Hold Me By My Name @heartbeatsystem - Tumblr Blog

When ppl talk about alters being stuck in trauma time, they usually talk about those alters not knowing the body's friends, or recognizing where they live, or any number of physical reality changes. And we've definitely had that experience! But more often what "alters being stuck in trauma time" means for us is those alters know basic physical reality facts, but their emotional reality has not changed at all. So they might know our best friend, but they aren't connected to how that friend and I interact. They respond to everything like the trauma is still happening, so they expect any mistake to be met with punishment, they expect the ppl around them to suddenly hurt them without warning, they have no ability to use our modern coping methods, and they have no concept of anything being other than the abusive environment of our youth.

So yeah, our trauma-stuck alters typically know we live in a different house and our dad isn't coming home, and they know things like we graduated college and the names of our friends. What we struggle with a lot more is getting them to understand that this current time isn't just our childhood with new set dressings.

#hm.

maemaybe

Things Fictional Introjects are:

A real and valid part of having DID/OSDD.

Dissociated parts, just like the rest of their system.

Created by trauma, stress, overwhelming experiences, or the system’s inability to integrate new materials into existing alters/parts.

Centered around a “substitute belief” and can be based on characters and media that you have no strong attachment to or may not even like.

Worthy of the same care and support everyone in the system deserves.

Capable of growth beyond their source material.

Things Fictional Introjects are not:

The same thing as “kins” or “kinning” with something.

Created just by liking, identifying with, being strongly attached to, or being attracted to a character.

A completely different “type” of alter that should be treated differently than the rest of the system.

An exact copy of their source.

Incapable of growing beyond their source.

[ This post is about Fictional Introjects as experienced by people with DID and OSDD. Please keep reblogs and replies relevant to DID/OSDD and dissociative experiences. ]

calico-constellation

There's something really profoundly sad about being one of the parts of a CDD system who sees the good things around us.

I know that life can be beautiful and wonderful and fun if only we make it. I know that the grass and trees are a beautiful shade of green and the breeze feels good on my skin and that human connection can be wonderful and that I find myself through caring deeply about the things around me. We can be happy. We DESERVE to be happy.

I wish I could figure out how to tell that to the parts who hold the fear and shame and anger from our past. I love them all and I hate that they are in pain. I wish that I could take some of that burden from them but I can't.

skybound-system

Dear [Alter]

Dear Caretakers, it's okay to worry that you're not doing enough. You are.

Dear Fictives/Factives, it's okay not to identify with your source. It's okay to identify with your source. Remember that you are your own person and that's all that matters.

Dear Gatekeepers, take a breath. I know that it's hard. It's going to be alright. We couldn’t do this without you.

Dear Littles, you're lovely. Keep it up buddy, remember that you're amazing.

Dear Persecutors, you are not evil. You are not a 'bad alter.' You are just as important as everyone else.

Dear Protectors, it's okay to take a break. You are going to make mistakes, and that's okay. You're doing your best and that's perfect.

Dear Self Destructive Alters/Trauma Holders, it's not your fault. It is not your fault. You don't deserve any hate, you don't deserve any of those awful things. You're deserving of the world and one day, some day, you will get it.

Dear Alter, you're going to make it.