Hello! This is a short informational carrd on DID/OSDD-1. I hope this can be useful to help educate singlets or even help newly found systems understand themselves more.

Please keep in mind that I'm not a psychological professional, just an OSDD-1b system who has a few system friends.

TW: Implied mentions of childhood trauma and fusion/integration.

Intro - What is DID/OSDD-1? - System roles - System Terms - Resources

What is DID/OSDD-1?

To put it simply: DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), and OSDD-1 (Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder) are mental disorders characterized by the existence of multiple separate consciousnesses inside of one body. It is caused by repeated trauma, and it's generally believed the trauma has to occur before the ages of 6-9.

While they are similar in nature, DID, OSDD-1a, and OSDD-1b are three separate conditions. Here's a brief rundown of the difference between all three.

DID: Two or more distinct consciousnesses with complete amnesia between some or all switches.
OSDD-1b: Two or more distinct consciousnesses with little to no amnesia between switches.
OSDD-1a: Two or more less distinct consciousnesses that are "versions of" the host rather than completely separate personalities, with complete amnesia between some or all switches.

Note: OSDD may occassionally be called DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified).
Also, though DID stopped being classified as MPD in 1994, some who were originally diagnosed then may still identify with the term.

DID and OSDD-1 are dissociative disorders. Dissociation is defined as "...a disconnection between a person's sensory experience, thoughts, sense of self, or personal history." (Source). This means that DID and OSDD-1 are an extreme form of dissociation, wherein the mind "fractures" into separate identity states in order to cope with severe trauma. One or multiple of these fractures hold memories of the trauma, keeping the rest of the fractures safe from these memories. These identity states grow to become as real as anyone else, and develop into different roles to take care of, protect, and defend the system (both from internal trauma symptoms and external abuse).

Intro - What is DID/OSDD-1? - System roles - System Terms -
Do's and Don'ts - Resources

System Do's and Don'ts

✘ Don't: Assume they're faking or delusional.
✔ Do: Validate and listen to the system.

✘ Don't: Think alters are inherently evil or bad.
✔ Do: Get to know each alter individually.

✘ Don't: Base your knowledge on poor media representation.
✔ Do: Educate yourself using multiple reputable sources.

✘ Don't: Act as if one alter is more important or real.
✔ Do: Respect every alter as equal and real people.

✘ Don't: Ask for explicit trauma details.
✔ Do: Understand and respect boundaries.

✘ Don't: Compare their experiences to your own or others'.
✔ Do: Recognize that every system has different experiences.

Intro - What is DID/OSDD-1? - System roles - System Terms -
Do's and Don'ts - Resources

System Roles

*Not all systems have all of these roles, and some alters can have multiple roles.

ANP: An "Apparently Normal Part" is an alter that manages everyday tasks and is disconnected to or amnesiac from the trauma. Any alter role can be an ANP.

EP: An "Emotional Part" holds the traumatic memories, often being stuck in the emotional or sensory experience of the trauma. Any alter role can be an EP. Also known as "Memory holders."

*Some systems don't use the terms ANP / EP.

Host: The host is the alter that fronts the most. Often an ANP, but not always. There can be multiple hosts, as well as "co-hosts."

Managers/ISHs: Managers or "Internal Self Helpers" know the most about the system's internal workings and the other alters in the system. They help, guide, and manage the system internally.

Littles: Alters that think and act like children, typically under the age of 13. They are often an EP from the age the trauma occurred, or a trauma-free version of the host that gives another opportunity to experience a happy childhood.

Protectors: Alters who are meant to protect the host or other alters from trauma and other sources of distress. They can be defensive in nature.

Persecutors: Alters that are abusive or harmful to the system. Often called "misguided protectors," they believe that abusing other alters or the body itself is the only way to keep them all safe.

Gatekeepers: Alters that are in control of who takes the front. Can help prevent traumatized or abusive alters from fronting.

Caregivers: Alters that help soothe and care for other alters. They are a type of protector; many specifically care for littles or traumatized alters.

Introjects: Alters that believe they are another person (or fictional character), and have the characteristics of said person. There are many types of introjects, but the most common are fictives and factives.

Fictives: Alters (introjects) that are based on fictional characters. They may form because someone in the system enjoys a piece of fictional media. Common in autistic and ADHD systems.

Factives: Alters (introjects) that are based on real people. They are commonly based on abusers, a relative, or someone who was important in the system's childhood.

Intro - What is DID/OSDD-1? - System roles - System Terms -
Do's and Don'ts - Resources

System Terms

These system terms are both community-made and made by psychological professionals.

Front (n/v): "The front" is used as a noun to describe where an alter is when they're in control of the body. Also used as a verb as in "fronting," to describe the act of being in the front or being control of the body.

Switch (n/v): "A switch" is when two alters "switch out", with one going into the front and the other leaving. Also used as a verb.

Headspace (n): The headspace is the world within the mind of a system. It is where alters reside when they aren't in the front. The contents of the headspace vary from system to system, with some having nothing in theirs and others having entire worlds.

System (n): "System" is a term used to describe a group (or "system") of alters that reside within a single body. Systems may also name themselves, i.e "The Red System", "Fox System."

Alter (n): A word to describe the different conscious states of a system. Short for "alternate personality," though often reclaimed to mean much more.

Part (n): Another word for alter, preferred by some systems due to the connections of the term "alter" with "alternate personality."

Multiple (adj): "Multiple" is a term for OSDD-1/DID systems, stemming from the old term "Multiple Personality Disorder." Used as an adjective, i.e "the multiple community."; "they are multiple."

Losing Time (v): A term for those with DID to describe the dissociative amnesia that occurs between switches.

Integration (v): The loss of dissociative barriers between alters. It's often confused with the term "fusion," however, in integration, alters still keep their separate consciousnesses, they just become "closer" together.

Fusion (n/v): Two or more alters fuse together, losing any sense of seperateness to become a single alter.

Split (n/v): "Splitting" or "a split" is when a single alter becomes two or more separate alters. It is also used to describe, in a general sense, a system gaining a new alter.

Intro - What is DID/OSDD-1? - System roles - System Terms -
Do's and Don'ts - Resources

Other Resources for DID/OSDD-1 Education

System-Run Educational Youtube Channels:

DID/OSDD Communities Online:

Intro - What is DID/OSDD-1? - System roles - System Terms -
Do's and Don'ts - Resources