Switching

Switching is the action of changing consciousness with another part in the front.
Switching can happen for many reasons such as; stress, gatekeepers, trauma, and/or front triggers (something that pulls someone into front, good or bad).Sometimes alters can't switch in or out though, sometimes an alter is front stuck, or in cases like P-DID they can't switch anyway.Switching can be draining or cause dissociation and stress. Sometimes systems prefer not to switch too much due to the mental and physical strain. Occasionally alters choose to remain in front space consistently, while not being in control, just to make it easier on themselves or because they like seeing front. This action is commonly referred to as "co-conscious" or "co-con", and simply means the alter is not quite in front but sort of there anyways. Almost like a background presence, or a "secondary consciousness".

Splitting/Integration

Splitting - Splitting is the action in which a part experiences something traumatic and so they have another part form from their own identity. This alter doesn't have to be exactly like the alter they split from but sometimes they recognize how their identity was influenced.Forming - Forming is when a system goes through a traumatic event, so instead of splitting off an existing alter a brand new alter forms from this traumatic experience.Integration - Integration is when multiple alters merge into one identity. This can happen for multiple reasons such as recovery, more stress involving those alters, etc.Dormancy - When an alter goes dormant they go into a dissociative space that the other alters cannot reach and will not affect the system. An alter can go dormant due to stress, large changes in their life, accidents, trauma, etc. These alters are not dead, they have just reached a state where they aren't accessible. These alters can come back at any time.Alter "death" - Because alters are dissociative parts they cannot physically die, though sometimes an alter entering dormancy may be through an event that appears like death for your brain to cope with the loss, or to replicate trauma. Though these alters are never fully gone.Functional multiplicity - A recovery state where a system doesn't fully integrate into one identity but has lowered their alter count into a manageable amount.Final integration - A recovery state where all alters merge into one functional identity. Though many find this experience either scary or comforting to finally be yourself, the disorder never disappears, and it is entirely possible if the person hasn't developed coping skills for them to split again even years after final integration.

Other dissociative disorders

Dissociative disorders (DD) are conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, or perception. People with dissociative disorders use dissociation as a defense mechanism, pathologically and involuntarily. The individual experiences these dissociations to protect themselves.DRDP - Depersonalization disorder Derealization disorder, is when you feel: Detached from your thoughts, feelings and body (depersonalization). Disconnected from your environment (derealization). People with this condition do not lose touch with reality. They realize their perceptions aren’t real.Maladaptive Daydreaming - Experts believe that MD is, generally, a coping mechanism in response to trauma, abuse or loneliness that leads the daydreamer to conjure a complex imaginary world for them to escape into in times of distress, or loneliness, or maybe, even helplessness in real life. These daydreams may not even be voluntary, but will take up a large portion of the affe ted persons life.Dissociative Amnesia - The main symptom is memory loss that's more severe than normal forgetfulness and that can't be explained by a pre-existing medical condition. You can't recall information about yourself or events and people in your life, especially from a traumatic time.And many more. These disorders are all caused by trauma as dissociation is caused by trauma.

Resources

Researching Dissociative disorders is important before self-diagnosing, if you're speaking with a therapist/psychiatrist, or even if you're just interested in expanding your knowledge. Using sources that aren't just carrds is vital which is why I've linked a few I used in this carrd. I suggest sites ending in .org, .edu, .gov, etc. Google scholar or other academic journal sites, or even libraries, are important resources that unfortunately cannot all be added to this page. Stay educated!!

Tips for systems

Systems, especially younger ones, on the internet need to stay safe.
Try to join reliable spaces with people you know.
Filter hate comments if they're public.
Don't overshare trauma or things that can hint to your trauma with people you don't trust.
Try not to share front triggers or PTSD triggers publicly.
Listen when people try to educate you, your comfort is not held higher than the well being of an entire community, especially if you opinion isn't based on fact.
You're not exempt from being a bad person just because you're a system. You are still capable of everything someone who isn't suffering is, and these disorders will never exempt you from the moral/ethical responsibility to educate and to be educated.
Hold alters accountable. While alters may form with intent to harm, that does not give anyone else in your system permission to just allow them to cause harm. It is your responsibility to either apologize and make-up for their actions, or prevent their actions in the first place.Don't take others comments to heart and remember you know yourself best. It's okay to be wrong while discovering yourself, no one knows this disorder 100%, it's up to you to rely on medical research and those close to you to help you through this difficult experience.

Tips for non- systems

Avoid triggering systems or certain alters into front, especially without permission.
Avoid telling an alter that you prefer someone else if you're friends with them, remember non-host alters are still people.
You can ask who's fronting but depending on the system they might not tell you, listen to a systems boundaries.
Advocate for systems, their voices, their problems and struggles, spread proper information, be an ally.
Don't invade spaces meant for systems, don't expect to be welcomed into system spaces if you have another different disorder. If you are not a system, you are NOT a system.
ALWAYS ask a systems boundaries and follow them as well as making sure your boundaries are heard.
Listen when systems explain a term or try to correct your behavior.
Systems are not obligated to explain anything to you regardless of how nice you ask or what you demand.If you think you might be a system please do extensive research on multiple disorders not just identity ones, many symptoms are comorbid and you shouldn't just jump to system. Don't automatically just focus on the possibility of being a system if you share some symptoms. Do your research. Be smart.