#systempride

This is always a divisive discussion within the online plural community. For those who may not be aware, plurality is when there are two or more personalities or alters or headmates within one body. People who experience this tend to call themselves plural or systems. Traumagenic plurality is the concept that the plurality was formed or caused by trauma experiences, generally at a young age (again, there is debate about within what ages plurality can form). Endogenic systems, sometimes referring to themselves as natural systems, are not specifically formed through trauma.

One of the biggest issues that arises is this idea that those claiming to be endogenic are incorrect, may be purposely faking, and are purposely spreading misinformation. On the flip side, endogenic systems often can feel like their existence is being unrightfully attacked by that stance. It can get quite heated and hurtful when people engage in this discourse (or syscourse, as it is colloquially know). But who is in the right?

Here is my personal stance, as someone with DID, a trauma-based disorder causing plurality. While I do personally think many endogenic systems are misguided, I don't think it is helpful to aggressively oppose those who believe they are endogenic. It does not promote growth or learning, it just promotes division and stubbornness, and may hinder people in any potential journey towards healing.

DID and OSDD are trauma based disorders where the general goal of the brain is to compartmentalise the trauma and distance from it to be able to survive and continue living day to day (this is very over simplified but that is the general gist). Because of this compartmentalisation, it is not uncommon for systems to not remember their trauma, which may lead them to conclude that they did not experience trauma. Telling people and stubbornly hunkering down on the stance that all instances of plurality must be traumagenic does not really help those who are not aware of their trauma but are aware of their plurality. Along with that, it can cause systems to become very anxious about the level of trauma they experienced, whether it was enough and whether it actually impacted them enough to cause their plurality. We do not need a trauma Olympics, and we shouldn't be trying to force people to disclose or confront their trauma before they are ready.

Another issue within almost any community these days is the idea that being wrong or being mistaken about your identity is a terrible, unforgivable thing. It absolutely is not. Everybody changes and grows and learns throughout their life. It is okay to think your experiences align with one thing and then find out later that you were mistaken. Do not be afraid to be wrong, do not be afraid to change! We can only do the best we have with the information we have. If your experiences feel like they line up with plurality, great! If it turns out they don't, or you thought they did but as you learnt more or did further self reflection, you found that wasn't true for you, this is also great! It is not a bad thing to get it wrong, because it's all part of the journey towards what's right for you.

There is certainly something to be said for the spread of misinformation within endogenic circles, although misinformation is not exclusive to endogenous circles. It does tend to be prevalent when a group feels ostracised from more traditional opinions and are more opposed to evidenced based sources (I may make another post regarding my thoughts on DID articles and research in the future, because I have more thoughts here). It does become a lot easier to manipulate and spread misinformation in circles who have a less critical mindset. This sort of thing can lead to higher incidences of inappropriate and abusive behaviours. One of the most prominent examples that comes to mind is System Hopping. This is the belief that a member or alter from one system can move or "hop" temporarily to another system, from one physical body to another and back again. This is something we are very strongly against, as it is absolutely not a real phenomenon which can and has been used to inflict abuse on vulnerable people. I don't necessarily have a hard and fast solution for this, because misinformation and mistreatment of vulnerable people is generally a huge problem with no simple solution. I truly do not believe that ostracising these vulnerable individuals further is the solution.

My final note is that I am not a professional therapist or counsellor. I cannot diagnose, and while I have read a fair chunk of the academic papers about DID, I am not involved in that research nor am I an expert. This is just my opinion, as a mildly educated person who experiences DID and has some experience with the online culture of plurality. You are welcome to disagree, or even have a more private discussion with us about anything relating to these things. We will not tolerate anything hateful or disrespectful. This is not a page for active discourse, this is a page for encouraging and supporting systems, and I hope you will respect that.

Much love,

Have you ever wanted to talk to other traumagenic systems specifically in a space based off of hello kitty and her friends? (I, personally, have)

WELL LOOK NO FURTHER

Welcome to Sanrio Systems,  a discord server made for systems to hang out and talk while also under a cute pastel theme. This server was made to be discourse and hate free and overall chill (yet we do have a channel for discourse, roles required for entry)!

Server Info:

No blacklist or trigger list for specific triggers (yet general trauma/triggering topics are forbidden unless in tw channel) this causes some ppl more anxiety than not.

Self assigning roles/emoji roles

Color roles

Section for littles/middles

Pluralkit

Server Rules:

NO endogenic, kin systems, or natual systems. Only traumagenic, non Dx systems are 100% allowed tho!

No age limit but we prefer nobody super super young or super super old. If you're unsure, try joining and well tell you :)!

Don’t be rude or gross and use common sense.

You must provide an active social media, this is for verification. 

Thank you for reading :)! Hope to meet y'all soon ~<3

Our systemfluid flag suggestion: 

Mint green

Pastel Green

White

Purple 

Black

Color meanings!!!

Mint green and pastel green: callback to the current systemfluid flag, as well as signifying neurodivergency awareness like that flag.

White/purple/black whole section: This is the middle of the genderfluid flag, which we do like! It just doesn’t represent us. This is a callback to the genderfluid flag as well as each color having its own meaning. 

White: having no gender, or not knowing your gender because you don’t know who’s fronting.

Purple: Nonbinary gender and the gender spectrum! There are more options than just pink for girls and blue for boys, and this flag simply contains purple to honor the uncountable multitude of possibilities!

Black: Having multiple genders (ie bigender, etc) or having the genders of multiple co-fronters influencing your gender. Black is what you get when many paint colors are mixed, so it seems appropriate!

What are Endogenic Systems?

(This is to clear up the misinformation about endogenic systems)

Endogenic systems are systems who become plural though natural neurodevelopment, not because of any traumatic events, intentional acts (tulpamancy), or spiritual experiences or beliefs. Note that this does not necessarily mean an endogenic system never gone through trauma, never attempted tulamancy, or does not have spiritual beliefs, but only that these things are not the cause of becoming a system. 

(In the case of tulpamancy, it means they were already plural before adding tuplas to the system, though some may consider the act to re-classify them as a “mixed” system). 

How is this possible?

Various hypotheses and explanations have been put out by endogenic and non-endogenic systems alike, including theories of dissociation and human neurology, but as of now we don’t have any concrete answers as to how it happens, only that it must be possible because my systems already live this way. I have heard there’s a study happening with tulpamancy, which if true, also may led to studies of other system types. 

What’s the difference between endogenic systems and non-endogenic systems? 

Endogenic systems, by definition, did not become systems because of trauma, intentional acts, or spiritual experiences, so they do not meet the definition of traumagenic, tupla, spiritual systems. However it is possible for a “mixed” system to have both endogenic and traumagenic members, both endogenic and spiritual, etc.

Do Endogenic systems choose to be systems?

No. 

Most Endogenic systems have existed as systems for as long as they can remember in early childhood, before their brain could let them make such decisions.  Choosing to create a headmate through psychological (or less commonly spiritual) means is tulpamancy, thoughtform, a paragenic system, which are a whole different part of the plural community. 

Are Endogenic systems dangerous or a*usive?

Not as a category. Of course there are some endogenic systems who a*use other, just as there are non-endogenic systems and singlets who a*use others. But there is no reason to think that just because someone is in an endogenic system that they will automatically be any more dangerous than an non-endogenic system or a singlet.

Why do you say “endogenic systems” every time? Why not just “endos”?

“Endo” is already short for endometriosis and endocrinologist, which can cause confusion. In addition, abbreviating “endogenic” to “endo” was polarized by anti-endogenic elocutionists attempting to turn endogenic into a slur, not by endogenic systems themselves. 

Why do endogenic systems use DID/OSDD terminology? Why not make their own terms?

Most modern system terminology (such as plural, multiple, system, traumagenic/endogenic, fictive/factive, and so on) was coined by endogenic or spiritual systems, and then graciously shared with the DID/OSDD community. If a traumagenic system claims to own the word traumagenic, they are in fact the ones committing an act of appropriation. If an endogenic system does feel compelled to or comfortable using DID/OSDD terms (such as introject or alter) it is because systems of various origins have more commonalities than differences, and this we, think, should be celebrated.  

Just in time for system pride day! We have something for everyone's price range. All made with fleece so they're ultra soft and cozy! https://www.storenvy.com/stores/147495-plush-ultra