What is DID/OSDD?

-Please keep in mind that certain systems and/or alters may or may not be okay with too many questions.


DID is when a body has multiple identities that inhabit it. This disorder stems from early and repeated childhood trauma, usually forming before the age of 8. Before the age of 8, a child doesn’t have a fully formed identity. If repeated trauma happens to the child, it can cause the forming identity to split into different identities that help the body recover from the trauma. It can take years to realize you have DID, and it can be hard to get a diagnosis. Symptoms include dissociation, depersonalization, amnesia, and distinct identities. OSDD (Other Specified Dissociative Disorder) is DID, but the system lacks certain symptoms, like little to no dissociative amnesia, or less distinct identities.

DID is when a body has multiple identities that inhabit it. This disorder stems from early and repeated childhood trauma, usually forming before the age of 8. Before the age of 8, a child doesn’t have a fully formed identity. If repeated trauma happens to the child, it can cause the forming identity to split into different identities that help the body recover from the trauma. It can take years to realize you have DID, and it can be hard to get a diagnosis. Symptoms include dissociation, depersonalization, amnesia, and distinct identities. OSDD (Other Specified Dissociative Disorder) is DID, but the system lacks certain symptoms, like little to no dissociative amnesia, or less distinct identities.

Some DID terminology
"Alters/Headmate" are words used to describe the different identities in a system.	"Front/Fronting" is when an alter(s) is controlling the body.
"Co-con" is when two or more alters are fronting at the same time.	Headspace/Inner World is a place within the brain where alters stay when they aren’t fronting.
"Dormant" is a state in which an alter becomes inaccessible and unable to front. This can happen for many reasons and can last from a couple of days to years.	"The Body" is the physical body that the Alters inhabit.
"Splitting" is the act of a new Alter forming/splitting off. This can happen when new trauma or high stress occurs.	"Polyfragmented" is a type of system that has over 100 Alters, splits more frequently, has layers in their system, and so on.

( Made with Carrd )