any level of stress. (This is how polyfragmented systems tend to work, but not always.) This isn’t the only way alters without jobs show up. In fact, it’s actually not uncommon for someone to have multiple alters that don’t seem to help protect the system or help it function. For these, it’s best to let them be unless they’re taking front at inappropriate times, or becoming a hindrance. Another thing to be aware of, is if any alter doesn’t realize it’s in a system. That can be dangerous depending on if the alter fronts or not, but whether or not to tell them depends on the situation. Some can handle being told, some will have a crisis if they find out they’re not the only one (or in a fictive’s case, ‘not actually that character’), so unless it’d really help to tell them, it’s best not to.

My biggest warning, is that you cannot always tell which alter does what, or if they hold memories. Alters are parts of a person’s brain that have become separate, and semi-independent, while still trying to function as a whole. A system can function just as well as a singlet, with no signs of being a system ever showing. Stress can cause things to skew, but if a system is self-sufficient, and self-caring, then there’s not much to worry about except making sure intercommunication and cooperation keeps up when things get stressful. 

Above all, no two systems are the same. There will be systems that are unable to separate each other, and everyone is blurred together. (A median system.) Some will have no known cause for their being a system. Don’t try to make your own assumption as to why that is, just help the system function as best it can to have a full life. That should be top priority actually -- above anything else, even above resolving trauma, should be helping the system regain function. This is not always through integration, and even if all parts integrate, they can still split, as the brain has now permanently learned to divide itself to cope with trauma and intense stress, and may do it again later. 

Make sure the system has a healthy set of beliefs, as well. As romantic as things like soulbonds can be, make sure the relationship between them is healthy. Always beware of people who ‘fake’ systems -- though that’s rarely intentional. If you notice someone may be thinking they’re a system, but aren’t, don’t start shooting them down -- find out where this thought process came from, and understand that as incorrect as they may be, thinking they are a system is likely their survival tactic. 

Last thing is, if an alter or system has a really strange habit, don’t be too concerned unless it’s harmful. For (bad) example, our system has something called SNT, or System Nap Time. At about 1PM to 4PM (can start anywhere n that window), everyone in the system including me goes to take a nap. It helps us recharge physically, and also mentally. Taking a nap midday is definitely not something you see often, but it’s a healthy habit for us. Another example would be a friend I knew of -- their system collected stones and rocks. They didn’t remember where this habit first started, but it brought them comfort, so they kept it up. However, parting with the rocks when they got to be too much was a hard thing to do, so they did need help with that.

TLDR Systems are complicated. Each alter requires their own method of treatment, if treatment is needed or necessary. But a system in harmony can remain a system. If an alter does not remember trauma, there’s a reason for it, and that’s functioning. Do lots of research on programming, cults, brainwashing, and how to treat each alter (particularly persecutors, protectors, and trauma holders). 

CULT WIP (2/3) that way they operate better than others. I've jotted down a bunch of effects you've brought up but here's the thing. What if that sleep deprivation lasts forever? Like it's just a normal part of life once you hit adulthood? (I don't think kids could withstand it so I figured just not to do it). I know the Heaven's Gate cult used a lot of sleep deprivation and they lasted for ~three years so there must be some way to/balance to keep people functional, I just can't think of how.CULT WIP (3/3) Not actually part of the question but I just wanted to say THANK YOU for this blog!! It's fascinating, especially for me since I'm in grad school to be a therapist so that aspect is really interesting, and you put an incredible amount of work into all this. ~Jessica

Thankyou, it’s always nice to hear I’ve been helpful. :)

I’mgoing to go into this one with the caveat that so far as I know, noone has done this experiment. There isn’t a studied group of peoplewho have been restricted (or restricted themselves) to five hours ofsleep a night every day for their entire adult life. There are peoplewho’ve done this for a number of years and people who do this 5-6nights a week and then sleep more on the weekend for decades at atime. Now all three situations are bad for someone, but a thoroughstatistical analysis on a decent sample size might show differencesbetween them.

Sopart of this is what we know happens to the first two groups and partof it is extrapolating based on that.

Thefirst thing we knowhappens (based on the two studied groups) is a shorter, unhealthierlife.

Ihesitate to put a figure on how much shorter because it seems to varyquite a bit between individuals and I don’t know of any statisticalstudies that have put a number on it. But I think you can safely takeat least ten years off every character’s life expectancy based onthis alone.

Therates of a lotof different diseases and conditions increase. Cancer rates rise, formultiple forms of cancer. Rates of strokes and heart attacks rise.Dementia rates rise.

Nowall of those conditions are usually diseases of age. You canhave a heart attack or a cancer diagnosis as a young person, but thechances of it happening are much more likely after you hit about40-50.Lack of sleep doesn’t seem to effect the age these conditionsmanifest. It doeseffect the chances of them happening in vulnerable ages though.

Essentiallyif you take a group of 40-50 year old non-cultists from your valleysetting (I hope you don’t mind me looking at your blog? Lovelypictures by the way) less of them will have or have had cancer,strokes, heart attacks and early signs of dementia. As the populationages further the gap will become starker. Less of the cultists willsurvive to their 70-80s and those that do will be less healthy thenthe non-cultists.

Diabetesrates also increase with lack of sleep. This doesn’t appear to beage related. It is however unclear whether it’s because of theeffect lack of sleep has on the immune system or because of theeffect it has on our appetites. People who sleep less eat more andtheir bodies drive them towards more high fat and high sugar foods.

Idon’t understand the link between weight and diabetes very well, soI’m not going to talk about it in any depth. The general point I’mdriving at is that if your cult tightly controls diet that mightcounteract the rise in predisposition to diabetes. But the data isn’tentirely clear on that point.

There’salso a general rise in illness and infections. That contributes todecreased life expectancy but also means more sick days. Less timewhen any one individual can productively work.

Partof what this is gearing towards is this: I’m not sure it would bepossible to consistently keep someone on five hours sleep a nightonly for their entire life without a huge death rate.

It’sthe illnesses. I think if cult members were denied sleep while sick(especially if they’re also forced to work or their diet iscontrolled) then- well I think there’d be a lot more people dyingfrom common, preventable illnesses. Not instantly. Not within thefirst decade. But in the longer term or thirty or so years.

Onthe other hand if the cultists who are ill aregetting enough sleep then you don’t strictly have five hours sleepa night for the rest of their lives. What you’ve got instead issomething more like ‘five hours sleep a night until you reachphysical collapse, then you can rest’.

That’sextremely unhealthy, painful and harmful. But it’s less likely tokill so many people so quickly.

Partof the issue is how ‘functional’ the characters need to be. Atfive hours, it would be dangerous to drive or operate other heavymachinery. Accidents would be more likely. Mistakes would be morelikely.

Butthat doesn’t mean these characters couldn’t do most of the day today tasks required to keep a small community going.

It’snot that the cooking couldn’t get done, it’s that the chances ofdropping a pan full of boiling water on someone’s foot is a lothigher. Less that complex tasks can’t get done and more that they’dtake longer, be completed less well, less effectively and there’dbe a higher chance of accidents on the way.

Incidentallyif a big part of this story is the standard tactic of elite membersof the group making other members feel less confident in themselves-usethis effect of sleep deprivation to help accomplish that.Because people who are sleep deprived thinkthey are physically and mentally capable of more than they are.

Youcan sit them down and say ‘Listen S, the low amount of work you’vegotten through this month is unacceptable. We agreed that you couldfinish this project in a week and it’s taken two. You’re just nottrying hard enough’

Andtheywill agree.Because they don’t know how impaired they are. It’sone of the stranger effects that consistently shows up in testing andI feel like it’s very relevant here.

Theincrease in workplace accidents is also affected by the decrease inimmune function. Accidents are more likely andrecovery from them takes longer.

Theother thing that stands out to me is the effect this would have onthe living environment generally.

Sleepdeprived people are emotionally volatile. They also tend towardsbeing distrustful of others and paranoia. Again this isn’tsomething they necessarily recognise.

Whichmakes for a pretty horrendous environment when you think about alarge group of people living in fairly close quarters andunable to really avoid each other.

Thinkabout how this meshes with the rise in accidents, forgetfulness andgeneral tiredness that go along with sleep deprivation and you’llsee what I mean. Someone drops the hot pan and it just misses someoneelse’s foot- was it deliberate? Someone forgets where they putsomething- obviously it was stolen. There was a stray shoe left outin the hall and a character almost tripped over it- clearly whoeverleft it there knew thatcharacter could/would trip.

Andso forth.

Fromthe point of view of your cult leaders this sort of misery andemotional upheaval is a positive. It makes it harder for people toorganise or relate in an authentic way to each other in the longterm. It couldmake it especially hard for parents and children to keep up apositive relationship, comparedto the relationship the children could have with the cult leaders.

Becausethe parents will always be too tired, too grumpy, too unpredictable,to relate well to a young child. Whereas the well rested cult leaderscould appear calmer, kinder andseem to have more time.

There’svariation within all of this obviously. Despite damagingcircumstances some people do live to a ripe old age and don’tdevelop cancer more than ‘normal’ people would (chemistryprofessors over 80 are an interesting breed). Some people may stillbe able to show some patience and kindness despite the effects sleepdeprivation has on emotional regulation.

Moneyand treatment can also extend the life of someone who is routinelysleep deprived and suffers from multiple health problems as a result.

Ifyou’ve read my previous posts then I think you’ll have an idea ofindividual symptoms and how they get progressively worse. A lot ofthis ask was me- not just trying to map out what the indefinite timeframe you have would look like but the effect it would have on agroup and the relationships within that group.

Ihope that helps. :)

Availableon Wordpress.

Thank youuuuuuuuu

I don’t know if I have One Main Character. I tend to have multiple protagonists. I know the short scene i need to work on tonight is about the nun, Josephine, and Kit, the demon. The story as a whole also centers around Dina the angel, and the Bloody Trio.

Kit has a lot of memories of disappointing people. She’s never been particularly powerful with her magic, and she’s never been particularly ruthless. She’s Fax’s older sister, not that Fax is alive at this point. She’s happiest on earth with Felix, the witch she made a deal with, because she can always give him what he needs. She’s done a lot of research into magic, and is pretty knowledgeable on that front. She learned what most demons do, reading writing math etc, how to recognize angels, how to avoid them, basic training in fighting that all demons who want to go to earth have to pass. I’m not sure if there’s anything physical she wants. 

(2/2) not only are WIP updates fun but also it provides proof to people who’re still upset that you’re making things better! Also, don’t pressure yourself to make it perfect immediately. It’s easy to, especially after public conversations like these. Breathe, let yourself cry if you want since you haven’t cried besides the other message, snack. Remind yourself that you can do the work on this and it’ll be okay. I’ve been emotionally abused, and I’d like to beta read to help you. :) ~Jessica

I really appreciate you taking the time to give me some suggestions on what to do from here, but I appreciate your kindness perhaps even more.

The thing about WIP updates is that I’m nervous about making different, worse or just-as-bad mistakes, but you’re right about the proof. Plus, if I don’t do updates, how will I know if I’ve fucked up or not? The unsureness I would feel is worse than the nerves, I think.