Question

In thinking about your experience or that of other multiplicities you know, is there any order you can determine about how alters become known, or do they become known randomly?

Answer 1

In DID, the emergence of alters and how they become known can vary significantly from person to person. However, there are some common patterns and factors that may influence how alters become known:

1. Trauma and Stress: DID often arises as a coping mechanism in response to severe and repeated trauma during childhood. Alters may develop to handle specific traumatic experiences and protect the individual from overwhelming emotions or memories.

2. Age of Onset: Alters are typically formed in childhood as a response to trauma that occurs during that developmental period. As a result, some alters may become known or start to emerge during childhood or adolescence.

3. Triggering Events: Stressful or triggering events in adulthood may also bring out certain alters. These events might mirror or evoke past traumas, prompting different identity states to emerge.

4. Therapy and Treatment: The process of therapy, especially trauma-focused therapy, can create a safe environment for alters to become known. A trusting therapeutic relationship can encourage communication between alters and the primary identity.

5. Internal Communication: In some cases, alters may remain hidden from the primary identity (the host) until internal communication and cooperation improve. Establishing internal communication can help alters become known to each other and the host.

6. Journaling and Self-Reflection: Some individuals with DID find that journaling and self-reflection can help identify different identity states and their unique characteristics.

7. External Triggers: External triggers such as sensory stimuli, specific people, places, or situations may lead to alters surfacing as a response to perceived threats or emotional challenges.

It's important to note that DID is a complex and often misunderstood condition. Alters are not random entities; they represent different parts of the same person's consciousness, each with distinct thoughts, emotions, memories, and behaviors. The process of discovering and understanding alters in DID can be challenging and may require the support of qualified mental health professionals experienced in working with dissociative disorders. Therapy can help individuals with DID develop internal communication, coping skills, and integration of alters, leading to increased co-consciousness and improved functioning.