[GreyWolf1]

This is not to be construed or confused as authoritative, but rather is only our explanation of D.I.D. in ordinary english (american)

People are not boxes. Each is an individual type, size, color, and age.
As a result, each one will be different.

Science is about absolutes - yes/no - or "it" is like this or like that. Science like things to be consistently the same.

This is why psychology is such a difficult field. People are ever changing based on the environment that they are in.
We are not saying that if a person moves from Kansas to Idaho that they will not be who they were, as much remains the same.
However, move that person to another country, they will change. This is usually due to necessity. The first change is typically language, and subsequent changes may be methodology (the way they do things).

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We are giving you our explanation
(based on our experience, and other people will have different experiences or causes, [because people are not boxes])
of:

WHAT CAUSED THE FORMATION OF "PARTS"
WHAT IS YOUR HOST?
WHY DO YOU HAVE LOSS OF TIME?
WHAT IS CO-CONSCIOUSNESS?
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR "PARTS"
IS THERE KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN YOUR "PARTS"?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SWITCH?
WHAT CAUSES YOU TO SWITCH?
WHAT ABOUT ME, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
HOW DO I GET YOU TO SWITCH BACK?
WHAT ARE THE OTHERS?
WHAT ARE SHADOWS?

WHAT CAUSED THE FORMATION OF "PARTS"
For some (but not all), a type of physical, sexual, or ritualistic (there may be others that we are unaware of) trauma that the "mind" believes there is no escape from happens and the "mind" chooses to protect itself.
Typically this trauma occurs in childhood.

The memories of that trauma are kept separate in another "part" from the "person".
To ensure the memories are not lost (for processing later when the mind or "person" is ready), the "part" is categorize and stored for later use if need be.
By doing this, in effect, the trauma never happened and the "person" can "live happily ever after" (often without the knowledge that the "part" was formed, categorized and stored), until something causes the revelation of the "part" or "parts".

If the mind finds itself in the same environment or with the same perpetrator, it may retrieve the "part" it categorized and that "part" may be present instead of the "person". This may occur once or many times.

Should this type of trauma occur in a different environment OR with a different perpetrator, another "part" may be formed, categorized and stored.

This situation may occur again and again and more "parts" are formed.

There are exceptions, as sometimes other "parts" are formed if needed.
An example of this may be the formation of a protector (though it is not clear when formed).

Sometimes (but not always) other "parts" may be formed as well. Some people that have DID, have a gate keeper that controls what "part" is out. Not all have this "part", we don't.

WHAT IS YOUR HOST?
Our host is the person that you are most familiar with and used to seeing. Some may have a "part" that is always "out" and so, in effect, there is no Host.

WHY DO YOU HAVE LOSS OF TIME?
For us, when a "part" comes out that "part" may keep the memory of what, when, where, and how of the events that occur while that "part" is present. As a result, there is no knowledge of what occurred during that time, typically referred to a lose of time. Exceptions to this are described below in "What is co-consciousness?".

WHAT IS CO-CONSCIOUSNESS?
When this occurs with us, the "part" is the one taking action while the "person" is only able to be aware of what is happening.
This could be equated to the "part" being in the driver's seat of a car and the "person" is in the passenger's seat.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR "PARTS"?
Yes.
Some people that have DID are aware of the different "part" or "parts" they have. Some parts will leave notes.

IS THERE KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN YOUR "PARTS"?
Some have "parts" that are NOT aware of each other and there is not communication between those "parts".
Some have "parts" that are aware of each other and there may be communication between them, either through notes left for one another.
Some have "parts" that are aware of each other and there may be animosity between them, or they may not like or may compete with each other.
Some, like us, may have "parts" that can communicate with each other while they are what is referred to as "inside".
For our system, our "parts" can even see each other.
And for our system, we have places (houses, playground, and other structures) "inside" that are just like real places outside.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SWITCH?
The "person" takes on the attributes of the "part" that is out in so much as is possible.
The voice will likely change, tone will change, the "part" may change clothing or do other things so as to "be them-self".
Many with DID report a headache after a switch.

WHAT CAUSES YOU TO SWITCH?
When a situation is similar (an environment, a voice, or a smell) to that which resulted in the formation of a "part", it may cause the mind to bring that part into the present as the mind may believe that trauma is about to occur.
OR the mind may bring forth another of the "parts" that would best handle the perceived situation (a Protector, or a Negotiator) if that "part" has formed.
Additionally, for us, switching can occur due to the "part" or "parts" inside the "person" (a request if you will).

WHAT ABOUT ME, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you are present when a person with DID switches, you may not immediately know that a switch occurred.

Remember that the "part" may be any age (a child for instance), may be either gender (male or female), or may even be mute.

The "part" may not be aware (or care) about the gender or the age of the body and act according to the "part"'s age and gender.

Take no action to restrain or otherwise be perceived as a threat to the "part" that comes out. Simply do your best to accommodate the "part" as feasible.

HOW DO I GET YOU TO SWITCH BACK?
Switching is not something that is generally done on demand or even request.
Most times we will switch back when the cause of the switch is removed.

You may learn from the "part", and through your interaction, cause the system to feel safe and subsequently switch back.

WHAT ARE THE OTHERS?
Some people with DID may have what we call the "Others".
We do.
For us, we have two Others and believe that they are "parts" that are not ready to be known. They are off in the distance, within and are merely figures, nothing more.
NOTE: For one of our friends, the others are something that they are afraid of, though they didn't say why.

WHAT ARE SHADOWS?
Some people with DID may have what we call Shadows.
We have two Shadows.
For us, Shadows are farther away than the Others. We don't know what they are "for", and so because of that we are uneasy about and don't talk about them.

These Are Just Our Thoughts,
GreyWolf, et al

[pegasus]

Thank you for sharing with us GreyWolf. I think it's really cool you know your parts and names etc. I don't know all of my system. Anyway, I just wanted to say it is real nice to see someone here write about their DID and their system with knowledge. Hugs

[Travelinglady]

Thanks for sharing. I am friends with some of you here with D.I.D., and I have wondered how to refer to you, since I know. Do most folks like to be addressed as if they had just one "personality," such as saying something like "How are you today?" I know many of you refer to yourself (yourselves?) in the plural, as in "we." Otherwise, I just try to talk to whichever part is out at the time, since I might not readily notice the difference.....

[Snoopy59]

Thank you for sharing this with us. It is very helpful. We eagerly anticipate hearing more from you!
Snoopy59

[Snoopy59]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Thanks for sharing. I am friends with some of you here with D.I.D., and I have wondered how to refer to you, since I know. Do most folks like to be addressed as if they had just one "personality," such as saying something like "How are you today?" I know many of you refer to yourself (yourselves?) in the plural, as in "we." Otherwise, I just try to talk to whichever part is out at the time, since I might not readily notice the difference.....

Thank you for visiting our group! Personally I will sometimes use 'I' but in my mind when I'm thinking to myself I usually think 'we'.
So in my humble opinion, I wouldn't worry so much about how to address us.
Just glad for your love!
Snoopy59