For example, the host may ask a more academic alter to help them to take a standardized test on a certain date. Thanks. This website was last updated 11/29/2022. That would be considered OSDD-1a. Your experience feels very akin to ours (not a lot of amnesia presently, but nearly no childhood memories), so it was nice to see this witnessed outsides ourselves and on top of this writing itself, seeing another set of persons sharing that same experience. That's why I'm asking for experiences, I feel like I need a bigger, more closely sourced, base to make up my mind. A cold, lonely place. [1] Along with Unspecified Dissociative Disorder it replaces the diagnosis of Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS). I am just getting to understand myself and my actions diverse according to the situation I am in . Ive gone through quite some trouble because it wasnt recognized during therapy, because it has been painful and scary to go through intensely separated moods with a change of behavior, sometimes hating/repressing the other mood while I was in a certain mood (manly+fearless, feminine+empathetic, fearful+child-like, feeling like someone else), and not understanding what my mind was doing, nor any psychologist until I found someone who did kind of understand but they started messing with my head and not recognizing the painful traumas associated with people being intrusive and manipulative. (PLEASE dont use this list to diagnose yourself. Over the years, weve found out that there are differences between DID and OSDD systems that arent nearly as talked about as they should be. Carolyn Spring Ltd. Company registered in England no 11109933. Thank you! Most often, weve heard the idea of one person stepping back and the other stepping forward, a complete loss of control for one and a complete gain of control for the other. There might be alters who have suicidal thoughts, physically harm the body, or engage in risky behavior. And in the UK, medical staff tend to prefer the diagnostic manual known as the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, version 10) published by the World Health Organisation which is notoriously backward in addressing dissociative disorders. This was a wonderful read that we in our system very much appreciated. There might be alters who dislike or lash out at other alters within the system. External signs that a switch may have just occurred include the following: heavy blinking as if the individual is just waking up; mild muscle spasms or jerks; disorientation or visible confusion; checking the clock or one's watch; seeming not to remember anything that just happened; complaining of a mild or moderate headache; adjusting clothing or posture; clearing one's throat before speaking so that the tone or pitch changes; or a change in vocabulary, syntax, preference, opinion, temperament, skills, or general personality. cPTSD or PTSD is a very common comorbid diagnosis. Press J to jump to the feed. In the words of Sue Richardson (2011): Both OSDD and DID are the result of the spontaneous action of the brain in response to trauma. So not all information on this website might apply to your situation or be helpful to you; please, use caution. which is widely accepted at the moment, endogenic systems, who form later on in life, are impossible. Some individuals with OSDD-1 lack both amnesia and highly distinct parts, and other individuals with OSDD-1 have highly distinct parts but rarely or never switch between . How are major life decisions going to be made? Deborah Bray Haddock takes a slightly different line to Dell and Ross when it comes to this issue. I would love to feel I knew what I was and that I could give a name to something. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. According to Van der Hart et als structural model of dissociation (The Haunted Self, 2006), dissociative identity disorder is a case of tertiary dissociation with multiple ANPs and multiple EPs, whereas OSDD is a case of secondary dissociation with a single ANP and multiple EPs. However it is to escape from my painful self (which may make it a form of dissociation?) And then, it was wanting to arey myself in a different way. In contrast, quick switches can be consensual, planned, forced, or triggered. Depersonsaliation/derealisation disorder sounds complicated and scary. I'm usually ok with this sort of contact with my alters, even when what they are leaking through to me and making me have to experience is painful things like flashbacks or difficult emotions, although some of them think and feel in ways that conflict with my personal morals which can be difficult to accept. Reassurance, comfort, a hand holding ours, being hugged and held and made to feel safe. Welcome to /r/AskDID, the sister subreddit of /r/DID which focuses on those that wish to ask questions about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) etc. Most strikingly perhaps, people labelled as OSDD may not feel that their condition is taken as seriously as dissociative identity disorder. For others, it may be validating to recognise that the distinguishing line between OSDD and DID is largely arbitrary, and to subsume the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder into their own self-definition of being a dissociative survivor. They use that information to predict what might interest you. Image description is under the read more! Welcome to r/OSDD, a community for those affected by otherwise specified dissociative disorder. Many people who have what we call complex trauma have had many years of trauma; mostly were talking about child abuse. People with OSDD often feel that their experience is not represented in books, articles and websites, that they are less than people with DID that not only are they messed up, as one person put it to me, but, Weve even messed up being messed up, by not having a proper condition.. I go from me, a young nerdy woman to an angsty, edgy young man who likes heavy metal and SHOULD have black hair and be like 6 foot, or I'll go from me to acting silly and small and liking to color and wear frilly clothes and be called a different name. This may manifest as ego-alien thoughts, feelings, emotions, opinions, preferences, urges, or actions. My system usually falls into that categoryits OSDD 1b I think? Were not doctors or clinicians and our nonprofit, our work, and this website in no way provide medical advice, nor does it replace therapy or medication in other ways. Im here looking for answers, because its all so confusing. <3. Dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS) is a catch-all category for dissociative disorders that do not fall into other groups. While knowing is as where I am now, I simply couldn't help but keeping giving into thinking and feeling I was back there. The disorder and symptoms manifest in childhood, always. We often simply say we are a dissociative system and nothing more, because our alters are fully fledged and individual (to the extent we recognize as such), but experience hardly any amnesia aside from large portions of childhood. I think it would make sense for my experience to be a spectrum than necessarily one or the other. Dissociative identity disorder alter-switching is always done to keep the system functioning and safe. For example, ducks at the pond could be a trigger for a 7 year old alter to push their way to front, or someone calling who is a special friend for one alter in particular might trigger that alter to switch out. I havent read about this before but it has to be so that everyone is different. This type of action chains is present in every person with a personality and is not exclusive to DID/OSDD. Well, how can I know it's switching or alters or something like that? You might have moments where you feel like you are in a dream or a fog. You might have difficulty piecing together a coherent timeline of your life. Where is my childhood? According to the theory of structural dissociation (I will get into explaining the theory of structural dissociation in a later post). Even close friends who have expressed previous interest in knowing which alter is out may find that the DID system tries to hide switches from them and that only a few alters that feel very comfortable around the friend are actually willing to make their presence known. Its so nice to meet others that feel the same way. What will whole be like? Your healing journey is very much appreciated and is very encouraging! Sometimes this may result in an unsafe or distressing situation. Non-human alters are parts of individuals with dissociative identity disorder (DID) that see themselves as animals, fantasy creatures, or hybrids. For those with OSDD-1a, this is due to a lack of two or more sufficiently differentiated alters, and for those with OSDD-1b, this is due to a lack of amnesia between alters. my advice is try to focus more on yourself(s) and less on how you fit in with others in terms of diagnosis. I also advocate against ableism and harassment. 1Solicide System- Nx #2||entropy systemOSDDDID||DissociaDID . My therapist described it as a dissociative mechanism, but has not labeled it exactly. They cant be allowed to take over. And what about instances of amnesia about amnesia how do you know that you have amnesia for something if youve forgotten that it happened in the first place?! You are part of a strong community with a rich history and wonderful people. If dissociative therapy and diagnoses are difficult to attain across the pond, we may want to get the work done here before we relocate. I was a bit shocked. One of the many questions I frequently hear is about OSDD other specified dissociative disorder. ", This website uses cookies in order to analyze visitor trends. The Plural Association and The Alexandrite System have collaborated on an OSDD video in the past. So, your article is a godsend testament to my experiences. In the harsh reality of the state of awareness of dissociative disorders in the UK today, we have to just keep moving in the right direction and not be dispirited at the challenges that still lay ahead. the thing is, they can't front, like, ever. (DNI: If you have been blocked, please do not interact. But I am somewhat aware that other alters are fronting, but not all the time(I stay conscious throughout others fronting is what I am saying). Part of recovery it is. I suppose this tip isnt specifically for OSDD systems, but a general tip that we always try to put out there. Not only was I meeting people with multiplicity; these individuals entering my life were normal human beings with much to offer. In other words, someone with OSDD has dissociative symptoms but they do not meet sufficient criteria to be diagnosed with either depersonalisation disorder, dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue or dissociative identity disorder. Let your body rest! No two people with DID or OSDD are going to be exactly the same; I think that goes for any mental disorder. And yet I know and have spoken to dozens and dozens of people with DID who are fully conscious of themselves when other parts are out. Who am I? In fact, there actually isnt a 1a or 1b in the DSM-V, its a community holdover from the outdated terms DDNOS-1a/1b. Check this PDF for the symptoms of C-PTSD. Our continuous memory gives us a more continual sense of self. Vote 0 comments When not in distress, same.tbink but weaker. Its clear to me that there is a spectrum of these things. On a neurobiological level, differences can be seen in studies measuring the volumes of the hippocampus, a key component of the brain largely associated with memory formation and retrieval. Sometimes, it might feel like you are numbing out pain or sensations. That of course is a myth, as the vast majority of people presenting for help with a dissociative disorder, as we have seen, have a diagnosis of OSDD. Ive always had my own identity but that one does seem to be separated at times as well, like I cant be all of my interests at the same time, like my mind can only process one thing at a time when its unsafe. They've like, literally tried to murder me and they still want to drive me to suicide. Highly recommend reading. DID/OSDD symptoms are always unrelated to other medical conditions or non-disordered experiences, such as substance use or epilepsy. I like your description DID NOS better than the more formal DDNOS or OSDD; it acknowledges theres fragmenting but not to a full degree. We are a system with OSDD 1b (fully formed alters with no amnesia), and we all feel validated in knowing that there are others like us and we aren't the only ones who exist as separate people and switch regularly, but without amnesia. Alter - A dissociated identity, found in DID and OSDD. This video goes together with an article and letter from The Plural Association. Switching Headaches Posted On May 26, 2018 A somewhat common problem for people living with dissociative identity disorder is switching headaches. Then, in the darkness, I would suddenly look around and be surprised when the room was my old room and actually the room where I'm currently living. Like all other alters, non-human alters are the result of trauma and an already severely dissociative mind. The most well-known system roles are Host, Protector, Trauma Holder, Caretaker, Little, Persecutor and Gatekeeper. i just don't have it in me anymore. It can be very exciting to be able to get to know a new person thats probably going to end up being an important figure in your life! This might be because you have had them for so long that you are used to navigating life with these symptoms. I believe my system falls under this category: I (the host) am always fronting, while the other alters can co-front and influence my decisions whenever they please. The belief that DID is overdiagnosed & primarily diagnosed in America. Consensual Switches Consensual switching is when two or more Parts mostly agree before a switch occurs. It can be highly disorienting for those involved and can interfere with memory formation, concentration, and remaining covert (that is, not appearing visibly mentally ill to others). Now it is me, us, we and I. On the other hand, a switch that is forced is not wanted by one of the alters involved. You are an alter.) OSDD is not diagnosed by subtypes, unlike its predecessor, DDNOS, and . Instead of an alter switching to front, they can exert passive influence on the alter currently at front. You might have moments where you involuntarily switch to a vulnerable alter. All of these points present certain issues for people with the OSDD label. These alters protect the main identity from awareness of trauma. Enough to bring an adult to his knees, let alone what the poor child had to live thru. I recall hiding ME in a wall and leaving the doll behind. Slow switches can also indicate that the system is heavily dissociated and, A full switch is rarely necessary. The Plural Association is the first and only grassroots, volunteer and peer-led nonprofit empowering Plurals. Logan once explained this pretty well: yeah that's non-possessive switching! For more information on the data that this website collects and how to opt out, please visit the, "A New Model of Dissociative Identity Disorder", Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You can read that article by clicking here. A subtype of consensual switches are planned switches that were agreed upon ahead of time. Many people assume that DID and OSDD are such extreme rollercoaster disorders when thats usually not the case for any mental disorder! I have DID & PTSD. OSDD is from the DSM, P-DID is from the ICD. But mostly the books above ^. So, they want to share what happened and how they felt, but I can only handle small doses. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://twitter.com/theringssystem/status/1325605823373074433?lang=en. ( DID ) that see themselves as animals, fantasy creatures, hybrids! Helpful to you ; please, use caution to this issue Spring Ltd. registered... 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