Subsystem, Subgroup, and Sidesystem Informative Post Rewrite
What do these terms mean?
This is a rewrite of a previous post with more information. These terms are very similar, yet different and are often confused. Subsystems are best described as an alter with alters and may present with a singular, set appearance or their body may change to match the appearance of who's fronting. Subgroups are groups of alters with overall better communication with each other. They often split around the same time and have similarities with each other. Sidesystems, in simple terms, are when there is a system apart from the main system that they see each other as different systems but share one body. There is very very little to no communication between sidesystems, especially outside of professional help. Layers are larger subgroups that can have other subgroups and subsystems inside them, but layers only occur in C-DID/polyfragmented systems.
Why do these structures form?
Subsystems tend to form (in our experience) when one alter experiences something they can't handle and parts split into a system for that alter specifically instead of into the main system. This is common if a specific alter is targetted. Subgroups tend to form when there are multiple alters for one type of trauma and are able to communicate better with each other because of it, although this is just a speculation. Sidesystems are specific to RAMCOA due to the nature of that trauma, however that's as detailed as I'll go. If you believe you have a sidesystem but haven't experienced RAMCOA, it's possible it's a subsystem or subgroup that you have little communication with.
This will only go over our experiences with subsystems and subgroups, as we don't have a side system. A lot of our experiences have changed from the first post we did on this topic, as we've mapped a majority of our system now and have overall gained a better understanding of how our system works.
Before, we believed all of our subgroups were composed of fragments and fledglings. At that point, we had subsystems within subgroups. However, due to mapping, we've been able to map out that our subgroups are majority not fragments. We've labelled 4 different subgroups. They all have similar personalities and split around the same time, as well as hang around each other in the innerworld. For example, we have the "Chaotic Friends" who are all easily excited, rather youthful, and are very chaotic, especially around friends and the "Indifferent Assholes" who are a subgroup of EPs that are very apathetic but a majority are persecutors.
We've also labelled 4 different layers, which are basically larger subgroups. After mapping it out, we were able to notice that they very much matched what we know about our trauma. As we map more, we're able to map approximate times for big moments in our life. As it stands, we have a lot of parts that we aren't sure what layer they're in, if any. When switching between layers, we tend to experience more dissociation and even more overt switches compared to our normal ones. We also tend to have complete blackouts around certain parts from the bottom layers.
Subsystems were a bit easier for us to map. We currently have 4 subsystems mapped as well. One of which is Sabrina's, which is OSDD-1b presenting and formed after periods of mental instability where she felt alone and like she needed to rely on herself. We also have the Seashell system, which is DID presenting and formed after an ANP syskid experienced something traumatic. The Threstral system is a OSDD-1b presenting subsystem who we have very little communication with. They don't share an internal body, but instead it changes in a way to match who's fronting.
In our experience, switching between alters in a subsystem is a less dissociation inducing and less overt than switching between the main system. With differing presentations, amnesia also varies. However, an OSDD-1b main system can't have an OSDD-1a subsystem and vice versa. There isn't the structure needed to support the needed distinct parts/amnesia for different system types. Similarly, OSDD-1 systems can't have DID presenting subsystems. But, DID subsystems can have subsystems that present as DID, OSDD-1a, and/or OSDD-1b.
These are the main points, but we're free to answer any other questions you may have! Just comment them, shoot us a DM, or send something in our Tellonym.
