update on 7/9/2002

About Alters 

What are Alters ?

Alters are personalities that are made in early childhood to cope with the abuse that a child received.  It's a survival mechanism  that the brain develops.  Each alter/inner member has their own history, personalities, likes and dislikes.  Some inner members/alters may have artistic and music talents to paint, write poetry, and play a music instrument.  Without the host not having this talent and has no idea where it come from.  Some alters/inner members may even be the opposite sex of the hosts physical body or may have a different sexual orientation than the host may have.  This is known as cross- gender.  A inner members/alters may be a different race then the hosts physical body this is known as cross-gender.  

Types of Alters / Inner Members

Well there are many different names used for the inner personalities in a person that has DID/MPD.  The most common terms found in a person with DID/MPD are:

Core - Most DID/MPD systems have a core personality.  This personality is the first alter/Inner member that was made to come out during the abuse of the " original child" that went inside.

Host -  The host is the " original person"  This person normally has no idea that they are DID/MPD and are most the time depressed, scared and confused.

Gatekeeper/ Protectors -  The Protectors/gatekeepers are the alters/ inner members that are strong and some are angry.  They have the responsibility to keep the children, pre-teen and teen alters/ inner members safe.  This can be done in a few ways: some being nastiness, arguments and picking up and going elsewhere without notice.  A lot of persecutor alters/inner members are misguided  protectors.

Suicidal - These alters/inner members may try to kill the system.  They have no fear or regards of death.  These alters/inner members often think killing the host and they will live, but they are wrong.

Self-Mutilators - These alter/inner members cut, burn, scratch, head banging and hurting themselves.  Alters/inner members that self- injury  themselves can be a way to release pain or feeling. 

Fragments - Are alternate personalities that are fully formed, and have only a single memory of a few about specific acts of abuse the happened at that time.

Internal self/Helper alter - There alters/inner members is one that knows a lot about each inner member and the abuse that each personality went through ISH inner member/Alters wants to help the system and everyone in it.  ISH can be good help in the therapy process.

Kids/Littlies Alters -  Are alters/inner members and are ages 0 to 10.  They behave like children, watching cartoon, playing, coloring in color books and playing with toys.  Some of child alters/inner members have destructive behavior and times of depression to those who suffered abuse.

Pre-Teens Alters- Are alters/inner member that are ages 10 to 13.

Teenage Alters - Are alters/inner members that are age 13 to 18.(There are just like everyday teens.  They like to listen to loud music, partying, hanging out with kids their age.

Animal Alters - Is a alter/inner member that is a form of a animal.

Inanimate Alters - Is a alter/inner member that is a form of a stone, and chairs.  A object to void of feelings, sight, speaking and hearing.