What does OSDD feel like?
The answer for this question, of course, can change depending on who you speak too.There is no, and will never be, one way to process & deal with trauma & your disorders. But there will always be common similiarites in experiences, there will always be someone who relates to you. If you find you feel like the only person who experiences something with your disorder, it's most likely to say you aren't. PLEASE ask questions, PLEASE research, it's cliche to say; but you aren't as alone in your disorder as you think.
This paragraph does not excuse, however; very obvious things that do not correlate with the supposed diagnosis. Criteria is a thing for a reason, there are some things you must be recorded experiencing to have a disorder like this. Coping differently is not the same as your disorder working entirely differently.
OSDD 1
This is what the DSMV states for Type 1: "Having chronic dissociative symptoms such as identity alteration, but the alteration and separation between identities is not as severe as in DID. There may be identity disturbance, but not the presence of clearly separated parts or amnesia." ──────────────── I (the author) personally experience Type 1. This is what I can speak on the most. Type 1 is also the most commonly faked online. To breakdown OSDD 1, it is similiar to P-DID (Partial-Dissociative Identity Disorder); a term commonly used outside of North America. Basically a sub-threshold of DID, & the most similiar; hence 'Partial-DID' being a recent medical term that's in-use.
It is broken into two sub-types: 1A & 1B.
OSDD 1A is commonly described as "DID, without alters."
in short, 1A is DID, but with less distinct alters. Alters in this diagnosis are different versions of the 'host.' It's as if you have your own AU (Alternate Universe) versions of yourself in your body, that you "shift" into. You still have amnesia, but you are not fully different people. I have seen systems of this type describe switching as: "just a different headspace. kinda like how when you meditate your in a different mindset/headspace, it's just a more distinct for [osdd 1a indiviuals]."
(quote cont.) "when you experienced trauma your brain took you, at that moment, and put it in a folder in order to protect the "main you". this is why osdd-1a alters are often described as "different versions" of the same person, if that makes sense." ───────────── OSDD 1B is what I experience. It is commonly described as "DID, without amnesia." ( here is a angrier version of this answer, i feel showing raw emotion when it comes to trauma is important for discussion like this )
Just like how 1A is like "shifting," OSDD 1B is like "becoming." "The host" may always be in a form of conciousness. So when someone else fronts, they feel like they are them in some way. When the alter leaves, they feel detached from the experience entirely; emotionally blank or blurry (emotional amnesia), which makes it harder to keep memories, & they may end up forgetting the experience happened, or it becomes "dissociative fog" & is hard to remember/contextualize.
Someone else adds: "One of the most interesting parts is the emotional shift. Only one alter really fronts besides me, and she tends to be calmer than me. She also takes over sometimes specifically because I'm too upset to function. It's like my emotional levels, my cortisol, etc all suddenly... drop,"
This version of OSDD 1 is the most commonly fake, as people think it is easier to "live with" or handle. I implore you to read co./ragebaitsys to see that is not the case.
OSDD 2
This is what the DSMV states for Type 2: "Having identity disturbance due to a long period of ‘intense coercive control and persuasion’. This includes the type of ‘brainwashing’ or control that can occur in cults, during political imprisonment or during torture. In such cases people may begin to be confused about or question their identity."
OSDD 2 is extremely distressing to live with, & is seen as having two seperate "personas" from extreme trauma that make you question reality. Meaning; no alters. "for example, if you lived most of your life as a military personnel in a warzone and suddenly you return home to your original environment, and now you don't know if you are the peaceful family person you were before or the soldier who killed people." Generally co-diagnosed with C-PTSD or PTSD, you are not truly seperate people, you are just conflicted on what "persona" to identify yourself as.
OSDD 3
This is what the DSMV states for Type 3: "Having acute dissociative reactions to stressful events. These typically last less than a month and can last for hours or days at a time. These reactions can include depersonalisation, small periods of amnesia, and changes in sensory-motor functioning."
Also not specifically a diagnosis where you "have alters," you just have extreme dissociative symptoms when something stressful or traumatic happens. This one is very simple to grasp!
OSDD 4
This is what the DSMV states for Type 4: "Experiencing Dissociative Trance. The person experiences periods of time where they lose awareness of the outer world and become unresponsive. This is not something the person can control. While in a trance the person may have temporary paralysis or loss of consciousness. A diagnosis is only made when this trance occurs outside of religious/cultural practice and when not under the influence of drugs. In some parts of the world this might be diagnosed as ‘Trance Disorder’."
Also the only symptom people of this type experience is reoccurring times of unawareness and unresponsiveness. This is also why it is called 'Trance Disorder' and not OSDD 4 in all cases. People with the other OSDD types & DID can & do experience this, but people with this diagnosis only experience this (so again, no alters.)