go back, i'm done reading!


What are Source Memories?

Source Memories, Exomemories, False Memories, or Psuedomemories are also substitute beliefs with pathogenic kernels. They can mirror, whether metaphorically, poetically, or to an exact your brains memories. Usually, for the heavily traumatized brain; it is easier to process trauma when there is a seperation between the reality of the trauma. Using the same example of a Hu Tao alter: The characer is a funeral director, this could translate into the truth of the brain suffering through a type of grief or loss, either of the self or someone else close to them & decided to project this feeling & memory onto the character to form a substitute belief.

You do not have to be a introject to have false memories, another reason they exist could be to explain an alters purpose, which makes it easier for you & the brain to process another "being" within it. For example, having a alter ( we'll call them Ox ) that is a protective alter. They front when you experience some form of bullying. They explain they do this because "back then," ( in their false memories ) they were bullied, & now choose to spend their time standing up for people so others do not have to experience what "they did." Despite you as a person not suffering through bullying in your developmental years, you now have a alter for that purpose. The pathogenic kernel could be many things, like having a younger sibling who is bullied, or spending time online where mob-mentality is common.


What about memories that are "close to source?"

Another reason introjects, especially fictional, can form is due to comfort. If during something traumatic the brain decides it needs to pull a fictional character from a media you've consumed to help soothe & process it, that is what will happen. Usually (but not always so obviously) this character may fall in line with the substitute belief that it will have. For another example: You have just had a near death experience via drowning. The brain, not wanting to process this head on (& probably not capable for doing so) gives you a introject of a character who:

A. Is a mermaid or maybe someone who uses water elementals
B. Has a positive relationship with water, perhaps connected in some way to it
or C. Works in water, perhaps a scuba-diver or life-guard
All three of these related to the pathogenic kernel of: experiencing drowning & comforting yourself while processing it. Meaning these introjects could act really similiar to their source, & it would be right of them, unharmful, & valuable to the system.

This section debunks the commonly seen argument "introjects should WANT to source seperate!" because, with no added context to that statement, it is not a thing based in realism you should spread around...


However...

Like I stated before: If you are aware that the introject is harmful, you should be attempting to heal it. Introjects who claim to not want to seperate their source, or heavily identify as such, are inherently toxic & come from a place of unhealthy behavior, as this is something you should not be wanting if the kernel is harmful.

& in the same way going around saying "Introjects should WANT to source seperate" is harmful, people who feed into the alter about their source are just as harmful. Alters are NOT their source by default, & it is still harmful to so heavily feed into something like this. An alternative phrase or just idea that should be spread instead of demanding source seperation should be simply making sure you are not feeding into something unhealthy. Does the alter seem to be serving their purpose despite being some form of "source attached?" Then they are doing their job. Are they parading it around, looking for "sourcemates" & treating memories like kins? Then there is a unhealthy attachment at play.


A briefing on Sourcemates...

Sourcemates CAN exist. But it is an extremely unhealthy behavior to seek these things out. "It encourages the maladaptive coping mechanisms [introjects] often have, it increases the disconnect between them and their actual reality, and it leaves you open to abuse and manipulation both from other systems who happen to be shitty people, and from malingerers and predators who intentionally target the DID community because of factors like how [introjects] are desperate for a sense of home."

If you are seeking out your "sourcemates," please take care of yourself & do not force people to treat you like this or do the same with you. It is not healthy for you, & you are much better gaining your own identity detached from your source.

Edit Report
Pub: 11 Apr 2024 23:49 UTC
Edit: 14 Apr 2024 03:27 UTC
Views: 640