System Terms :

Try to steer away from “personality” as a term to describe alters. DID/OSDD was originally called Multiple Personality Disorder before more information was found out about it , and the term can be harmful to people with the disorder outside of being used to define , seeing as alters aren’t just “other personalities” , but rather their own people . Thank You !

System : A system is someone who has gone through severe & repeated trauma between the ages of 3 ( three ) and 9 ( nine ) years old . This results in their “personality” forming incorrectly ( fragmented ) . This causes alters ( brainmates ) , who are their own people with their own thoughts , feelings , identities , etc .
Singlets : People whose “personality” formed properly & is completely integrated .

Traumagenic : Traumagenic systems are the only real type of system . Traumagenic means the system was formed because of trauma .
Endogenic : Endogenic systems are not real . Endogens believe that systems can form without trauma , which is not possible .

Alter Types :

Alter ( headmate / brainmate ) : A member of a system .
Factive : An alter of a real life person .
Fictive : An alter of a fictional character . Includes OCs .
Splitroject : An alter with multiple different sources .
Introject : A catch-all term for all alter types that are not brainmades .
Brainmade : An alter with no outside source . Made by the brain .
Fragment : An “incomplete” alter , has limited or minimal sense of identity .

Age-Slider : An alter who’s age can fluctuate and affect their mental / physical state . Not the same as age regression .
Big : Term used to refer to an adult alter .
Middle : Term used to refer to a teenage alter .
Little/Syskid : Term used to refer to alters under 13 .

Misc Terms :

Blackout / Amnesia : When periods of time cannot be remembered , often because of another alter fronting . Can also be referred to as dissociative amnesia .
Blurry ( Blending ) : Used when a system is unaware who is fronting , causing headmates to “blur” together .

Co-Conscious ( Co-Con ) : When two or more alters are aware of each other while fronting .
Co-Fronting : When two or more alters are able to interact with the outside world simultaneously .
Fronting : The current alter “in control” of the body .
Frontstuck : When the alter fronting is unable to switch out , or communicate with the rest of the system .

Dormancy : Referred to as alters “Going dormant” . This is when an alter is non-communicative or inactive for a long period of time .
Bleedthrough : When one alters emotions/memories affect another alter’s mood or state of mind .

Innerworld : A space inside the mind where alters can go while not fronting . Not all systems have an innerworld .

Splitting : When a system forms a new alter . Often because of extreme stress or dissociation .

Switching : When one alter takes front from another .
Rapid Switching : When two or more alters are taking front from each other repeatedly . Often uncontrollable .
Switchy : The feeling when you know a switch is about to happen .

Trigger / Frontpull : Anything that can cause an alter to front ( ex. A tv show , a song , food )

Subsystem : Alters who have their own alters .
Source : Media alters form from .

this rentry is still in use

Edit

Pub: 31 Aug 2022 02:59 UTC

Edit: 23 Jul 2025 00:57 UTC

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