CNS, PNS, ENS, and the secret 4th option

Alot of people think that parts are only triggered to front by external things or experiences, such as certain situations, people or environments, but that isn't true. Parts aren't only triggered to front by external things/experiences, internal things/experiences can also trigger a part to front.

Disclaimer: This post may not be entirely accurate, since I mostly based this off of our personal experiences. Don't see this post as 100% reliable. Feel free to correct me or share information I missed.

Internal front triggers (non exhaustive list):

Dreams or nightmares

Thoughts (eg. intrusive thoughts, daydreams)

Sensations (eg. hunger, fatigue)

Emotions (eg. panic, anger)

Health (eg. flare-up, fever)

Internal conflict between parts (eg. parts not agreeing on what happened in the past)

These potential triggers can be a result of external experiences, but that isn't always the case. For example: panic can be caused by a trauma trigger, but it can also be caused by an anxiety disorder or another disorder.

It's also important to note that there isn't a clear line between internal and external experiences.

Examples of switches (non exhaustive list):

The system dreamed about something that reminded them of a past trauma. When they wake up, a trauma holder is in front.

The system has alot of intrusive thoughts and feel scared or guilty because of that. Now an emotional protector is in front to stop them from spiralling.

The system feels very hungry. Now a caretaker is in front to make sure they eat well.

The system feels very angry. Now an anger holder is in front, so the other parts won't be affected by the anger later on.

The system has a fever. Now a symptom holder is in front to manage the symptoms.

Two parts are fighting. Now a gatekeeper is in front to temporarily separate them.

These examples are just examples. Each system will react differently to the same potential trigger. Some will switch to a caretaker, some will switch to a trauma holder, some will switch to a symptom holder, etc. Some won't switch at all.

We've only fairly recently figured this out ourselves, so I wanted to share this. I hope this helped some of you!

Reminder: Don't focus too much on what's a fictional introject and what's depersonalisation, because that can cause more stress and dissociation. It's ok not to know! Also, no matter if it's depersonalisation or a fictional introject, it's ok to feel the way you feel.

Our depersonalisation episodes (in which we feel like a character) usually:

Only happen when we've engaged alot in a certain media (eg. binge-watching a show, reading many chapters of a book)

Go away after an hour of not engaging in that certain media

Change our internal appearance and fashion sense to the character, but don't change any other traits

Don't change our view on any traumas or negative events

Don't cause any extra amnesia (blackouts, greyouts, emotional amnesia, etc)

Our fictional introjects usually:

Split when we've engaged alot in a certain media (eg. binge-watching a show, reading many chapters of a book) and have been stressed at the same time

Front while engaging in that certain media, but also front without engaging in that certain media

Have a different internal appearance, fashion sense, gender, personality, speech pattern and mindset (usually similar to the character)

Have a different view on one or more of our traumas or negative events

Experience amnesia (blackouts, greyouts, emotional amnesia, etc) between other parts

Some fictional introjects won't fit every point in their list and/or also fit points in the depersonalisation list. Some depersonalisation episodes won't fit every point in their list and/or also fit points in the fictional introject list.

Obligatory mention of the lonely and the dissociation aspects of it before I move on to the somewhat bigger TMA spoilers.

TMA spoilers for episodes 77 to 101 !!

Same spoilers as prev, along with some spoilers for season 5 episode 165 to 200 and 110-119

We like to equate the " no more than he became me " line to a host switch off or a role switch off between alters. The headmate typing this right now has been

GOD. YES. WE FORGOT ABOUT THAT EPISODE. It's so peak dude. Sometimes we wonder if it'd be easier to take the route of just ... Whatever™ instead of trying to figure out our names and identities, much akin to The Unknowing and ep 165.

170 is very relatable in dissociation aspects. Where are we? We don't know. What do we remember? We don't know. What's going on? We don't know.

I *have* to mention ep 177 and Dr. David. First off, I hate you Dr. David but I know that's the point. Second off, the continual gaslighting in that episode from Dr. David is very akin to what we fear we'll experience if we go to a doctor for our problems. So not necessarily a system-*specific* thing, but still noteworthy.

Oh yes! It makes a lot more sense as a role switch-off, you are very right. We don't really use roles unless the part really self-identifies with one so that completely slipped.

170 is so good. We gotta relisten to that one too. The Lonely has some really relatable statement episodes, especially when they center around Martin and his connection with it. We can't remember the number of the specific episode, but Cul-De-Sac hit us in the derealization too. Thought it was a Spiral statement at first.

122(?) (the Zombie one) hits there too. The "zombies are not actually dead but instead are just shells of people" thing reminded us of some of our worse depersonalization/derealization episodes.

MAG 48 as well. Lost in the Crowd.

I'm so glad you mentioned 177 (Wonderland). It's one of my favorite Spiral statements and also such a real terror that we had to take a break after that one. I really wish we got to see more of these domains in season 5. This isn't specifically a system thing (and this is also a spoiler for the Magnus Protocol, will indicate where the spoiler ends) but the dysphoria Flesh domain we hear about is super super good. Will always wish they did even more episodes for these things.

(spoiler ends)

Obligatory mention of the lonely and the dissociation aspects of it before I move on to the somewhat bigger TMA spoilers.

TMA spoilers for episodes 77 to 101 !!

Same spoilers as prev, along with some spoilers for season 5 episode 165 to 200 and 110-119