Difference between dissociation and switching?

I might just not be very clear-headed right now, but I've been wondering these past few days where you can draw the distinction between dissociation and actually switching.
I'll explain better. As a child, I spent a long period of time dissociating when laying in bed at night.
My question is, is there any way to know whether it was just "normal" dissociation (as in, not necessarily related to alters) or whether this meant I was actually switching (I can't know whether I lost time, because I just assumed I fell asleep).

More in general, my question is, what's the difference between dissociating and switching (apart from losing time, being co-conscious, etc. with switching. I assume here a situation where you don't obviously notice you're switching).

Sorry I'm not sure if this even makes sense, but tell me whether you know what I'm talking about and it would be nice if someone could explain.
Or just tell me I'm talking non-sense. I just need this cleared up.
And I'll always specify if what I'm asking is still unclear.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

I believe dissociating is an experience of disconnecting from some element of reality: having grief or fear, but not feeling it. Feeling like the body isn't real. Daydreaming is even a form of dissociation.

Whereas, switching, is taking on a totally different perspective, attitude, behavior, etc. and often identifying as someone else.

Hi, I'm a support person (and not an expert) but here's my thoughts (and no, you're not talking nonsense!) This is a great question.

Dissociating basically means you are not associated with something anymore. I believe you can be in a dissociated state without switching. Highway hypnosis. Trance-like state. Even I can do that and I don't have DID.

When you switch, you are in a different form of dissociation. You are dissociated from an another alter's feelings, thoughts, life...maybe not completely, but you get what I mean. When my guy is dissociated from the host, he is dissociated from the host's feelings. Doesn't mean he's in a trance-like state, though.

Now you've got me confused, ha ha!

so, when you're just dissociating, you still know what's going on around you? And if you're switching (completely) you're pretty much just gone?
How do repressed memories figure into this? Where's the difference between not remembering something because you weren't present/another alter took over at the time, and not remembering something because it was too much for you so you just repressed it?

I guess who develops DID and who doesn't depends on who the person is, but is there SOME way to find out whether you repressed something or an alter stepped in?

I know there are lots of different experiences that are called dissociation. I know I've had some unusual experiences like that. I just don't know whether they led to a switch or just made me forget what happened.

An alter who holds a memory because they were out is a form of repressed memory if you cannot access it. Identity alteration is a form of dissociation. If it's something you can't remember because you were zoned out or depersonalized, it's not necessarily repressed, but you might not have paid attention in the first place--like daydreaming while driving and not knowing how you arrived.

As things are seen as less of a threat, that amnesiac barrier should come down so alters can share memories.

Also my guy's alters share "factual" information. In other words, they all know who I am (though some may not be thrilled about it ) They all know where the body works, which car the body owns, where he went to college...etc. He just doesn't feel the same way about each. One loves the car, one hates the car. It is the stressful, highly emotional memories, the traumatic memories that he is dissociated from. If memories start to trickle through it will trigger a switch. Anything the body can do do hide and/or get away from these memories to protect itself. Thus the switching.

As AltCtrlDel says, once these amnesiac barriers are broken down, through therapy, alters can start to share emotional memories as well as factual memories (and in some cases, get to feel feelings they haven't felt before).