We're a group of parts in a DID system ( @parts-of-one ). We prefer they/them pronouns.
General TW for ITBC (intentional torture based conditioning).
We're trauma holders. Each part here holds (vague, fragmented) memories and/or trauma responses related to system programming.
Other parts (such as our host) also talk here sometimes, which is mainly because they're co-front with us or otherwise just want to be involved for whatever reason.
Frequent posters: 💜, 🐇, 🐑, Z, 🐍
Not everyone in the system agrees we've been programmed.
Why we delete some of our posts
DNI:
- kink/fetish blogs
- radqueer (pro-contact, pro-transID)
- endogenic systems
- if you think ITBC survivors are lying, exaggerating or delusional about being a survivor
a programmed system member that took on, or introjected, the identity of a source that they were not programmed with. this source may be internal, external, factual, fictional, or a varying mix. a headmate may do this to further develop, fight anti-identity programming, to rebel against handlers, etc.
ie. a system member taking on the appearance, name, and personality of ticci toby, a fictional character
espouse (adopt, embrace, support a belief or way of life) + tive (suffix for sourced system members)
oea exclusive. if adding to pluralpedia, put coiner under ‘onatimcore’ only, don’t link anything please. i don’t care about syscourse, do not involve me. if you don’t like the flag you’re free to remake it, i’d just prefer the hues to stay somewhat similar in respect to the alters we coined this for.
When we try to remember what we were like as a young child, we can get intrusive pseudomemories (images/thoughts/ideas that feel like they're memories, but aren't actual memories) of us being a terrible and evil person.
TW: ITBC programming, abuse in general
We get pseudomemories of us severely abusing other kids, animals and vulnerable adults. We also have pseudomemories of little bad things we actually did having an extreme impact on others, while in reality it had very little impact. Because of this we can very strongly feel like and sometimes even believe that we deserved to be abused and traumatized as a child, even though people (especially children) never deserve to be abused and the pseudomemories aren't actual memories.
We know those memories aren't real, because they clash with the real memories we have and the people who knew us as a child never said anything about us being so terrible.
Idk if this is (part of) a program, a general trauma response we have, a symptom of social anxiety or a mix of these things. I do wonder if other people also experience this.
I saw a post that disgruntled me enough to want to talk about this, so here we are. There seems to be a heavy amount of misinformation on what "counts" as OEA, often excluding adult victims and non-programmed victims. So, within this post, we'll go over what the terms "OA, MC, and RA" mean, as well as commonly construed myths.
Organized Abuse
all-encompassing.
Organized abuse is a wide term that includes experiences of ritual abuse and mind control but is in no way exclusive to them. Often, only organized child sexual abuse is mentioned, which leaves out a lot of experiences it includes.
The most simple definition of organized abuse is "Abuse that involves a number of people doing something together in a pre-planned and/or structured way, rather than acting alone." In short terms, abuse done by multiple people in a planned way. [1]
All groups under the RAMCOA/OEA label will fall under this category. This includes, but is not limited to, Cults, Trafficking Rings, Labor Camps, "Troubled Teen" Camps, Intra-Familial Organized Abuse, and other experiences that fall under this definition. This includes victims indoctrinated into cults, trafficked, or otherwise abused as adults, as well as children born or brought into it. Location of the abuse (at home, in a church, at school, at a daycare, etc) doesn't matter, and someone does not have to go through ritual abuse or mind control to have experienced organized abuse.
Ritual Abuse
not inherently satanic.
Ritual abuse is a term often confused with SRA, or "Satanic Ritual Abuse," an outdated and often harmful label for forms of organized extreme abuse. Not all forms of organized abuse are ritual abuse.
Ritual abuse can be defined as "Abuse that occurs in a context where symbols or activities have superstitious, supernatural, or religious connotations. It is organised, often involving multiple perpetrators, and the abuse often happens as part of a rite or ceremony." Alternatively, the word 'ritual' refers to "a rite, ceremony or pseudo- religious service which involves a series of actions performed in a fixed order and/or at certain times; something that is done in the same way whenever a particular situation occurs." [1] [2]
Because of this, ritual abuse can be defined while including spiritual themes and non spiritual themes. So, many definitions include other forms of abuse that is ritualized/specifically repeated in nature, such as on a specific day or time or in a specific order.
This type of abuse is most dominated in literature by satanic overtones, once again from the term SRA. However, this is not exclusive to satanic cults. Any group based on a belief system or using other reoccurring themes/abuse can perpetrate ritual abuse. Though ritual abuse is also more commonly linked with mind control and child abuse, programming and age have no impact on if an experience is ritual abuse or not.
Survivors of ritual abuse include things like ritualistic ceremonies, games, symbols, set-ups, abuse on specific days/holidays, abuse in a specific order, etc as common experiences.
Mind Control
programming and beyond
Mind control tends to be the term that receives the most problems, as many people tend to only think of programming when hearing it. However, MC is not exclusive to programming survivors, and many types of MC have been recognized.
A good definition of MC is "Methods of thought reform to force submission or information from enemies and victims, or to indoctrinate and increase cooperation in members and captors," and is a synonym to coersive persuasion, defined as "attempts to force people to change beliefs, ideas, attitudes or behaviors using psychological pressure, undue influence, threats, anxiety, and/or intimidation." [3] [4]
Programming is an example of the far end of mind control, a severe form of conditioning. However, things such as cult and religious indoctrination, psychic driving, terrified submission, etc, are all also forms of MC that can occur within organized abuse. MC is not exclusive to child victims, as most forms of MC can be performed at any age.
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions or additions, feel free to send an ask or reply to this post. A reminder that I am not a professional, I am flawed, and I am just doing my best.
Hot take, but I think the more recent OEA community very commonly forgets or excludes survivors who didn't go through severe MC or programming, despite those individuals likely being the most common victims. So, just a reminder, you don't have to be programmed to be an OA survivor.
survivor of extreme abuse: yeah so it doesn’t have to do anything with satanism. thinking so dismisses survivors and paints an entire belief system in a bad light, honestly. when looking at things like the BITE model, it makes a lot of sense how those structures work. organized groups can even not use a specific religion, so it has nothing to do christianity either. it’s actually kind of weird that you keep linking this back to christians in america while ignoring survivors from around the globe. most people will never experience this degree of abuse, but being informed is extremely important in the current political climate with people both dramatizing the epstein files and treating it like the next satanic panic—an event which ironically dismissed actual abuse victims to begin with. survivors deserve better.
person with the world’s smoothest brain: okay so you’re just inventing the satanic panic again,
I have a question for other people who've experienced ITBC (or trauma in general): Do you experience symptoms of psychosis related to your trauma?
When I'm triggered or stressed, I often experience auditory hallucinations (usually whispering, white noise, sirens, ringing or footsteps) and sometimes visual hallucinations (usually shadows moving in the corner of my eye). When I'm really triggered/stressed, besides hallucinating, I also experience severe depersonalisation and derealisation, it becomes difficult to comprehend languages I normally speak fluently and I get really dizzy (to the point of not being able to walk straight).
I was wondering if anyone else has this and if this could be ITBC related or generally trauma related. I'm also planning on discussing this with our psychologist.
"RAMCOA & OEA isn't real; it's fake or exaggerated for attention online. We'd see a lot more cases if it was."
Except you do see us.
We're on the front page of your favorite porn site. We're the tweaking homeless person you pretend not to look at on the street. We're your favorite political talking point. We're the infant in the emergency room screaming from a pain they can't comprehend. We're the black lines in classified files you make jokes about. We're buried in the backyards of farmhouses that have long since returned to nature. We're the ones who sold you drugs in high school. We're the classmate you bullied for growling and barking like an animal. We're the product of a $200 billion industry. We're the blood on your favorite politician's hands. We're alive and dead and existing as fragmented states in between.
You just refuse to look too closely because it makes you uncomfortable.
This post aims to provide comparisons and sources for OEA community terms and their academic counterparts. This is not a post that serves to say what terms are more valid or not, just a review. I may not be able to find references to everything, so if I say a term isn't clinical and it has been mentioned, feel free to correct me. This is a long one, so buckle in. This may be updated.
Overarching Acronyms
for the sake of clarity, im going to use 'OEA' throughout this post to serve as the general acronym.
RAMCOA - Ritual Abuse, Mind Control, and Organized Abuse
RAMCOA stems from the ISSTD developed special interest group, the "Ritual Abuse Mind Control Organized Abuse Special Interest Group" (RAMCOA SIG) in 2008. [1] This, along with OEA, is the most common acronym used. There is a lot of controversy over this term, and much of the community has begun to switch to OEA.
OEA - Organized Extreme Abuse
From the ISSTD as well, emerging in 2020 as the previous SIG was renamed to "Organized and Extreme Abuse SIG." [2] This is believed to be because of the controversy surrounding the previously named group.
SRA - Satanic Ritual Abuse
An outdated term that comes from the satanic panic era in the 1980s. Much of the content that used this term is conspiracy-like in nature. However, some early OEA research (typically from 1990-2000) and books use this acronym and are genuine, so it requires a lot of critical thinking. [3][4]
RA, SA, CRA, ORA - Ritual Abuse, Sadistic Abuse, Cult (and) Ritual Abuse, Organized Ritual Abuse
These are more casual terms used in the 1990s-early 2000s before RAMCOA was established, when 'Satanic' was no longer accurate, and when there was a search to coin a new overarching term. Despite the name, these terms were used as overarching acronyms for things outside of RA as well. I've included these all in one due to their similarities and/or due to the fact they weren't used frequently. There are also a variety of other terms mentioned that I've noted in one of the sources below.[5, CRA] [6, SA][7, RA as a general term ][8, ORA, review of other terms]
DIDMCSRA - Dissociative Identity Disorder, Mind Control, and Satanic Ritual Abuse
A barely used term from 2016 coined by a community member. It seems to have existed very briefly and didn't extend past a couple of members. However, the community aspect provided is interesting.
MC-Specific Terms
terms specific to mind control and programming
Programming
Programming generally has the same definition between the community and clinicians. It is defined as "systematic torture that blocks the victim’s capacity for conscious processing, and then employs suggestion and/or classical and operant conditioning to implant thoughts, directives, and perceptions in the unconscious mind, often in newly-formed trauma-induced dissociated identities, that force the victim to do, feel, think, or perceive things for the purposes of the programmer." [9]
TBMC/TBCMC - Trauma/Torture Based Mind Control/Trauma Based Coersive Mind Control
TBMC is a term that clinically describes programming. However, within the community, this term can expand to include other types of mind control as well. The earliest mention I can find of this term was in 2007. [9]
Scripts - "Structures."
The term 'Script' is a community term to describe a phenomenon in programming where programmers will utilize certain media to program system structure. I have a whole other post on this. The term Script itself comes from an unreliable source, svalispeaks, but the idea itself is mentioned in literature under terms such as "Structures" of the innerworld. I'm just going to leave a link to my post about it if you want to explore the sources themselves, as this one is complicated.
Side Systems / 'Left' and 'Right' Systems
Sidesystems are a community made term that describes a structure in programmed systems where a set of alters are completely separate from the others, functioning as a completely separate system. In the clinical sense, this is sometimes referred to as the "left" and "right" systems, with one side being full of programmed parts and the other being daily life parts. However, sidesystems don't necessarily have to be to the left or right of each other. I'm also going to link my post that goes into more detail about them, but it doesn't provide any more clinical sources, so just take it how you will.[10, pg 131]
Screen / Cover Memories
Screen Memories are created memories that programmers use to "cover up" the abuse. They use impossible or highly improbable events, for example, an alien abduction, to discredit the victim and hide real memories of abuse. This is also called Cover Memories/Programs, and it is the same within the community. [10, pg 197]
System Reset / Epochal Division
Epochal Division refers to the phenomenon of where major life changes cause systems to replicate some or all of their alters, with the previously existing alters either remaining active or becoming more covert/dormant. OEA survivors sometimes call this a system reset if it derives from programming, though this term is the same as an endogenic coined one and is often frowned upon when used in reference to OEA. This is first documented by Kluft in reference to polyfragmented systems. [11]
System-Hopping
In the OEA sense, system hopping refers to the action of a part traveling from a sidesystem to the main system and vice versa. I am unsure of the origin of this term in OEA spaces, but it seems to be a community-made term that shares the name with an endogenic term. As far as I'm aware, this did not originate as an OEA community term and has existed in endogenic spaces years prior between the years 2001-2003.
Program Names
i won't go through all community terms for specific types of programming, only the most common ones I've seen specifically mentioned in literature or other official sources, as well as any very common within the community. these are not the only possible programs, but this section is already very long. if desired, i can make a separate post going more in detail about all of them. Sources here are triggering and often repeated.
Greek Letters
The greek letter system of programming originated from the community and is not used in clinical literature. Many of the terms originate from very untrustworthy sources (Fritz & Svali) but have expanded to be commonplace. I have also found evidence of Greek letter terms used in the community in 2003 and 2016.
Alpha / Base
The earliest mention of 'Alpha' in reference to programming I can find is from a book I don't consider a reliable source. However, it is described as "base" programming and similar terms clinically. The term refers to newly formed splits that have gone through basic programming (ex. loyalty to the group, following orders).
Backups / Doubles
Backup programs are the presence of programmed parts meant to replace other programmed parts should they fail or be 'disobedient'. Often, these parts will be the exact same as the one they're replacing and receive the same training. Both of these are used as clinical terms, though doubles less commonly. [10, pg 110, pg 144]
Beta / Sexual
The earliest mention of 'Beta' in reference to programming I can find is from a book I don't consider a reliable source. Within the community, this refers to any sexual programming, which is very commonly talked about academically. I'll link one seperate example. [12]
Callback / Re-Contact / Return
Return programs are very much talked about in literature, and all three of the above terms have been used both inside and outside the community. These refer to any programs created to have the victim return to the group/programmers. [13][10][14, pg 115 ]
Delta / Violence
The absolute earliest mention of 'Delta' in reference to programming I can find is from a book I don't consider a reliable source. However, violence programming is referenced in multiple official sources. In the community, Delta programming refers to any programming that revolves around violence towards others. [15]
Epsilon / Nonhuman / Paranormal
Epsilon is the community term for nonhuman programming, or parts that believe they are animals or other nonhuman creatures. This is used for a variety of reasons and doesn't have a specific term, mainly just listed as "parts who believe they are animals/nonhuman."[10, pg 51][14, pg 74 ]
While "Internal Handlers" seems to be more of a community term, Internal Programmers, Enforcers, and Organizers are used in a clinical sense. All of these things refer to varients of programmed parts that internally enforce, replay, and replace programs and programmed parts in some way. These are also often called "higher ups." [10, pg 160, pg 133] [14, pg 63]
Monarch
Project Monarch refers to an alleged subset of Project MKUltra. The idea is created by a conspiracy theorist. However, within the community, "Monarch programming" either refers to: 1. The government-led mind control that occurred during MKUltra/Project Artichoke itself, or 2. Any programming that is government-controlled, government-funded, or that came from a government connected group. It is also referred to as "Monarch-like" programming.
Omega / Suicide / Self-Injury / Lethal
Omega is the community term for all types of Lethal and Self-Injury programming. This is referred to in many different ways academically, but stick to the same general theme. [15]
Organization / Hierarchy
Both in community and clinical senses, there are various types of organizational programming mentioned. Most notably, soldiers, religious alters (angels, demons, etc), and cues such as numbers, shapes or letters, and colors. Usually, these organizations will correspond to a hierarchy. This is used as a way for programmers to more easily organize the system and keep parts in check. There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to organizational programs, so those with the same type of organization may have completely different meanings to them. [10, pg 49, pg 131 ]
Reporter / Observer
Reporter programs refer to the same thing in community and clinical terms. They describe programmed parts whose duty it is to report back to the group and/or update them on the systems habits. This often ties into callback and routine programs.[13][10]
Routine / Internal Calender
Routine is the community term for programmed behaviors where the victim does things on certain times, days, etc. Often, this pertains to rituals. Routine programming is sometimes also referred to as an 'Internal Calender' in clinical literature and can be linked with callback programming. [14, pg 57] [15]
Scramble and Varients
In this section, I'm including any sort of programming that causes specific disorentation to make this shorter. Scrambling, Flooding, Rapid Switching, Spinning, Trance, Mist, 'Dead Head,' and other terms have been created and used to describe types of programming that cause the victim to become heavily disoriented, confused, foggy, or otherwise not able to think. There are a wide variety of clinical terms used for these types of programming, but the terms most commonly used in the community are scramble, flood, and spin programming. [14 , pg 88][15][16]
Shell
Shell alters are simplistic parts that function as a 'screen' that other alters speak through. This is used to make the victim not seem multiple and mask other symptoms caused by programming and multiplicity. There is a brief mention of "shell" parts in the context of OSDD, and some non-programmed systems may have experiences that are similar. However, a programmed shell is much different from other described experiences. [14, pg 56 ]
Silence / Speaking Programs
I've included all programs that mention voice in this section. Silence and group-specific speaking programs (programmed responses) are the two I've seen mentioned clinically and may tie into reporter programs. Terms such as hyperverbal are also used in community spaces. [15]
Theta / Religious
The absolute earliest mention of 'Theta' in reference to programming I can find is from a book I don't consider a reliable source. However, it has been widely used within the community outside of that. Theta is a community term that refers to any kind of religious programming, which is well documented in the clinical sense, often just referred to as religious programming or specific examples of programmed parts.
Other / Misc Programming
Things like Body Illness Programs, misc Emotional Programs, Recycle and Amnesia programs, and Isolation programs have been listed in sources provided, among many others not listed here. These are the ones I see mentioned less frequently, and thus, I haven't given a full section. If desired, I'll create a specific post going over all of them.
System Types
as a note, i do not think systems who have been through OEA are inherently more complex. as mentioned, i personally disagree with HC-DID and its creator. this is simply grouping terms i've seen together.
C-DID / Complex DID
Complex DID is a term referring to polyfragmented DID. The term is mentioned by Bennett G. Braun and R. P. Kluft. It is not specific to OEA victims, and many use it as an alternative to polyfragmented.
EC-DID / Extremely Complex DID
EC-DID is a term initially coined by R. P. Kluft in reference to polyfragmented systems, very similar to C-DID. It is not an OEA specific term. However, ritual abuse is mentioned as a cause of said complex system structures. [11]
HC-DID / Highly Complex DID
HC-DID is a community-made term coined by someone later outed as a racist and being inappropriate with minors. For the term itself, the words "highly complex" have been used to describe some system structures and cases in literature. However, it is not a separate clinical term itself and was never said exclusively about OEA survivors. The idea that all programmed system structures are highly complex is also incorrect, as there are small systems that have been programmed. Some members of the community still use this term, while others discredit it. Please keep these things in mind when considering using this term.
RA-DID, OA-DID / Ritual Abuse DID, Organized Abuse DID
These are community terms I've seen used as an alternative to HC-DID as an attempt to create a term specific to OEA survivors. These terms are rarely used and are completely community based.
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions or additions, feel free to send an ask or reply to this post. A reminder that I am not a professional, I am flawed, and I am just doing my best. This post, in particular, is likely to be updated, and I will reblog with changes.
Everytime I front I feel very hungry, no matter how much or little I eat. Usually the hunger is a just annoying, but sometimes it's painful. It confuses me, because I'm the only alter in the system who experiences this and the hunger only begins after I've been triggered to front.
I'm guessing it's psychosomatic, but I'm not entirely certain. I've been looking into it myself, but if anyone has suggestions of what could be the cause or how to alleviate the pain, please let me know (no pressure).
Some abusers call their victims by a number instead of their actual name. This is a way of dehumanizing the victim.
There are many situations in which a person is called a number instead of their name. This isn't necessarily abusive, but it can be. I'm going to use schools as an example, but this also applies to many other situations (like camps, prisons and cults).
Being numbered is a common thing that happens in schools. Usually, a person is numbered for organisational purposes. Besides being called your number, you're still called your own name as well. This is a very normal and non-abusive situation in which people are called numbers.
However, in certain schools, such as many boarding schools for "troubled teens", the number you're given isn't purely for organisational purposes. It's there to dehumanize you. You're not called your own name anymore, you're only called your number.
The types of abuse people often experience in such schools (abduction, beating, neglect, emotional abuse, CSA, etc) has caused people to develop trauma and/or dissociative disorders. If you go through this when you're the age when a CDD can develop (0-10), or when you already have a CDD, you can form an alter related to the abuse and they might even refer to themselves as the number their abusers called them.
The abuse I just described is organised abuse and thus falls under RAMCOA. The schools are not necessarily cults, but it can be considered as such in some cases.
I want to make clear to everyone following this blog that I (the host) and alot of other parts in our system usually don't believe we're programmed and consider the parts who do believe we've gone through programming to be delusional. This is why we sometimes say on our other blogs that we haven't gone through programming. I still want to give the parts who think they're programmed a space to talk about their experiences, since there's a chance the memories are real and that I'm in denial. Also, everytime I delete their blog to talk about it, they make a new one anyway.
