So who even is this person? (aka, a bit of a wordy introduction)
I've made a straw page that has the introductions for my individual minds, feel free to check it out:
**EDIT 9/8/2026: I've made some important updates to my strawpage, these will eventually be carried through to the rest of my blog**
Hi, I go by Fee or Ray online (not my real name for safety reasons). Feel free to come up with nicknames for me if you have any cool ideas.
I want to preface this blog by saying that I have C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder). I am currently in parts therapy so will often use posts to sort of "journal" with my parts as a way to help with therapy. I identify as a polymind, which is an identity I have come to realise fits my experience since going through parts therapy (but it was something that fit pre parts therapy as well).
I am also physically disabled, have a neurological disability and am multiply neurodivergent. Feel free to ask me about this, I'm more than happy to answer any questions.
I will block: pedophiles (Especially. I have had bad experiences and don't want to be anywhere near pedos, even if they're getting help for it.); people who seem to believe that being polymind means I'm "larping" having OSDD or DID. I am not a system in any way, shape or form, that is not what being a polymind is.; genocide supporters and general bigots.
I won't block: people due to their religious beliefs, minors (But please be aware that I am an adult, and I do not DM minors due to safeguarding reasons. If you are a minor and DM me without a visible age on your profile, I will end the DM if I have any reason to believe you are under 18.), people with different opinions to me if you are able to be respectful of my differing opinions.
I donāt really have a DNI, just be respectful and not a creep!
To those of you who believe that being a polymind is fake, then you're simply denying the existance that my therapist and I have been discussing for about five years. You are not my therapist, you do not know me personally, and you are not qualified to talk over me regarding my own mental health and identity (and yes, I will block you if you come at me for this instead of listening and being respectful despite any differences in beliefs). I do not claim to be a system in any way, and do not want to be involved in syscourse because I am not a system, so please don't drag me into any.
Polymindence for me is a way of working through my trauma and an extension of parts work (which is similar to but not the same as IFS therapy). I AM NOT a qualified therapist and only speak for my own experiences with parts therapy and my identity as a polymind.
On a lighter note- I hope we can get along and become friends! I know this is quite a long post so congrats if you made it to the end.
Edit: I am also NOT radqueer or a traumagenic or endogenic system, please do not treat me as such.
This is Ivory and Coal, polymers main active minds! They were loosely based off of Yin and Yang and work together as such -!
" yin-yang is the concept that there exist cosmic principles or forces that are opposite but complementary, which interact, interconnect, support and perpetuate each other. Together they form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the interdependent components, and both parts are essential for the cohesion of the whole. "
These two minds are the anchors, neither of them are co-anchors, they usually are in main active equally as much.
The still active minds are based off of the more commonly known polymind flag. While the lost minds are based on the less commonly known polymind flag.
- Polymers eyelashes, color of belt/necklace charms, and color of glasses change depending on who is active!
- Polymer is a varishatter polymind!
- Polymer is a netted polymind!
- Polymer is a mindflux polymind!
- Feesh [The fish that is behind polymer on the first pic and as a charm on the second pic] can turn into Polymers head charm!
- Feesh is like Polymers personal friendly polymind helper, sort of being like the map from dora explorer. Polymer can ask feesh about any polymind terms and learn that way!
[DISCLAIMER, FEESH IS NOT OURS. Feesh belongs to @spectralmindset maybe now @theetherealpride. Feesh is the polymind wiki mascot. This is all purely how we see feesh and polymers relationship, and is not truely canon unless said otherwise!]
A look at what makes Polyminds similar and different from Plurality, Medians, CDDs, and IFS.
This is my *own* way of understanding how all of these experiences compare and contrast. It is not a be all end all set thing. But, I try and keep information as accurate as possible and the comparisons are my own informed opinions.
I will be using system in the context explained here
I am sticking with original (and I am assuming default) terms and definitions to create consistent foundations to compare from. I acknowledge preferred language will vary depending on the individual.
I am not a polymind! I am a curious observer who likes to stay informed.
I am not very familiar with Median systems. I only know surface level things, so please let me know if I have misunderstood anything related.
Basic Terminology
Subpersonalities: Semi-autonomous aspects of your psyche.
Parts: Synonymous with subpersonalities.
States: Situation-specific ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Modes: States we can shift into.
Masks: States concealing your true self to uphold or fulfill expected social norms.
Facet: An aspect of a broader personality
Self: The whole, unified psyche or personality
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Experiences
Polymind
Mind: An individual in a polymind. May be swapped with modes, states, parts, subpersonalities, etc.
The Self/Collective Self: An identity that represents the minds as a whole. Follows the default definition of the self in psychology.
IFS
Parts: Subpersonalities with very specific roles
The Self: The core/center of a person. A very specific label that looks at the self through specific traits or qualities separate from the other parts.
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Conclusion: IFS is a therapeutic model and polymind describes the experience of interacting with subpersonalities as individuals or separate identities.
IFS gives parts very specific roles and aims to separate, or unblend, the self from these parts, while minds behave as separate individuals or have their own identities, but together make up the self.
Minds can be parts in IFS and someone who is practicing IFS could also adopt the Polymind label since it is treating the mind as multiple parts that come from, or influence, the "self". But, the "self" has two different definitions between the two. This may be a very important distinction for some and would likely also influence IFS and require some modification to the original model since the self has a very specific role in IFS.
Note: Because the "self" is abstract the term may mean very different things between polyminds and some may not follow the original term's definition.
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Plural/Multiple
Headmate: An individual in a system or collective
Host: An individual who is most active, has the most responsibilities, has greater external influence, or they have more external relationships than other members.
Core: An individual with a direct connection to the body's sense of self (May refer to the current self or the original unified self prior to systemhood. Some plurals/multiples may not have a core)
Original: The body's original unified self, or the very first recognized member of the collective or system. (Some plurals/multiples may not recognize an original)
Fragment: A part that usually does not possess full autonomy and/or an identity. May be composed of a singular aspect, and holds specific things like emotions and memories. May only fulfill a single, specific role or job.
Median
Facet/Aspect: Identity states that are often less defined or separate.
Core: A unified identity. This core may be composed of a single identity that has multiple facets or states.
(Some median systems may not identify with a singular core identity and in these cases where there is no singular identity median systems may forgo the term "core" entirely.)
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CDD
Alter: A dissociative part in a CDD system. An "alternate identity"/distinct personality or identity state.
Part:
a. Synonymous with Alter
b. A "part" of the whole system, or a part of the original identity
c. refers to apparently normal parts (ANPs), emotional parts (EPs), and other classifications (like child parts)
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Classification
Polymind: Non-Medical, self-identifying label
IFS: Medical, Therapeutic model
Plurality: Non-medical, self-identifying label
Multiple: Medical and non-medical, self-identifying label
Median: Non-Medical, self-identifying label
CDD: Medical, diagnosis
Community Identity
Polymind: Neither singlet nor plural (but plural is an opt-in label)
IFS: Multiple (my own understanding from the "multiplicity of the mind" theory that IFS comes from)
Plural: Plural
Median: In-between multiple/plural and singlet.
CDD: Multiple or Plural
Structure
Polymind: Subpersonalities/ system (not all polyminds view themselves as a system)
IFS: Subpersonality system
Plural: Collective or system (or any other preffered grouping language)
Median: System
CDD: Dissociative system
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Conclusion: Polyminds and IFS focuses on subpersonalities, Polymindence can be viewed as either a normal singlet or plural experience, so instead of choosing one or the other a polymind may opt-in to either label if they feel it fits, or go without. Also due to many polyminds being familiar with or coming from CDD/Plural spaces the communities may share similar culture and online footprints to eachother. Similarly while many polyminds do not see themselves as systems, they are typically referring specifically to not being a CDD system in these instances. A polymind could function as a system similarly to how IFS has parts function as a system together.
All of these experiences look very, very similar at first glance. Terminology overlaps and terms can have similar but slightly different meanings. It can be incredibly hard to keep it all straight and mistakes will inevitably be made. Especially when the overwhelming different ways plurality and parts can present are added to the equation. The multitude of beliefs within each community can also blur hard lines and some things feel optional rather than necessary. A "core" explanation of what each experience is becomes increasingly hard to find and makes seeing and understanding differences a lot harder. But, hopefully, this post can help others like it has helped me to keep things a little tidier when looking for differences.
I am sorry for anyone who feels they were not represented with the definitions and explanations I gave. It is not my intention to leave anyone out nor am I intending to fakeclaim anyone who falls outside these examples. I was trying to simplify things as best I could but that will always leave things unsaid.
As someone who most likely has a CDD and is in fact probably NOT polymindā¦ it was literally the polymind community who guided me into investing our dissociative symptoms more.
LIKE no polymind ever has ever claimed that being polymind is being a system. Because it *isnāt*! My experience as someone with a probably CDD is DIFFERENT to polymind individuals experiences! Thatās how we realised I wasnāt polymind!!!!!
I've made some very important updates to my strawpage that I will eventually update this page to include.
The decision to update this comes as I feel continuing to publicly identify as polymind isn't right for me! (although I am VERY pro polymind!!!!)
Yes, I am scared I could face backclash for this! I'll deal with that if it happens. Please undertand that being polymind is VERY different from being a system. Polymind individuals do not claim to be systems. I no longer identify as polymind, so DO NOT take my word to be what polyminds experience!
If you're in the polymind discord server you may know what I'm referencing! Anyways, my blog will over time go through a re-brand! Please be assured that this doesn't change any of the opinions I've expressed on here.
donāt read this post if you donāt want to see any drama (somethingsomething grieferqueer is bad somethingsomething)
If anyone following me or anyone even looking at my page supports or even slightly likes the label āgrieferqueerā, get out. My page is a safe space for trauma survivors. I will not even slightly give you time of day, and I am usually a very patient person with people who have different opinions to me. Grieferqueer dismisses illegal activity by saying that āas long as it doesnāt affect you or someone you care aboutā itās all okay. So itās fine until itās your own child. I am being completely serious when I say that the things that grieferqueer stands for are abhorrent and unacceptable.
This is a more serious post than what I normally do folks, just a forewarning.
Tw for the mention of pedophilia and discussion of POCD. If you want to skip this post because you feel you would be triggered by this, please do.
Does anyone else feel like the way the label radnormal is being used is in an inherently ableist way. A lot of posts I have seen have really incredibly triggered my POCD, due to their vitriol and misunderstanding of disorder vs. Just Being A Bad Person. There is so much stigma around having intrusive paraphilic thoughts, many of the posts Iāve seen under the radnormal tag have been totally ignoring that fact that many people with paraphilic disorders donāt want to experience what they experience surrounding attraction, and may be having intrusive thoughts and have not yet realised this (which had been my own experience).
I truly believe that saying that āif you think about this you are a pedoā is incredibly triggering for folks with POCD or other types of moral OCD. And I know for a fact that many people (although not all who are posting under the radnormal tag have said these things, but those who have) will not take real accountability for their actions and educate themselves on the type of language better used to not be ableist (whether this is an accidental or purposeful mistake).
tw for the next paragraph: mentions of SA, mentions of death threats (plus the same tw as the rest of this post)
My final point is that I myself am a survivor. People under the radnormal tag have this massive thing about āprotecting survivorsā, but I (personally) do not feel protected by the common radnormal rhetoric. Iāve seen posts detailing how anyone experiencing paraphilia should die. Does this include me with POCD which formed due to my trauma? I have no idea, and it scares me. The fact that people arenāt distinguishing between offending predators and people who donāt want to experience what they do and feel disgusted by their own thoughts and feelings, is disgusting to me. The fact that people are being so unconsciously ableist is disgusting to me. And the fact that I am yet to see a single person take accountability when a disabled person explains to them how they are being ablest via the way they are using the radnormal label, is disgusting.
Iām open to discussion on this, but I am not open to disrespect.
