#system tips

In the aftermath of SimplyPlural and Octocon announcing their impending shutdowns, and myself personally noticing a lack of suggested alternatives (like Ampersand) for iOS users, I have found a recently released/updated alternative that is free on the App Store: an app called Plural Log. It requires no account sign-up and no internet connection.

It is quite simple aesthetically, and the base member fields are limited (image, name, colour, pronouns, role, description, profile), but you can create your own custom fields, and add subsystems to members. You can add headspace(s), and add members to those, as well. There are several ways to sort members (A-Z, Z-A, newest/oldest first, fronting frequency highest/lowest, or by role), folders and polls. You can also name your system.

There is a chat tab with separate channels (similar to how a Discord server's would appear), the ability to distinguish main front from co-front as well as front/switch notes, member-specific journal entries with some basic feeling tabs (happy, neutral, sad, anxious, angry, and dissociated), insights to track fronting and mood trends, and a homepage tracker for number of members, daily switches, and journal entries.

There are three font settings including OpenDyslexic, a font scale slider, a high contrast colour theme as well as standard light/dark mode, the option to passcode lock the app, encryption and export options, and toggleable features (like the insights, or mood tracking in journals). There are also links to support services.

The only missing feature, from what I can tell, is the ability to add friends within the app itself. I believe this is for two reasons; data is stored locally on the user's device, and it is intended as purely a self-management tool. However, from my understanding of reading the app's description and website, the developer(s?) intend to release a companion app soon (Plural Log Friend) for sharing your system info with those you trust. This is a feature I am willing to wait for, given how clean and organised the app is, but it is also understandable that it may be a dealbreaker for some who wish to find another option sooner.

I had hoped my first post to be more... lighthearted? Than this? But it was an issue I was both experiencing myself, and noticed other people were experiencing as well.

So, all that being said, I hope this can help even one other system.

Thank you for reading :)

I just recently split and I'm scared and confused and nobody is answering my messages so I dont know what to do. So. If there's any good tips for new alters to figure stuff out that you know of I'd love to have them.. I need to ground myself somehow but I cant think of any good ways.

hey, hey. Don't worry, you're allowed to vent about anything here, you're all good. I know this was sent about a day or two ago, but I'll still try list what I know. Or more like what we usually do, these may not work for everyone and that's okay, you just may need to try find other ways to calm yourself in that case. (Though a lot of this is sort of assuming you know what's happening, as we don't tend to get alters who don't and when we do we don't usually remember what happens when they front)

Usually we try do something we enjoy, this only really works when there's someone else with the new alter or when the alter knows something they enjoy doing though, but it does help to distract us and calm us down sometimes

I know you said no one is replying, so I'm assuming talking to someone is out of the question, so instead I recommend trying to write. Sometimes it helps get your thoughts out and helps process them. That way you can work through them

Sometimes if we're trying to figure out who or what we are we'll scroll through photos on Pinterest to see if something catches our attention and gives us a connection, this usually helps with fragments who may connect to specific images as an identity or for new alters trying to find faceclaims, or even new introjects who don't know their source yet, ect.

I'd recommend looking around to see if your system has a journal of some kind or anything that keeps information about it, as it may help you understand yourself and the others a little easier.

Even just doing things like breathing exercises, listening to calm music or cuddling up to a teddy/relaxing in bed could help. (The last part generally is more to feel safe and protected, but again this is more of our own comfort)

Also for trying to find names for yourself, if you need that, we usually just search up "NPTs" or "name lists" and scroll through, if you have specific themes in mind for the name you want you can search that up too. We usually do it on Tumblr but you can do it just on Google itself

Trying to understand alter roles, understanding why some dont want the host to know even tho some alters have been aware for years now. Understanding persecutor, gatekeeper, traumaholder and protector (whosr actions might seem unconventional).

Understand the disorder itself. Lots of research. Including professional papers and learning from other systems (with caution).

Watching people that know their alters well and manage to unmask. We learned to let our alters be themselves. Back then we were at a safe environment (which is very crucial).

Learning how alters show in OSDD-1 systems and how it differnciates from DID systems.

Meditating and actively trying to listen to alters. Being mindful and aware and letting them react while being patient (honestly helped the most).

Letting each other buy clothes, letting them in in decisions and letting caretaker/mediators/ manager/ logical and positive alters and parts help.

Understand how communication doesnt have to be verbal. Communication can be through images, feelings, thoughts, ect.

Do not force it. Be open. Invite them and wait.

Do your irl friends have trouble keeping up with your headmates? Do you need an easier way of people to know who’s fronting?

Well this may help!

We’re making bracelets with our headmates. These bracelets identify who is fronting :)

•buy that colouring book for that little

•let that alter partake in the hobby they rarely get to do

•stock up on that alters favourite snacks

•tidy up your desk for the next alter who uses it

•draw a silly doodle of someone in your system even if you're not a great srtist

•leave a kind message in your journal/wherever you communicate

•share your appreciation for things your system has helped you with