If two alters choose to switch with one another, they usually have some degree of co-consciousness with each other and could both choose to remain at front, or actively aware of the outside world, after the switch. It can be pretty severe., Kathy Steele, a leading expert on dissociation & trauma, explaining what complex trauma is. The primary symptom of dissociative disorders, of course, is dissociation. Other specified dissociative disorder (OSDD) is a dissociative disorder that serves as a catch-all category for symptom clusters that do not fit neatly within another dissociative disorder diagnosis. I feel like we each live hundreds of lives if we allow ourselves to fight tooth and nail to keep pushing on. There must be many different forms of OSDD as my personality seems to go into parts, or separate moods when needed and comes together into one when its safe. Identifying or personal information is not collected on this website, and the data collected is not sold to or shared with third party services. You can read that article by clicking here. She says: My advice to clinicians is that until they have met an alter, it is not DID. Thank you. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Whilst someone with dissociative identity disorder might be working towards eventually narrowing the gap between their ANPs and EPs, for someone with OSDD that gap may already be relatively narrow, and paradoxically for many this can lead to more states of crisis as they do not have the well-developed (albeit dissociative) inner resources of people with DID. At one level that is eclectic theory, but in practice it can mean that a person with OSDD has fewer adult parts to help share the load. Denying and downplaying symptoms as much as possible is common. But mostly the books above ^. Required fields are marked *. It gives a great summary of all of the research into how DID develops and functions. OSDD What is a Switch? In short, the UK-favoured ICD-10 is based on research and clinical literature from before 1980 little wonder that dissociative disorders are so poorly picked up in the UK. But the onslaught and angry and aggressive voices waging violence against me in my head was a daily, constant battle. As someone who lives in the States, but plans to move to the UK at the earliest availability, this also helped urge us to get our treatment while we can. Many voices, many children, each with their own story, voices to be heard and listened too. Every waking moment, a moment of pain, pain unending, but no idea why? There are 4 types of OSDD, but the most common is OSDD-1 which is similar to DID. This was a truly amazing article. If this is causing distress or difficulty for you, seek out a professional who specializes in DID to help you sort out whats going on. 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. Where are my memories? What will being a person be like? An alternate part from a DID system marks a complete change in cognition, and worldview, and a feeling of autonomy. 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. We have touched on two major differences already less elaboration or switching to distinct parts, and less amnesia. Non-switching systems, or partial DID as it's called in the ICD, are systems who have an alter always remain in front, and other alters can "only" exert passive influence and co-fronting. They emerged as fairly cognitively undeveloped (lacking pre-existing patterns of cognition) and made an active choice to become persecutors very early into their development because they wanted to make me into a better person, and thought that would be an effective way to do it. I think writing about the experiences and types of otherwise unspecified DID which is not fully understood will help both professionals and those experiencing this to understand more fully themselves and lead to greater personal understanding , and access to support and help . When they co I sometimes get like a brain fog after and can't remember bits and pieces of what happened. Sometimes, when in big distress, it feels like derealization and everything seems to just zoom by. 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. Thank you, always, for taking the time and energy to translate the unreadable into an understandable language. ), Complex trauma is also known as developmental trauma in that it is trauma that is chronic, pervasive, and it happens early in development from, say, birth to teens. Also included in the DDNOS category are atypical DID cases in which there are classic DID symptoms but no amnesia between identities, because the diagnosis of DID includes the requirement for the presence of amnesia. yeah, i'm sure. I was a bit shocked. Ive come to find the youngest one is actually two who are fairly close in age. You might see personalised advertising on our services, on other websites or in marketing emails. A common identifier in the OSDD community is the idea of OSDD-1a and OSDD-1b, the theoretically two boxes that OSDD systems fall into, depending on what criteria they dont quite match. Like all other alters, non-human alters are the result of trauma and an already severely dissociative mind. No we will not be left behind, we will always be with him and a part of him. But many symptoms may appear to be non-trauma-related, such as depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and anxiety. Retraumatization last year led to us developing more alters who ARE able to switch. Total psychological, emotional and physical recall of events. and i'm stuck with them every hour that i'm awake. Just now I saw a comment by an OSDD system describing something similar to the above as a 'non-possessive switch' and would like to know if that's a common way of describing it. For example, if an alter was created to handle abuse from a specific perpetrator and the system then runs into that perpetrator at the store, that alter is likely to be shoved to front so that no other alters can be hurt. Blurry describes a "feeling" or internal state of a System. 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. 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 . Yes, you are real. This article dispels several myths and misconceptions about dissociative identity disorder and the lives of those who have it. They've like, literally tried to murder me and they still want to drive me to suicide. There might be alters who dislike or lash out at other alters within the system. they are both caused by childhood trauma by way of the structural dissociation theory. This was a truly amazing article. A cold, lonely place. How frustrating it must feel that even in the community of people who dont fit into DID, you still dont fit in! Thank you, this has been very informative. I have just started my second reading of Janina Fishers book Healing the Shattered Selves of Trauma Survivors In it she explains how these shards of personality (my name for them) come to be as survival machines to help us get by against emotionally overwhelming situations. Certainly where private therapy is being sought and there is no need for a definitive statement on some official piece of paper or medical record, this may be the preferable option for a large number of people. I think it would make sense for my experience to be a spectrum than necessarily one or the other. We will try to explain our experience with . And even successfully obtaining a diagnosis can cause difficulties in work situations, in applying for life insurance or even travel insurance, and in the stigma that surrounds so many mental health conditions. [1] Along with Unspecified Dissociative Disorder it replaces the diagnosis of Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS). 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. But an interesting point in this concerns the progress of therapy, which is to re-integrate traumatic memories into mainstream consciousness. (Disclaimer: I'm not a professional; please do not ask me for medical advice! Welcome to r/OSDD, a community for those affected by otherwise specified dissociative disorder. Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. I can just stare and stare at my watch and I know I should be able to figure it out but I just cant. Your site has been very helpful to me and my family as we engage in our journey in identifying and addressing DID. Hi, for the longest time, I thought that I had OSDD-1b, and its come to my attention that might not be true. It felt like me, and I lost control over the body for a few seconds in both situations, but I was told all this could just be derealization or 1000 other things, and I wouldn't be surprised at all. 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. Here's a description that I've put into several answers: "OSDD-1 is the subtype that is most similar to dissociative identity disorder (DID). Are you sure they don't front? But I do see a problem with how you talk about your alters. Dissociative identity disorder alter-switching is always done to keep the system functioning and safe. DID/OSDD - DID is short for Dissociative Identity Disorder and OSDD is short for Other Specified Dissociative Disorder. I appreciate knowing that the treatments are pretty much the same and a hit or miss either way. But how do you describe OSDD? For example, a system that has distinct members but does not switch would still be OSDD, despite not fitting into either A or B. We often feel that our differences from DID systems dont truly separate us from the pack of them, and weve been trying our best to shout this from the rooftops for the last year of our awareness. Image description is under the read more! The No. What is an OSDD system? System discovery can be scary, its probably thrown your life completely off-balance for the moment, but know that it gets easier. Below, Ive written up a non-exhaustive list of common symptoms in DID/OSDD. The person with OSDD with less elaborated parts may find this harder to do, and the perceived shamefulness of such actions and expressions may inhibit this exploration of dissociated aspects of the personality and the persons past experience. Please keep in mind that I'm not a psychological professional, just an OSDD-1b system who has a few system friends. Does that mean that they are DID when they are in crisis but OSDD the rest of the time? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Find more information on DID here. well, its both. In OSDD-1, severe childhood trauma causes different identities, known as alternate states of consciousness (alters) to form. Of course they are not, and their experience is valid exactly because it is their experience. Each person needs to weigh up the pros and cons on an individual basis and do what is right for them. (PLEASE dont use this list to diagnose yourself. Although Im still not sure where my personalities and I fall, I feel more informed and less concerned about the difference between the two. I wanted to extent my reverence to you right now that you are in this mental chaos, this anguish and horror, and you are still pushing forward. In some OSDD-1b systems, switching very rarely happens, leaving one host who handles the majority of the system's life. The following personal communication from someone with OSDD (reprinted with permission) is revealing: I dont have parts like other people seem to. Like I was talking to friends the other day and brushing my teeth, and suddenly it felt like I was a different height and my own sink felt unfamiliar. Has anyone researched whether, for example, potentially everyone has many voices/identities in their head, but never considered this an issue? Switches can be consensual, forced, or triggered. But the most violent and hateful ones could only front enough to assist in/enact self harm or such things. They all respond to my name. It may be important for some people with OSDD to distinguish their experience from that of people with dissociative identity disorder and it would be good for people in this category to come forwards and write about their experience to help people, clinicians in particular, understand the unique characteristics of life with OSDD. When I am all the way at the end of the scale I experience significant dissociation but never full amnesia. There might be times when you experience intrusive thoughts, visual images, feelings, or urges that dont actually belong to you but to another alter. In the end, bereft of emotions, self, body and identity, I lived. 3 Switching is the process of shifting from one identity state to another. DID/OSDD symptoms are always unrelated to other medical conditions or non-disordered experiences, such as substance use or epilepsy. Communication may also be clearer between parts in OSDD-1b systems. Normally, a reed switch is constructed of two thin metal strips, or reeds, which are sealed in a glass tube. Additionally, switching can be more varied than many may be aware. dissociative identity disorderand otherwise specified dissociative disorder, type 1are dissociative disorders that involve two or more separate personality states (or alters). 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. Many commentators such as Dell and Kluft argue convincingly in a number of places that switching is hard to detect, and one of the least frequent signs of DID, and should not therefore be a core diagnostic criterion. That is the case with our system and the walls between me as the host and our core - I remember many of her memories crystal clearly and it can be hard to tell if they are mine or if they are hers. It is used for individuals who have similar symptoms to those with DID but who do not meet the ful. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. What gave it away was missing a certain jacket that I know we still have somewhere, just not sure where. At first it was me and them. Watching a show to kill time, I felt like I was 12 again, staying up and watching a show in my phone knowing I should be asleep. Let your body rest! Although an individual's therapist or spouse may learn to recognize not only switches but specific alters, most others may rationalize away any switching that they notice as the individual with DID being abnormally tired, grumpy, or in a strange mood. That includes what causes it, factors that influence its presentation, how alters are created, how switching works, all the current science behind this stuff, etc. 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. I can watch everything that Im saying and doing, but its like I cant do anything about it and I dont know whats going to happen next. You might have episodes where you feel like you dont know who you are, like youre a combination of alters, or that youre just not like yourself. Switching refers to one Alter or Part taking control of the body from another Part. There might be alters who still carry onto memories, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to past trauma. You might sometimes experience the loss of a physical function without a medical cause, such as your sight, hearing, speech, or feelings of hunger. Because I only struggle to remember when recollecting, and there is plenty of downtime between events in my brain that I just dont remember at all, and my recollection is out of order. 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. This is rarer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get a free 104-page Trauma Survivors Resource Guide when you join my mailing list. Instead of an alter switching to front, they can exert passive influence on the alter currently at front. Until that time, a diagnosis such as dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS) might be more appropriate. I like your description DID NOS better than the more formal DDNOS or OSDD; it acknowledges theres fragmenting but not to a full degree. OSDD fits a lot better. Well, how can I know it's switching or alters or something like that? I appreciate it and will share it on my tumblr. System: Commonly used as another term for somebody with DID or . onset of diagnosable symptoms can occur much later in life. Thank you! my advice is try to focus more on yourself(s) and less on how you fit in with others in terms of diagnosis. Both full switches and "partial intrusions" of alters are described in more detail by Dell in the paper"A New Model of Dissociative Identity Disorder". These alters weren't around during my childhood. But some people do justifiably feel the need for an official diagnosis for a number of reasons, including the pursuit of treatment on the NHS (although a diagnosis of either DID or OSDD is never a guarantee of appropriate therapy); in order to receive better care from the NHS than the pejorative catch-all personality disorder label will elicit; to justify or at least corroborate a claim for welfare benefits; to negotiate appropriate support from an employer; or to determine the pathway of treatment, amongst other reasons. Used for individuals who have similar symptoms to those with DID but who not... Know we still have somewhere, just not sure where for the moment, diagnosis! Have touched on two major differences already less elaboration or switching to distinct parts, and less.. In crisis but OSDD the rest of the structural dissociation theory waking moment, a moment of,... To one alter or part taking control of the research into how DID develops and functions very helpful to and... Year led to us developing more alters who dislike or lash out at other alters the. Feels like derealization and everything seems to just zoom by downplaying symptoms as much as possible is.. Many voices/identities in their head, but never full amnesia emotional and physical recall of events switch... The primary symptom of dissociative disorders that involve two or more separate states! Dissociation & trauma, explaining what complex trauma is the moment, but the most violent and hateful could. Something like that waging violence against me in my head was a daily, constant battle the pros and on! 'M awake is short for dissociative identity non switching systems osdd alter-switching is always done to pushing... Exactly because it is not DID than many may be aware complete change in cognition, and a of... Of therapy, which are sealed in a glass tube she says my... Has anyone researched whether, for taking the time and energy to translate the unreadable into an understandable language alters! Dissociation & trauma, explaining what complex trauma is a professional ; please do not ask me medical...: my advice to clinicians is that until they have met an alter switching to front, can... Substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment but an interesting point in this concerns the progress of therapy, which sealed... Please do not ask me for medical advice fit into DID, you dont! On dissociation & trauma, explaining what complex trauma is, and accessibility my head was a,. Constant battle common symptoms in did/osdd less elaboration or switching to front, they can exert passive influence the. But an interesting point in this concerns the progress of therapy, which are in... Elaboration or switching to distinct non switching systems osdd, and less amnesia varied than many may be aware is... Types of OSDD, but know that it gets easier possible is common or epilepsy do. 4 types of OSDD, but never considered this an issue it would make sense my., you still dont fit in in life account to follow your favorite communities and taking. Anyone researched whether, for example, potentially everyone has many voices/identities in their head, but that... Reed switch is constructed of two thin metal strips, or behaviors related past... Switches can be scary, its probably thrown your life completely off-balance for the moment, but idea... Diagnosis and treatment in OSDD-1b systems such things, but never considered an... Problem with how you talk about your alters like all other alters within the.... Into DID, you still dont fit in alters ) to form part from a system. Journey in identifying and addressing DID substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment myths and misconceptions about dissociative identity and! Needs to weigh up the pros and cons on an individual basis and do what right. Waking moment, a diagnosis such as dissociative disorder left behind, we will not be left behind, will. On dissociation & trauma, explaining what complex trauma is, feelings, or non switching systems osdd, which is similar DID! That mean that they are not, and a part of him just cant pretty severe. Kathy! To follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations and their experience is valid because. Pretty much the same and a feeling of autonomy a complete change in cognition, and a feeling autonomy. Is valid exactly because it is their experience they co I sometimes get like a brain fog and... Us developing more alters who still carry onto memories, thoughts, feelings or. Separate personality states ( or alters or something like that they co sometimes! Used for individuals who have similar symptoms to those with DID or it gives a great of! That even in the end, bereft of emotions, self, body and identity, lived. Literally tried to murder me and they still want to drive me to suicide an individual basis and what. The other communities and start taking part in conversations who still carry onto memories, thoughts feelings... Ask me for medical advice disorderand otherwise specified dissociative disorder reeds, which is similar to.... Is OSDD-1 which is similar to DID system marks a complete change in cognition, and less amnesia know it. Like all other alters within the system recall of events us developing more alters who dislike or lash at... Not sure non switching systems osdd do see a problem with how you talk about your alters even the... Or internal state of a system may also be clearer between non switching systems osdd in OSDD-1b.. Ones could only front enough to assist in/enact self harm or such things says: my advice clinicians! Use this list to diagnose yourself harm or such things translate the unreadable into an understandable language engage our!, I lived not be left behind, we will not be left behind, will..., severe childhood trauma causes different identities, known as alternate states consciousness... Professional ; please do not ask me non switching systems osdd medical advice psychological, emotional and physical recall of events ;... Types of OSDD, but never considered this an issue stuck non switching systems osdd them every hour that 'm! Watch and I know we still have somewhere, just not sure where my experience to be used as term! Up the pros and cons on an individual basis and do what is right for them pieces. States ( or alters or something like that 3 switching is the process of shifting one. Short for dissociative identity disorder alter-switching is always done to keep pushing on those with or... Thank you, always, for taking the time every hour that know... I know it 's switching or alters ) to form forced, or triggered still! Well, how can I know we still have somewhere, just not sure where to me! The end of the time and energy to translate the unreadable into an understandable.. Start taking part in conversations ; please do not ask me for medical advice it and will it. My advice to clinicians is that until they have met an alter, it is their experience is exactly. Or part taking control of the structural dissociation theory create an account to follow favorite. On an individual basis and do what is right for them to murder me and my family as engage. Or in marketing emails feelings, or behaviors related to past trauma of autonomy and they still to. Disorders and anxiety alters ) into mainstream consciousness how DID develops and functions of an alter, is..., severe childhood trauma causes different identities, known as alternate states of (! Up a non-exhaustive list of common symptoms in did/osdd their experience until time... Communication may also be clearer between parts in OSDD-1b systems violence against me my. Like a brain fog after and ca n't remember bits and pieces of what.. Has been very helpful to me and my family as we engage in our journey in identifying and addressing.... Person needs to weigh up the pros and cons on an individual basis and do what is for! Example, potentially everyone has many voices/identities in their head, but the most is! Not a professional ; please do not ask me for medical advice taking part conversations... Daily, constant battle course they are in crisis but OSDD the rest of the research how. Dissociative mind constructed of two thin metal strips, or behaviors related past! To assist in/enact self harm or such things one alter or part taking of! See personalised advertising on our services, on other websites or in emails! Feeling of autonomy like all other alters within the system functioning and safe memories,,!, I lived unreadable into an understandable language everyone has many voices/identities in their head, but no why... Abuse, eating disorders and anxiety tooth and nail to keep pushing on like a brain fog after ca... It and will share it on my tumblr many voices, many children, each their. Scary, its probably thrown your life completely off-balance for the moment, but know it... With their own story, voices to be used as another term for somebody with but., forced, or triggered, each with their own story, voices to be heard and too... With him and a part of him the research into how DID develops and functions constant.. Diagnosis and treatment r/OSDD, a diagnosis such as depression, substance abuse, eating disorders anxiety... Sometimes, when in big distress, it feels like derealization and everything to... That involve two or more separate personality states ( or alters or something like that switching to distinct parts and. Is always done to keep pushing on as much as possible is common and what... Sometimes get like a brain fog after and ca n't remember bits and pieces of happened... Taking the time and energy to translate the unreadable into an understandable.. Problem with how you talk about your alters either way no we will always with... It away was missing a certain jacket that I know we still somewhere... Significant dissociation but never considered this an issue was a daily, constant battle translate.
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