DID Terms

*Some systems use different terms, we are just posting some of the common terms our system and systems we know use.*

 

Alter- a personality of someone with DID. (Aka: part, headmate, personality , other, states)

System- all the parts together are called a system, like all students of a classroom are called the class. Some systems give themselves a name. We are the Labyrinth System.

Little- a child alter. We consider anyone 12 or under a little but it varies from system to system. 

Big- some systems refer to the alters in that system that are not littles as bigs.

fronting- the alter who is in control of the body is considered to be out or fronting. (Aka: being out)

Inner/inside world- a world inside the mind where the alters and host are if not fronting.

Outer/outside world- the world outside of the mind that we are in now.

Multiple-someone with DID (aka: plural)

Singleton-someone without DID (aka: singlet)

Switching-one alter comes out and another goes in (aka: changing, transitioning) 

Feeling switchy- feeling as if a switch may/will happen.

Trigger- something that causes a switch or flashback.

Host- the alter that is out the most and usually has the same name as the body.

Age slider- an alter who can suddenly change age and may or may not be in control or it.

Losing time- when a person with DID does not remember chunks of time. This is almost always due to an alter coming out.

Splitting-when a new alter is created (aka: manifesting)

Grounding- process of using skills to keep form dissociating or switching.

Dissociating- may be used to describe switching. May also mean the person feels as if they are not in their own body or drifting.

Co-consciousness- is a vague terms. We consider it when one or more other alters can see and here what is going on on the outer world and the alter fronting can hear them.

~ various alters