[Laurel1562]

The term "executive control" keeps coming up in my reading and I can't seem to find a good defintion of it as regards dissociative disorders.

Could anyone help me understand what it is?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Laurel1562

The term "executive control" keeps coming up in my reading and I can't seem to find a good defintion of it as regards dissociative disorders.

Could anyone help me understand what it is?

you probably cant find the term much around anymore because it was changed in 2013 in regards to DID.

in general terms a persons executive functions are their behaviors, decision making abilities, how a person interacts in social or work situations, able to take care of one self / needs/ wants, in other words a persons problem solving/ logic and other things too.

if you google the term with the words psychological definition you will find it means whats now called sense of agency here in the USA ( its now a DSM 5 diagnostics term) it means how much control an alter has when they are in physical control of the body, how they behave, the decisions that they make based on their goals (their jobs, purpose, reason for being created/ what their place is with in the system and much more)

example ....

Rainy's sense of agency (job, purpose reason for being created, what she did to take care of herself and what her position was in the system and more) was sadness / depression/ suicidal thoughts and behaviors, fear of thunder storms, get the body out of the storm and into clean/ dry clothing and self nurture with making a snack, wrap up in a blanket, sit and cry, watch tv....

when thelma was in control her sense of agency was intimacy, dating, her decisions, behaviors and everything she was, revolved around these goals and her position in the system.

in most internal systems there are some that have more control over things like this and some that have less control... each alter has their own sense of agency.

Rainy never went out on dates, had intimate relationships and thelma never ate a PB&J watching spunge bob while wrapped up in a blanket while crying because of the thunder storm.

my alters sense of agency were different from other members because other members didnt have my exact trauma's in the exact minute details that happened to me and the same with me my alters are going to be vastly different from yours or or anyone elses because I did not go through the exact life right down to minute details that you did. your systems executive controls (sense of agency) is what was needed for your system and survival and mine was what I needed when undergoing the childhood and trauma's that I did.

sometimes it is confusing when you are trying to do things by reading and such because theres more to having mental disorders then what you can read and try and apply and figure out, part of it is because definitions change day by day month by month year by year and with each supplemental or mass updating process.

my suggestion is talk with your treatment provider they can help you fond the right information and definitions that are presently being used and applies directly to you.

[Amyjay]

I take it to mean any alter that assumes sole control at any given time (that is, until the next switch!)

Some alters- ANP- apparently normal part (according to the theory of structural dissociation)’ are able to host...live it’s own life in full control with amnesia, gestures, mannerism, ideas, thoughts over EP- emotional parts that have some control or just influences on the host like urges, pressures, or minor presenting.

Executive control is (imho) only connected to DID.

[Laurel1562]

So, are you saying there has to be amnesia for a part to have executive control?

[Amyjay]

I don't think so. To me executive control just means "sole" control (at any given time). To me it means there isn't co-presence of alters. We have alters that take (what I call) executive control both with and without amnesia. Like work alters are often in executive control where there isn't a EP or emotional part alter around at the same time, and no connection or thought of trauma related stuff in the moment. They are just there on their own getting on with the job.

Of course there are also times for us when an EP is triggered and is in executive control of th body without the support of more-grounded others. Sometimes there is amnesia and sometimes there is not. But the one at the front is in sole control at that time.

I found it over Google. Executive Control simply means to do whatever you want, like walking or speaking.

Originally Posted by TheLonelyChemist

I found it over Google. Executive Control simply means to do whatever you want, like walking or speaking.

Exactly...like a body snatcher, lol

I was just describing a full blown alter bliss of all others....sorry about the confusion about the amnesia part.

When Angry One takes over...all that I can do is watch in horror from in back until he’s done doing his thing....then we have to come forward and clean up his mess. So embarrassing at times.

[Laurel1562]

Thank you guys for your answers!

Okay, so it seems when my part Baby takes over and just sits there, that would not be executive control? But when Sandi, who is seven, takes over and washes dishes or cooks dinner, that would be executive control? And when one of my parts influences what I do, but doesn't take over, that would not be executive control?

Bottom line, does executive control switching happen only in DID or can it happen in OSDD-1 that I am diagnosed with?

And does it have to go on for a certain duration?

Originally Posted by Laurel1562

Thank you guys for your answers!

Okay, so it seems when my part Baby takes over and just sits there, that would not be executive control? But when Sandi, who is seven, takes over and washes dishes or cooks dinner, that would be executive control? And when one of my parts influences what I do, but doesn't take over, that would not be executive control?

Bottom line, does executive control switching happen only in DID or can it happen in OSDD-1 that I am diagnosed with?

And does it have to go on for a certain duration?

When an alter takes over the body as theirs and do what they want...then that’s exec control, so Baby wants to just sit there...that’s her doing so yes it is.

As far as I know...in contradiction to what was said earlier, I believe OSDD do have alters that can take over...but limitedly and in short time frames.

DID though can go from moments to years. I have alters that come to after being dormant for years. I think for them they see life flash before their eyes...well, I guess we all do.

When the Others take control...my memory is a blank as to what they did. I can feel a bouncy wall pushing back as I try to access them memories.