System Info !! ♡

ㅤDID and OSDD are heavily demonized and stigmatized disorders that develop in early childhood (around the age of 9) as a result of trauma. These disorders lead to a person having multiple different personality states, or alters. These alters are like different gears or puzzle pieces, they all have to work together to function and keep the body safe.
ㅤEndogenic systems are oftentimes singlets (people who aren’t a system) who claim to have one of these disorders without trauma, something that is scientifically impossible. Endogenic systems are harmful to traumagenic systems since they often spread dangerous misinformation about the disorder.
ㅤAlters can have different names, roles, ages, gender identities and sexualities, etc. They are parts of one individual but some view themselves as separate from the whole and that should be respected when it happens. Do not assume all systems see themselves as one or see themselves as multiple!

carrd made by .cherryeclipse. on discord!
all information was written by patchesofviolet_sys on discord!

What is DID?

ㅤDID stands for Dissociative Identity Disorder. This disorder (along with OSDD, Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder) are traumagenic disorders that develop in early childhood (up to the age of about 9) and is usually diagnosed later in life.ㅤThis disorder is diagnosed using something known as the theory of structural dissociation.
The theory of structural dissociation states that “severe trauma leads to a fragmentation of the personality into separate, unintegrated mental states, primarily an Apparently Normal Part (ANP) for daily functioning and one or more Emotional Parts (EPs) that hold traumatic memories and emotions.”

Why does this happen?

ㅤThis is caused by the trauma experienced. When a person experiences overwhelming trauma, especially in early childhood, their personality’s natural ability to integrate psychological experiences is disrupted.
ㅤThis basically means that your mind itself becomes damaged in what could potentially be an irreversible way as a direct result of the trauma experienced.
ㅤIn order to cope with the damage suffered, the mind splits into different parts, or states, some of which are to manage the traumatic memories, and others to manage the need to function.

PTSD, C-PTSD, and DID explained using the theory of structural dissociation.

› Primary Structural Dissociation: a single ANP (apparently normal part) and single EP (emotional part) are present, as often seen in PTSD
› Secondary Structural Dissociation: More than one EP exists, with a single ANP managing daily life, as often seen in Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
› Tertiary Structural Dissociation: Multiple ANPs and multiple EPs are present, as seen in Dissociative Identity Disorder

To Clarify:
ㅤHaving PTSD or C-PTSD does NOT mean you are a system. However, there is a reason why you can’t be diagnosed with DID or OSDD without having a PTSD or C-PTSD diagnosis. This is because PTSD and DID are connected to each other in a way.
ㅤEssentially, it is possible to have PTSD and not have DID, but it is not possible to have DID without a PTSD diagnosis.

The Theory of Structural Dissociation

ㅤ“The theory of Structural Dissociation works off of the assumption that no one is born with an integrated personality. Instead, infants operate based off of a loose collection of different ego states that handle their different needs, such as feeding, attachment to a caregiver, exploring the world around them. Over time, these ego states naturally integrate into one coherent and cohesive personality, usually by the ages of 6 or 9. However, childhood trauma disrupts this process.”
ㅤThis basically means that, at a young age, a person’s personality is fluid and malleable, kind of like soft clay. This stage in a person’s life is fragile, and trauma can easily cause permanent damage.

System Roles

ㅤNow that we’ve discussed how endogenic systems are harmful to people with these disorders, let’s take a look at the different types of roles an alter can have. (Note: an alter can have more than one role!)
› Hosts and Co-Hosts: These are the alters who front the most, sometimes referred to as the ANPs (Apparently Normal Parts). These alters often front daily and/or for long periods of time! They handle the daily tasks that come with life, such as hygiene maintenance for example! Co-hosts are alters who often co-front!
› Protectors: Protectors are, well, protectors! Should the system ever be triggered by a reminder of a traumatic event, or if the body is in some kind of danger, protectors may step in during these kinds of situations and do whatever they can to make sure the body stays safe.
› Caretakers: These are the caring ones. The ones who will make sure the body is healthy and such! Caretakers also double as babysitters in a way! Caretakers often take care of the littles in the system, keeping them safe and cared for.
› Littles: Littles are alters who may feel or be younger than the actual age of the body. They are usually children and are sometimes the most well protected members of the system, since they can also be the most vulnerable parts of the system.
› Fictives: Fictives are a type of introject! Specifically, an introject of a fictional character or concept! It’s important to remember that fictives are not their source, and they should not be treated as such!

ㅤNote: there are other roles not listed here, there will be resources on this carrd supplying more info regarding systems and roles! Just remember to be careful when doing your own research. DID and OSDD are heavily demonized, and not everything you will read about these disorders is true! If you feel it necessary, try talking to a system to better understand what is and isn’t misinformation!

Endogenic “Systems”, and why they are harmful

ㅤEndogenic systems can be used to describe a small variety of people, but in short, endogenic systems are people who claim to have DID or OSDD without trauma.
ㅤThis is scientifically impossible, as this claim does not line up with the theory of structural dissociation, which states that trauma is the cause.
Endogenic systems can be used to describe:
› traumagenic systems in denial of their trauma
› traumagenic systems who were misinformed and misled to believe they are endogenic
› people with other similarly presenting symptoms (such as psychosis, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, etc)
› Singlets with factitious disorders
› singlets who are misidentifying normal experiences, such as acting different around different people, or having mood swings
› Singlets who think being a system is “fun”
ㅤIt is important to know that because of this list above, not every endogenic system is a fake system. Some may be real systems struggling to accept their traumas, or systems who have been led astray by the spread of misinformation.
However, singlets who claim to be systems are harmful, regardless of whether or not it is their intent to be harmful, and below I will explain why.

How Endogenic "Systems" are Harmful

› First and foremost, endogenic systems are harmful because they purposefully spread dangerous misinformation about the disorder, and lots of endogenic beliefs are harmful and stereotyped. The most obvious example of how they harm people with this disorder is by claiming that it is possible to have DID (or OSDD) without trauma, which is scientifically impossible.
› Endogenic systems also tend to perpetuate a lot of harmful misinformation and stigma, further demonizing certain roles. An example of this is the endogenic belief that all persecutors are inherently bad or evil. Other examples of endogenic beliefs is the belief in things like alter death, and something known as system hopping.
› System hopping is the belief that alters can travel freely from one system to another, which is not only impossible, but is also something sometimes used as an abuse tactic. System hopping isn’t possible, because while systems are in the mind, the mind is connected to a physical thing, the brain. It is physically impossible for a piece of someone’s mind to travel to another person’s mind.
› Endogenic systems also claim that all persecutors are inherently bad or evil and that they only exist to harm the system. While it is true that persecutors can be quite the assholes sometimes, this doesn’t make them evil or demonic in any way. Some persecutors are sometimes referred to as “misguided protectors”. These persecutors are protectors who want to help protect the system, but who go about doing so in the wrong way via the use of self destructive habits, returning to people who abused the system in the past, or lashing out at others.
› Endogenic systems also spread the belief that alters can have disorders the body does not. It is impossible for an alter to have a disorder the body does not have, and alternatively, it is impossible for an alter to not have a disorder the body has. If the body has a disorder, then everyone in the system has that disorder. Some alters may present symptoms of these other disorders more than other alters do, these alters are known as symptom holders! Claiming to have a disorder the body does not have is ableist
› Furthermore, endogenic systems also claim that introjects have to be exactly like their source and that they are their source. Introjects are alters that are based off of preexisting external things and concepts such as real people, characters from a game/show/movie/book, etc. Comparing an introject to their source is offensive and hurtful, it’s like walking up to a celebrity and being like “hey look it’s the guy from Fortnite!” Why is this offensive you asked? Well, that’s because introjects are more than just their source, they are a person with feelings and opinions of their own, they aren’t just their source, and you should never disrespect introjects in this way.
› Finally, there is the spread of the endogenic belief that systems can have alters from different races and cultures. This is more than just offensive, it is a racist belief. Just because a system might have alters whose skin color differs from the body’s skin color does NOT mean that alter is of a different race or culture. There is so much more to race than just appearance and skin color, race is about culture, about the traditions you were raised with, a system that is bodily white cannot claim to have an Arabic alter. HOWEVER, this also applies to systems who are not bodily white as well. Just because you are not white does not mean claiming an alter is of a different culture is not racist.

Links With More Info!