multiplicity is a spectrum

a blog supporting all system types in standing up against misinformation and hatred

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

It’s okay if you& love horror and scary things.

It’s okay if horror and scary things bother, upset, or trigger you&.

Keep yourselves safe and happy this Halloween season. Be sure to watch out for (and avoid posting/sharing) “screamer” and jumpscare things. Don’t be afraid to ask for people to tag/warn for supernatural or Halloween-themed stuff.

Your system matters.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Most, if not all, systems ultimately want the same thing– to exist in peace, and have their needs taken care of. This is true regardless of origins or system type.

[sysmon]

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Most, if not all, systems ultimately want the same thing– to exist in peace, to have their needs taken care of, and a sword.

[themountainkids]

Ryder immediantly shouted from the back “I have a sword!” and honeslty, i think we’re living the dream

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

[image description: a gif from the Disney movie Aladdin, with a guard yelling “we’ve all got swords”, and the rest of the guards lifting their swords]

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

A reminder that this account is inclusive and supports all system types. If you are more than one, then you’re plural. If you’re plural, you’re allowed to call yourselves a system. We will not debate those points. Thank you.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Most, if not all, systems ultimately want the same thing– to exist in peace, and have their needs taken care of. This is true regardless of origins or system type.

[sysmon]

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Most, if not all, systems ultimately want the same thing– to exist in peace, to have their needs taken care of, and a sword.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Most, if not all, systems ultimately want the same thing-- to exist in peace, and have their needs taken care of. This is true regardless of origins or system type.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

To systems and system members who are part of the LGBTQ community-- including intersex, questioning , aromantic, asexual/greyace, and pan/omni/polysexual folks-- happy Pride Month!

Be safe, have as much fun as possible! You are loved, and matter so much.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Shout out to the systems who are struggling to access therapy, and other mental health resources. Hang in there.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Dear fictives, it’s okay if you’re very little like your canon source. It’s okay if you’re “ooc”, from an “au”, or if your memories, personality, motivations, relationships, etc, are different from canon. You’re also allowed to grow and change from what you were like when you first woke up here! It’s all okay. 

It’s also okay if you’re exactly like your canon source!

Regardless, you’re valid.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Inexpensive and simple ways to improve system communication/help deal with memory issues:

Whiteboards.

Sticky notes.

Phone alarms/reminders.

Calendars,

A physical journal.

A free online journal, like LiveJournal or DreamWidth, or private blog functions like on tumblr or pillowfort.

Spreadsheets (for system information).

Leaving notes for each other, writing down things that need to be done, and keeping track of one another and likes/dislikes/triggers/etc are great first steps in increasing communication. Or, at least, forgetting appointments and such less.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

It’s okay to know you’re a system from a very young age. It’s okay to not know until you’re much older. There is no “magic age” where you discover being plural.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Shout out to older systems who are just discovering their plurality. You are absolutely valid and we wish you the best of luck on your journey.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

:) We will be changing this blog to a positivity-only blog, just to let people know. We will still answer questions we see or are sent, but we want to move away from syscourse on this blog. Thank you!

[thetropicalsystem]

A very important issue.

Endogenics aren’t trying to invade other’s spaces. The only similarity they share with traumagenics are that they share their body with other people-that’s it. 

They’re not trying to appropriate others’ illnesses.

They aren’t trying to invalidate trauma survivors.

They’re just trying to live their life in peace without being attacked by others.

When endogenics advocate for plurality, they’re not trying to say “oh we’re just like traumagenics.”

They’re trying to make it to where we can all live in peace without us shouting invalidation at one another.

When I look into the future, I want to see people accepting plurality, whether it’s trauma-based or not. I want to see plurals being themselves without fear of persecution or judgement for simply “being different.”

…but anyway, point is, endogenics aren’t trying to hurt or invalidate anyone. I can see why people would think that, but it’s not true.

I know there’s going to be some tasteful comments, since this is controversial, and since this is tumblr, but I don’t care. I’m posting it anyway because it’s important and needs to be said. So if I don’t immediately reply to your comment, it’s not because I’m ignoring you, it’s because I’m probably mentally preparing myself for discourse.

I hope you all are having a wonderful day. If you disagree with this post, please don’t let it get under your skin; that’s not the point.

[theumbrellacollective]

Aye The thing is tho..

I’ve been told by an endogenic that calling my alters alters is offensive to them, And i have to say “headmates”

I’ve been told saying I have OSDD1b medicalises systems and so i shouldnt say it

I’ve also been told seeking a diagnosis medicalises systems so i shouldnt do that either

I’ve been told i should just use “actuallyplural” instead of “actuallydissociative” for my posts.

They do in fact police the language of traumagenic systems…

So um

Aye

It is true.

-Roxxy

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Hello! 

We don’t know if this is helpful at all, but as an endogenic system ourselves, we’re sorry anyone said that to you. We can’t imagine what they were thinking, but assuming they weren’t just a troll account, they are grossly misinformed and need to stop immediately.

“Alters” isn’t offensive. Some systems don’t want to use it, and that’s okay. Some want to, and that’s okay. “Headmates” does get used by all types of systems because some people like it, but it’s absolutely not a term you have to use.

Some systems do feel like plurality is overmedicalized, but that’s an individual belief held by endogenic AND traumagenic systems. Sometimes it is a medical issue! If a diagnosis helps you get to the resources you need, that’s a good thing. There’s nothing wrong with using the terms DID/OSDD. Most endogenic systems are only upset that ALL plurality is considered DID/OSDD.

People should seek out a diagnosis if that is what will help them, and they are able to do so.

Use whatever tags feel right by you. “Plural” is an umbrella term for all types of systems, median systems, and others identifying as more than one. Systems with DID/OSDD do count, and are welcome there, but “actuallydissociative” is helpful for systems too. 

Tl;dr whoever said that is a jerk, wrong, and not at all representative of endogenic systems as a whole, and we sincerely hope ANY type of system would call that sort of thing out regardless of who is saying it.

[luckycharmfarm]

Systems rant.

DID is valid when diagnosed, like all other things. Multiple systems are a choice, according to many of you. I know people with true voices in their heads. It is not a fun uwu quirky situation. So the people on here who say things like “I’m really feeling like ____ today”. No. You are not having a mental illness. You have mood swings, which you have turned into characters as if you are truly deluded. These all can be easily refuted against, but this cannot: someone who truly suffers from DID (which is SO rare btw) to the point of having characters in their head taking over their personality, is not mentally well enough to talk about it. What I mean by this is that someone with severe DID does NOT think they are ill. And that’s the key difference between all of you who have multiple system families of Steven universe characters versus hospitalized or highly medicated DID survivors. Many people already doubt true DID survivors. The multiple systems community is only making that doubt grow. Please PLEASE stop. If you are 100% self aware of the delusions and systems, you are not 100% DID as you claim to suffer from. Not to say you don’t have other illnesses, you totally might. But we both know you expand your “system” issues a bit much.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

I don’t know if you care to have an actual discussion, but we figured we’d try.

Putting this under a cut, since it’s long.

“Multiple system” is a term used by plural folks with DID/OSDD and without DID/OSDD alike. “Multiple” or “multiplicity” just refers to the state of being “more than one”. (Plurality is similar.) A “multiple system” is a group of people sharing a mind/body. Using that phrase is not indicative of whether or not that system has DID/OSDD.

While there are some people who believe it’s possible to choose or create plurality, for the most part, it is accepted that multiplicity generally isn’t a choice. For some people, it stems from trauma. For others, it doesn’t; they might see it as stemming from another cause, such as neurodivergence or another psychological cause, or they may see it as spiritual. Validity is not restricted to those with a DID/OSDD diagnosis. There are many systems with DID/OSDD, there are many who were once diagnosed with it but got to a point in their recovery that they were no longer considered having it, and there are many who don’t fit the diagnostic criteria. Multiplicity has never been traumagenic only, and it has certainly never been DID/OSDD only.

We can agree, it’s not a fun uwu quirky situation. There are challenges to being multiple/plural. Sometimes severe ones, sometimes mild ones, but we have never met a system of any sort who’s been problem-free. Many systems have other conditions, like PTSD, autism, depression, anxiety, etc, and those can be difficult to deal with even when you aren’t plural. Being part of a system can complicate things for sure.

We have never heard a multiple system say “I feel like so and so today” unless they were “blurry” and unsure of who they were, which is fairly common with multiplicity, especially is a system has issues with dissociation. 

“Mood swings” do not have personalities, histories, likes, dislikes, opinions, and thoughts of their own. They don’t sometimes have their own allergies, reactions to medications, or even eyesight differences. Multiple systems, and those within them, can and do.

“Delusion” is a specific thing with specific criteria. Saying that someone is “deluded” for saying they are a system is ignorant, flat out. A delusion is something that is demonstratively false, meaning you have to be able to prove within reason that whatever someone believes is untrue. That is not possible with someone claiming to be multiple. There is no reliable way to tell if someone is multiple or not. If they said they can shoot lasers out their eyes, okay, that’s a delusion. But that is not the same thing at all.

DID is not rare. It is thought that between 1 to 5% of the world population has DID; that is not a small number at all. 5% of 7 billion is 350 million people. The entire population of the United States of America is 329 million people. What’s more, you are completely wrong about those with DID not knowing they have it. That idea is so, so old and outdated. Yes, there are systems who don’t realize they’re systems for a while, but the concept of “alters who don’t know about each other” is mostly a Hollywood thing. They removed that requirement from the diagnostic criteria a while back. Many with DID, and multiple systems in general, eventually figure it out and realize what’s going on. Claiming that people with DID can’t understand it is ableist as hell.

Also, not all systems with DID are hospitalized or “heavily medicated”. Yeesh.

Yes, many singlets doubt the existence of DID and multiplicity in general. Know who’s fault that is? Singlets. They ignore systems, they refuse to look at research, all while making up crap about it and plastering it in books, shows, movies to make a cheap buck off the ignorance and fear of other singlets. Blaming systems for the discrimination and hatred shown to them is garbage. It’s like the false claim that homophobia would go away if gay people would just be less flamboyant. Do not blame a community for the ignorance of outsiders, who have plenty of chances to learn better but continuously refuse to.

Just because a system says they are a system, doesn’t mean they are claiming to have DID/OSDD. Lots of system pointedly clarify that they do not. 

Lastly, you tagged your post “schizophrenia”. Multiplicity, the experience of being a system, has nothing to do with schizophrenia. Some systems do also have schizophrenia, of course, but the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia is not just “thinking you’re multiple people sharing a body” or “hearing voices”. 

Please, do some research. Listen to people who identify as multiple, both those with DID and those without it. It’d be a lot easier to understand if folks just listened to each other and actually brushed up on the subject they’re talking about.

http://did-research.org/ for DID information.

http://healthymultiplicity.com for general information on multiplicity.

[bringingasexyback]

Traumascum are what endogenics are calling traumagenic systems. Endogenic = a system claiming to have formed without trauma and traumagenic = system formed with trauma, aka DID

unfortunately due to being a DID system host and aware of tumblr discourse, im somewhat familiar with these terms already. however i didnt know they were down to calling people terf rhetoricists for THAT! yikes on bikes

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Just to clarify, most endogenic systems are AGAINST this term. There are jerks in every community, unfortunately. We denounce calling people “traumascum”. It is far more insulting towards trauma survivors than antiendogenic systems and we don’t know many endogenic systems that ARE okay with such a term. Those that are tend to get yelled at very quickly.

Also, psa, “traumagenic” is not the same thing as having DID/OSDD. Not all systems who form from trauma will be diagnosed with DID/OSDD.

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Hey there, we wanted to create a survey involving origin-specific hatred faced within the community. 

Here it is.

Here are a few things to know:

This survey is focused on traumagenic and endogenic systems. There ARE “other” boxes added to each question, if your system identifies as something else. (Sorry, we just didn’t have a lot of energy.)

This survey mentions potentially upsetting issues, such as death threats and baiting. It’s not graphic, and only asking if you’ve experienced such things, but please be warned anyways.

We will not share identifying information.

Please reblog, if nothing else? Results will be released either in a few months.

[umbrella-subsys-deactivated2024]

why are you pro-endo? i genuinely am curious, not trying to stir hate, id just like to get a perspective from someone elses side

Go check out @thesorority they have a lot of good info about it

[thesorority]

Most of our content is only relevant to our experiences. We can’t speak for anyone else. We support anyone’s and everyone’s right to determine their own truth.

-Pride

[multiplicity-is-a-spectrum]

Being endogenic, we’re always happy to explain our outlook for people who sincerely want to discuss endogenic plurality. It’s also only our experiences, but the offer is always open.