#sidesystem

Pale Wolf Little ~

Names: Scout, Buster, Apple, Toby, Benji

Pronouns: he/him, re/ren, vo/vos, ip/ips, paw/paws, woof/woofs, tike/tikes, bon/bons

Orientation: demiromantic, asexual, bambi achillean

Genders: kidcoric, nostalgiagender, mingender, enboy, masckiddic, pupgender, sundogic, tweegender

Presentation: masculine, balloon animal, peacock

Roles: dear, innocence holder, companion, battery

Sign-offs: ☘️, 🐶, 🐛, ☀️, 🍎, 🍪

Woods Dog Caretaker ~

Names: Sammy, Mikey, Mary, Aubrey, Parker

Pronouns: he/him, she/her, nix/nix, ae/aer, xe/hir, sun/suns, bea/beau, wood/woods

Orientation: pansexual, polyromantic, polyaffectionate

Genders: girlboyflux, genderfruct, demifluid, aingionsolaic, deaola, cottagecrittean

Presentation: androgynous, moon mist

Roles: caretaker, ameliorator, hygienist, assidumate

Sign-offs: 🥧, 🍊, 🔆, 🌳, 🪡, 💚

Striped Dog Protector ~

Names: Ranger, Wander, Ronny, Beetle, Archie

Pronouns: they/them, it/its, ny/nym, re/rem, ty/tyr, dusk/dusks, ox/oxen, thorn/thorns

Orientation: aroace, bi-alterous

Genders: agenderflor, lofichillduskic, desertbiomic, cowboygender

Presentation: neutral, pomegranate

Roles: protector, arc, advocate, night guard, explorer

Sign-offs: 🌵, 🌟, 🪃, 🥁, 🛤️, 🐃

Spotted Dog Academic ~

Names: Tawny, Alice, Charlie, Levi, Tessa

Pronouns: she/her, ne/nem, thi/thim, ve/vir, fern/ferns, lil/lily/lilies, oak/oaks, fall/falls

Orientation: lesboy, biromantic, iculaplatonic

Genders: butchgender, transfem, cafegender, willorainian, cozyfemmagic, obscuracademic

Presentation: butch, mourning dove

Roles: academic, posier, chef, hobbyist

Sign-offs: ☕️, 🎧, ♠️, 📕, 🌷, 💼

Rusty Dog Comedian ~

Names: Mollie, Rover, Sunny, Bumblebee, Fidget

Pronouns: hx/hxm, shy/hyr, they/them, it/its, vi/vir, pop/pops, ae/aer, jest/jests

Orientation: aroallo, greyromantic, pansexual

Genders: panagender, inersgender, clowncoric, frutigaeroaesic, webcoric, sparkledoggender, huegender, pupstimmic, beachpupgender

Presentation: xenic, neutral, powder ash, blender

Roles: comedian, jokestar, stim holder, optimist, sexual pleaser

Sign-offs: 🦄, 🌴, 🌺, 🍌, 🫟, 🪅

Ashen Dog Symptom Holder ~

Names: Harper, Sasha, Willow, Ash, Blue

Pronouns: mirror pronouns, x/xs, they/them, one/ones, rain/rains, snow/snows, tea/teas

Orientation: aroace, demiplatonic

Genders: librafeminine, genderselkie, genderfinch, snowynightwalkic, frostbleu, stormyskygender

Presentation: fem, deer xenintation, patched up

Roles: anxiety holder, depression holder, low empathy holder, procrastinator, batmate

Sign-offs: ☁️, 🪻, ❄️, 🛏️, 💙, 🌀

Snowy Dog Socializer ~

Names: Brittany, Veronica, Brook, Star, Piper

Pronouns: she/her, fae/faer, se/syr, ge/gem, star/stars, glow/glows, prim/prims, bow/bows

Orientation: bisexual, autosexual/romantic, lesromantic, hyperlibidoist

Genders: starcloudic, strawberrysodagender, gyarugender, fresamoraline, pinkugender, genderfae, birchian

Presentation: fem, queen bee, ruby, opal

Roles: socializer, romanticist, rival, moldbreaker

Sign-offs: 💖, 🎀, 🛍️, 🎆, 🩰, 🍬

Chestnut Dog Persecutor ~

Names: Pine, Jasper, Zeke, Fray, Salem

Pronouns: it/its, x/xs, v/vs, ne/nym, ze/zir, night/nights, fog/fogs, bone/bones, zom/zomb

Orientation: quoisexual, omniromantic, nocturnalromantic

Genders: neutravoid, libraflux, genderdark, zombzgender, loserfail, grunoxcityic

Presentation: neutral, creature

Roles: persecutor, isolator, emotional distressor, nostalgia holder

Sign-offs: 🌑, 🫐, 🌃, 🕳️, 🪦, 🪾

Black Dog Gatekeeper ~

Names: Levi, Cinna, Martin, Ezekiel, Dominic

Pronouns: he/him, hy/hym, thon/thons, zae/zaer, it/its, bark/barks, moss/mosses, moon/moons

Orientation: abrosexual, ninromantic, aroaceflux

Genders: dawnian, mossgender, forestcoric, liminalforestic, moonboy, averagwolf

Presentation: masc, neutral, amulet

Roles: gatekeeper, architect, archivist, fragment developer

Sign-offs: 🐾, 🍂, 🌙, 🐺, 📚, 🌳

No problem! All of these terms are very similar and rely heavily on inner structure. I hope this helps:

'Subsystem' can mean multiple things. The first meaning refers to groups of alters that are somehow linked together and separate from other alters somehow. This could be a group of alters very similar to one another, ones with better communication between one another, or separate in other ways. Subsystems may reside in specific areas of the innerworld or have a separate inner world themselves.

The second definition refers to 'alter-in-alter' subsystems. Think of it like a russian nesting doll - an alter has their own alters. These subsystems may have their own innerworlds and struggle with communicating with those in the main system when fronting.

The third definition is an overarching term for any groupings of alters, including layers and sidesystems. Basically, it's a catch-all term. This definition is the most common within clinical literature, so when reading them, it might be confusing.

Here's an attempt at a visual representation:

The larger subsystem has good communication with the rest of the system and resides in its own area of the innerworld. These parts could have all split to deal with the same specific trauma and are considered a subsystem because they sort of stick together.

The smaller subsystem is a possible example of an alter-in-alter subsystem. The part that's inside the main system may be the "host alter" for that subsystem. Their innerworld is disconnected from the main one and may have communication difficulties.

'Sidesystem' can refer to a programming-specific phenomenon where programmers specifically create programmed parts somewhere completely separate from the main system. I'm using this definition because it's what I was referring to in my previous post, and I don't feel like debating if non-programmed systems can have structures that are similar. In literature, this is seen referred to as 'Left' and 'Right' sides of systems, but they don't necessarily have to be right next to each other. Despite the name, they don't have to be left/right, that's just how some people describe them.

Sidesystems typically have their own innerworld and are used by programmers to keep programmed parts hidden and separate from the main system or those that deal with day to day life. Sidesystems themselves can be layers. There may be one or two higher ups that can travel between sidesystems.

A notable difference between sidesystems and other groupings of alters is the amnesia level. Amnesia barriers between sidesystem alters and non sidesystem alters are huge. While there can be amnesia between other groups, the whole point of sidesystems is to create a completely separate "system," and thus, very heavy amnesia is present.

An attempt at a visual representation:

Sidesystems have no connection with the main system. This can be changed through integration of course, but as a base, they are completely seperate. Ideally, none but a couple alters will know about each other.

'Layers' refers to groups of alters that are separate from the main system, often "stacked" on top of one another. Despite the name, they don't have to be stacked. That's just how some people describe them. Layers are very common within polyfragmented systems, especially programmed systems. Layers often have their own themed innerworld, for example, a city or forest. Alters are typically separated by purpose or other split patterns and may have communication difficulties with other layers. In programming, layers are often seen within sidesystems or are sidesystems themselves. There may be some connection between layers.

An attempt at a visual representation:

In this, there are three layers stacked on each other. The main system has a connection to the layer below them and may be able to communicate more easily. The layer above, however, has no connection, and it may require a higher up part to communicate with them.

As you can see, all of these terms are very similar and can overlap with one another, and all can exist within the same system. At the end of the day, use what you are most comfortable with. Do you just want to call everything a subsystem? That's fine. If you like the specification? That's also fine.

For example, one person says "I kind of visualise it as descending 'containers' of alters. Like it goes, 'sidesystem -> has multiple layers -> has multiple subsystems.' but I know that that isn't everyone's experience."

Another says, "I can't be assed to specify what kind of group it is. I call everything a subsystem. It works for me."

1. The traumagenic side - super complex polyfragmented system with levels/ layers/sidesystems and hundreds of fragment type alters to deal with very severe trauma from infancy. Vivid inner world. We can call this operating system "Windows". It's very difficult to interact with, full of PTSD symptoms (software malfunctions) and major struggles with life.

2. The endogenic side - Very small! Less than ten people! Very well-rounded headmates, very spiritual in nature, very connected to our spiritual beliefs and cultural ties. A white void for an inner world with a bean bag. We can call this one "Linux" for this analogy.

Both operating systems do different tasks, have different ways of living, and never are able to interact seriously with each other mentally. We are Hoping to change this, but so far, this has been tough. I have never seen another system describe this. Does anyone else's system work like this? Especially if you are a mixed origin traumaendo?

We don't go through this since our headmates are all blends of origins in one way or another even if they weren't formed with it (+ we aren't polyfragmented), but we asked for input from @enberneutral and Daimon told us this:

" I may not have it as complex on our traumagenic side of our system, but I related heavily to how you organize your system either way. There's a distinct difference between the "veterans" (traumas) and just our typical endo sysmates.

It's mostly relatable, but then we have veterans such as Klaus in charge of a sidesystem which is mostly composed of non-traumagenics. Zachary, on the otherhand, is the only median subsystem which we could label as fully traumagenic.

Aside from that, I feel like we've met some people on Tumblr with similar experiences, and if anyone who sees this can relate, then please let us know!! "

Primsystem is a term for when a plural has sidesystems, though has a first system which is the primsystem.

Clustersystems

Clustersystems is a term for multiple (2+) sidesystems who are closer together than another sidesystem.

Multisystem

A overall term for a plural who has multiple systems. They have multiple (2+) sidesystems.

Polysystem

A term for a plural who has many sidesystems. There isn't a minimum count, however normally over 4. However, anyone can use this term.

Infisystem

A term for a plural who has infinite sidesystems and/or doesn't know how many they have.

Separasystem

Content Warning: mentioning of organized abuse, programming, system discourse.

I hate the misinformation and silencing around ramcoa survivors especially those who have been programmed to be a system. This will be a long yap be prepared.

Topics: hc DID, sidesystems