Kinds of Alters

There are different kinds of alts and they are there for different purposes. It's good to remember each system is different not all systems function the same. A host can have any where from one alter to up to or over a 100 at any given time. Some double roles or quadruple the roles as some alts leave or die or as new ones take an old alts old position. This is just a general list. An alt can have many roles or just have one main function. They can also change sexes, orientation, roles, voices, purposes and personality. Sometimes an alt can also be reborn again as an other alt years latter under a different name. While this is rare it does sometimes happen. A host can also have multiples of any given type of alt as well.

The Host:

This is the main person or the person whose name is on the birth certificate. This is the person the alts are meant to protect. In rare occasions the host will either fade into the background, be gone for significant amounts of time or just leave completely, because the trauma was just too much for them to deal with. In this case the secodn in command will take the host position or they alts will switch off. Some times the alts will fake the host (collective host)  this some times is so convincing even to their best of friend it's rarely noticeable. They will do this when they must have the host present, but he is not.

The protector:

The protector above all is exactly what the name says. It is the father or mother figure, sibling or best friend. Their main goal is protecting the whole system especially the host. Depending on the situation there can be more then one protector or they can change roles. There are a few different types of protectors and often change roles amongst them selves. 

Physical protectors:

This protector normally will try to scare off the present threat and some times may resort to violence.If they do trust you they can often become the best of friend and will even go so far as to protect you as well.

Protector of internal pain:

Emotional pain plays a big part of DID. These protectors are the ones who hold all the pain inside and try to protect the host from it. They are the ones who took all the emotional abuse. Often times this protector will not be able to take it any more and some times explode.

Sexual protectors:

These protectors are the ones who took all the sexual abuse. Often times the system will make a alt specifically meant for the function of having sex, because often time the act is far too painful for the host. They do not do this to hurt their partners quite the opposite. They will take over if the host just can't handle the sexual part of a relationship.They are often very sweet and quiet and will try to smooth things over if a fight breaks out.

Always try to makes friend's with the protectors especially if you are a significant other or good friend. They will try to intimidate you into leaving because in their mind they perceive you as a possible threat. Remember pretty much everyone who got close to the host in their earlier life was an abuser and they are only trying to protect the host from further trauma. If you truly love the host then try your best to listen to their concerns don't give the protector any reason not to trust you and then try to become their friend.

The Child (Baby, Littles, Infants, young one, inner child): One of the most common types of alts found in a system. The child has a great many functions. Their ages very depending on their function. This type of alt is the one that has the most multiples. A Child alt is just like any other child, innocent, imaginative, sensitive, intelligent, quick minded, and can also be hurt very easily. The children will try to find a parental figure and will try to latch on and trust them. Do not let them down. They are the ones who where hurt as a child and never had the proper upbringing. They have major trust issues so don't give them a reason not to trust you. If you promise to get them ice cream do it, they will remember and not let you live it down. If they get hurt as well the whole system will go through a kind of depression. Other alts will also protect these little one and will often hold their ears when a subject is being spoken about they shouldn't hear. They characteristics often include a child like voice, wonderment, child like behaviors such as playing. Just treat them like you would any other kid. Some times you might have to explain things to them like you would any other kid just be patient with them and kind and caring. They may want to hold your hand or need a hug they just want to be reassured they are alright. These child alts normally know what is goign on with the system and will tell you important things so listen carefully and take them seriously.  Some times a child alt will take on another role. In this case it's an adult alt who sounds like a child.

The Mother: This alt tends to be a motherly figure, perhaps even will say she was once or wished to be a mother. She will help with household chores or anything that needs nurturing or tending to. She also will take care of child or baby alts and can even act as a surrogate mother to friends of the host or to the host them sleves.

The Aggressor (the Angry one, persecutor): Normally a male or a very angry female. This alt is created out of pure anger and hatred of the abusers. Often times they will lash out at any one close to the host. Some times this Alt will care about the host other times not. These are the alts that can be dangerous they can often times cause the host to try to commit suicide or hurt them selves. This alt if angered can turn violent and can be stronger then the host, faster and more agile. The best thing is to stay out of his way and don't anger him. Fighting with them will not help the situation. Often times these alts do not get along with any one including the other alts and host. They will break things, throw things and yell, they are very impulse driven. Try not to stop them because they could hurt you in the proses, but if you feel they need to be restrained from hunting them selves or you do so, but with caution. Try taking with them first even ask one of the other alts for help.

The Mediator
(Helpers, The fixer, Rationalist, The Inner Self Helper, Internal helpers): This alt will have a very even personality. Some times exhibiting both genders. They will try to smooth over a fight and fix the problem at hand. They are also good advise givers and soothing to talk to. They know a lot about the host so try to listen to them. They are eager in any situation to help especially when dealing with a relationship and they never lie. They will try their best to help you understand what is going no inside and our with the host.

Mystic Healer: Sometimes this is just an offshoot of the Mediator, but paralytically this alt serves to heal the body and mind and will sometimes goes as far to try to heal the host partner or calm their mind.

The Sexual One: This alt can be male or female it just depends and can also be bisexual or homosexual. They are normally the ones who experienced the sexual abuse and are very sensitive, but this is not always the case so be careful you do not wound them further. Some times they are just purely lust driven and need to be shown that there is more to a relationship such as caring, affection and true love. Make sure this alt is not just reenacting their abuse. Make sure this alt is in a safe environment and never make them feel unsafe.

Internal Sabotagers (Internal persecutor, The Suicidal one): These alters are staunchly against the host getting any therapy or help. They thrive on creating misery. Sometimes they will even recreating trauma playing over and over in the host's head. Sometimes they are evil and side with the abuser having some loyalties to them even sending up an alarm if the host or another alt tried to escape or tell someone about the abuse. Some times these alt are even created by certain satanic groups to act as an alarm system, drawing information from them even telling them things to get the host in trouble with the abuser. In rare cases they can even be the abuser in alt forum come back to exact more pain on the poor host and sometimes the other alts. Other times they are just scared and confused with twisted ideologies. Some times they can be renationalized with. Sometimes this alt likes to blame one or more of the alts for the abuse.

The Destroyer (the Demon): For the most part alts are mostly harmless. But in a few incidences this is not the case however. Some times an alt will just be down right ruthless. This alt some times will act like an Internal Sabotager, but are not. So be careful. Rather you are a religious person or not these things do exist. They are normally hell bent on taking over the host's life and destroying them utterly. They can separate the host from friends and family. They can even do serious sometimes irreparable damage to the alts or host by causing them to go through the abuse over and over. They will lie, deceive and some times become physically or emotionally abusive to people who care for the host as well. They can act like the host or any of the alts, but normally they have a slight lilt to their voice as though it's strained or angry. Their objective is to destroy and take over. The can not be talked out of their destructive behavior and it is better to just get rid of them. Make sure that it is indeed a Destroyer though and not just a hurt or angry alt. They can take over a host or an alt for years with out people really noticing and should be dealt with with caution. The best way to tell if this is so is to ask the host or alts who know you well something they would only personally know, such as a secrete or a nick name only they would know. If they can not recall it and you already suspect something is very wrong. Look into it further. Major sighs are but not limited to, not being able to remember certain events the host or alt would normally, acting strangely, odd quirks that are not normal, becoming violent or physically abusive, acting irrationally or with anger when normally there wouldn't be any, strange smells such as sulfur or spirt glue, odd quirks that are not normal for the system, voices changes or inflections, facial feature changes such as a more angrier expression, trying to disrupt balance or order int he hosts life, changing passwords or things they would normally not do. If anything seems odd or out of place check it out further.

Introject (The abuser reincarnate): Some times not always this can be an offshoot of the internal Sabotager These alts are rare, but very dangerous and bad. They are the will take the form, voice and actions of the abuser to the host. They will try to destroy the body, but hurting it and or try to hurt he other alts. 

The Risk Taker (bad ass): This alt normally is a fun loving, easy going party animal. Clearly un-phased by the abuse. They normally seek out the more fun things in life. Some times they will exhibit a bit of an attitude or be a bit of a bad ass. Try to be friend them and they might be fun to hang around at a party. They normally deal with social situation when the other alts or host can not.

The Animal: This type of alt can either be half human such as anthropomorphic or can be a full animal. They sometimes will embody raw animal instinct and wild animal traits, but not always.  Some times they can speak, but their speaking will be stilted or gruffer. Be careful if it's a wild animal and it gets backed into a corner and it is scared It might lash out at you. These are protector beings and are often the persons totem manifested. Try scratching behind their ear or offering a stake. Some times the animal will be a manifestation of the child's fear of some creature.

Alter pets (the mascot, animal): Not to be confused with the animal alt. Sometimes the system will adopt a pet of some sort. This can either be a fictitious creature or a real animal. 

Transgender alters: Some times and alter can be trapped int he wrong body so to speak and wish to dress opposite what sex the host is. Some times these alts can even be inter-sexed and not have one identifiable sex or just not wish to choose one over the other.

Presenters (Internal leaders): They are the ones who remain unshaken by the trauma and mainly function to get through day to day life. If it is too hard for the host. Some times they even don't' understand why the abuse effected others and some times can be some what callus to the emotions other alts show. Sometimes they know of the trauma, but are able to still function day to day.

The Internal Fixers (Fix it men): These alts are the ones who fix everything on the inside. If something is going wrong internally they normally are the first to know about or on it to try and fix it. They are the best to ask about what is going on in the inside. Highly intelligent they are sometimes aware of things none of the other alts are or even the host are.

Cognitives: These alters pure function is to take the pain and not cry out or make a fuss. They will often times be very intelligent and emotionless. This is purely their function to not feel. They are the ones that would take over when the host was being abused especially if the child was threatened if it cried out or make a sound. Their job is to stay calm and are often the regulators of the internal system.

Controllers: They will take control if the situation is too out of control of the host or the other alts. They also like to be in control of the internal body

Secret Keeper (Box sitter, Subconscious Alters, the guardians of the memories): These are the keepers of the boxes or files where all the storied memories are kept. They know what lies behind the lock doors of the subconscious and they are also the one who access it. They keep the bad thoughts out and are very strict on what the host can know.

Watcher: These alts are both aware of the outside world as well as the internal one. They are some times the ones who through up the alarm to the body when it's in danger. They keep track of information to use at a later date. 

A body part alter: This alt is represented by one body part. Sometimes it will try to take care of the body when the host is too busy with the emotional trauma.  Sometimes it can run part of the body when an other alt is out or even the host.

Emotion Alters: Are just that the embodiment of one pure emotion.

Inanimate object: In some cases a system might have an object as an alt. They for the most part have a consciences of their surrounding and can some times respond.

Inbetweens: This is a fragment that has either not fully developed into an alt or is just passing through. This can either happen when the host needed a alt for a certain function then the host body was able to deal with the trauma and this alt either now not needed or is no longer needed for the task. They normally do not have very strong personalities and will often mimic the host or one of the other alts, but seem a little off. Sometimes they will not say anything at all and the host will seem like their are in an auto pilot state.  Some times these fragments can either develop fully into another alt,  disappear completely or be reabsorbed into another alt or host's personality.

Just what is DID or MPD

[A thoughtful view from a friend, of someone who has MPD]

“We don’t suffer from MPD we survive because of it” -Unknown

I'll just put this out there right now. I grew up in a family were I was constantly made to feel like I was crazy. My family is some what religious and pretty right wing. I am also adopted and well an artist, prone to fantasies and sensitivity to the other side. It's pretty clear to say my family and I we just don't get along. I have for the most pert been alright with things not always being able to be explained. Because from a very early age weird things would happen and were never explained to me. This combined with my ever thirst for knowledge led me to the world of Psychology.

When my Ex was diagnosed with Schizophrenia about 6 years into our relationship, I delved into it even deeper. I started reading more on other conditions such as MPD (Multiple personality Disorder) or DID (Dissociation Identity Disorder) as it's known now. From here on in I'm going to refer to it as MPD as some dear ones to me would like me to refer to it as. They find the newer label insulting as do I. At any rate I was researching for Schizophrenia when I came across an old interest of mine, in one of the most fascinating and ironically most misunderstood disorder in the Psychology field.

What is MPD you ask well pull up a chair my friend I will explain.  My explanation comes from first hand experienced, research, and a friend of mine who actually does have it.

~~~~~~~~~~

I have heard a lot of misconceptions and assumptions about DID or Dissociative identity disorder formally known as MPD or Multiple personality disorder. Now I am not an expert nor doctor or even psychiatrist, but I do, do a tremendous amount of reading and studding about subjects I find fascinating. Often times when I can’t sleep or even when I’m board I read up on many different complicated subjects. One of them was MPD. Why did it interest me so much you might ask? Not for the reason some of you might think. No I don’t consider these people freaks, I actually was highly interested in the human ability to survive even in the most horrific and abusive circumstances. I have read up on this subject purely for my own interest so it might surprise you when I say I now am a good friend with someone who has MPD. (I don’t say suffers from MPD and you will see why the further you read.)

What I learned from my studding is that when a child is put in a situation that is so shocking and torturous there brain can no longer handle the stress and seems to fragment into different people. These people or alts as they are referred to are set in place to keep the main person safe. They hold on to the memories and actions that were too painful for the child to endure in a box so to speak.  These alters have different assigned functions as well. 

About 90% of the time people who have MPD were horribly sexually abused repeatedly. Out of those people the satanic ritualistic and torture tendencies are very high. This disorder has been proven by medical professionals and has been recognized for years. Yet still there are many people who believe one, that the person is either lying to get attention or two are demon possessed. I have found these people who are making the gross accusations are either Religious fanatics or often times have no medical background what so ever or both. Let me ask you something, if you at a young fragile age had your father and mother repeatedly take turns raping you and then allowed their friends to do whatever they please with you. would you want to be present either? Not to mention the satanic torture most of these poor souls have endure as well.

Now most of you have heard of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD this is a syndrome often associated with people who suffered a traumatic event during a war period. Now if such a thing could cause a disorder of that magnitude in an adult imagine what would happen to a child who is still developing. If you can understand that then you can hopefully grasp the concept of wanting to get away from a tortuous situation. While knowing all children need to have a healthy environment in which to grow and be nurtured, the sufferers of abuse don’t have a stable environment in which to grow up in. Now take this to another level even worse than PTSD and you can see where the splitting off of personalities and emotions comes from.

Have you ever been in class and the teacher is lecturing one minute you hear him talking about quantum physics the next you are on the African savanna. How in the world did that happen? Well you just experienced disassociation. The lecture the teacher was giving was too boring for your brain to handle so you made up a world more appealing to your mind. Now imagine for a second that you are being tortured on a daily basis and understand how easy it was for you to end up on the savanna from your collage desk. That is exactly what happens to these children. 

Many times they suffer from PTSD as well and if something in their environment reminds them of the abuse they suffered it can do what’s called triggering. Triggering works like this. Let’s say when you were a kid you were asked to do a book report, but you had to do a presentation in front of the class for it. You got everything prepared and there you are standing in front of the class, but forget everything. You completely blank out. Your teacher is standing to the left of you and she is wearing a red sweater. She begins to make fun of you for being stupid then the rest of the class fallows along. This event most likely will be somewhat traumatic for a young child who already is insecure, but imagine that every time you see a red sweater like the one your teacher was wearing you get a sudden flash of that day in the class room. Your palms begin to sweat you get scared you hear the other children laughing at you and you see your teacher the one who called you stupid once more just like it happen yesterday. You are getting physical experiences of a memory long since past. This is because it’s what’s called flash bulb memory.  When an incident is so traumatic it often gets burned into your brains long term memory.

Now can someone explain to me how any of this relates to a person lying or being demon possessed? Before the development of modern science and psychology in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s most people relied on what was mostly known and that was religion. Now I’m not here to discredit any religion as I am quite religious myself, but I think where things get dangerous is when either science or religion doesn’t use their brains in any matter. We must remember the bible was written well before medicine was really developed. In fact many times in the biblical times they were unaware of psychology all together. Abuse wasn’t wildly known or even understood, let alone talked about. If a metal disorder did arise most of the time it was treated as demon possessions. Does this mean every incidence in those days wasn’t, I have no idea.  It wasn’t until philosophers and modern thinkers came into the picture that we started to see an insurgence of the psychology of why people act the way they do. I am not here to discredit the existence of demons; for I have seen pure evil in mankind and I do not personally doubt the existence of real evil. Now that being said, to say a child who was systematically tortured on a daily basis is demon possessed is unfounded, two discrediting what actually happen to the abuse person. It makes it seem as if  they did something wrong instead of the abuser and three has no medical or psychological proof. These people are no more demon possessed then a dyslexic or a diabetic is. If anyone is demons possessed (playing the devils advocate, no pun intended) is the very people who abused  and raped a small child instead of nurturing and protecting them.  I think the very misconception on the outsider’s behalf is the very reason why people have been jumping to horrible accusations. Imagine a child who has already been abused for most of his younger life being drug into a church up in front of everyone and being exercised. How traumatic would that be. This child already has so many problems even relating to any one due to his upbringing and now the very people accusing them of being possessed already look at them as an outsider. Why is it so hard for people to sit back and try to understand the psychology of why people are the way they are…

As for lying, most of you might think this is a severely stupid idea at least I’d hope by now after reading everything I just wrote you would. But sadly there are those who accuse people with MPD that they are lying just to get attention, once again a misconception. All you have to do is look into the eyes of people who live with MPD every day to tell they are not lying. The pain and the agony they suffer on a daily basis. To say something like that you join the ranks of the abusers. You are basically discrediting the people of their trauma that was so bad it split their personality in half. The problem lies in the misunderstanding on why MPD occurs. They don’t do it for attention in fact they hide it and in many times very well I might add. It isn’t until things fracture further; many times being traumatized again that causes a rift. This is when most people become aware of the odd behaviors often associated with MPD. Why on earth would they want attention when that’s all they got as a kid the wrong kinds of attention. These people just want to be loved, understood and left alone. If they wanted attention they would not go to great lengths to hide their MPD. That’s the whole function of having MPD to have the person act normal when everything in their life is not normal. How does someone who has been tortured survive in reality, not very well.  The point of an other personality or Alts is to keep everything safe and protected.

For the most part you would not be unaware of a person with MPD on a daily basis, for they hide in society pretty well, and I have stated why. Perhaps that is why it’s so hard to believe. You may have already met someone with it and not known. Sometimes alts go to school, or drive a cars, or go to work and do countless other activates while the main person sleeps. Sometimes Alts are assigned to specific tasks when they are better or not bothered by it. Sometimes there is an alt who is assigned to only having sex during the rape act alone because they are better equipped to deal with that kind of trauma then the child is. A person can have little as two separate personalities on up to over 100 according to medical records it’s more common to have any were from 8 and 13 distinct personalities.