How do you "hold down the fort", as such?

Is it normal to cycle through personality states several times a day?

I'm trying to get it to where when one of us takes over, then that person can do its own thing and be productive in its own way. But as soon as one takes control, it's just a matter of time before another takes over. Sometimes it feels like we're all there at once. None of us can accomplish anything because we're constantly coming and going.

For those of you who have some degree of control, how do you do it? How can I learn to keep the wheel for at least an hour or two without the rest of them yelling and screaming at me? Practical advice is appreciated.

Thank you.

You have to set up rules, have a talk with everyone and make sure they all understand the rules. Let them know what your priorities are. Tell them only one is allowed out at a time, work needs to be done before play, and everyone must cooperate, if they do they will be rewarded with their own free time. It is also good to see how they feel about things, some might need time to them selves, others might not want to be alone. Some of your alters may want a hobby, something that will occupy them and keep them happy, its good to make sure they are happy because if they aren't they will act out and not want to cooperate. My alters enjoy having their own myspace. They can be them selves on there and make friends and feel independent. Of course there are rules set up on there to make sure they behave during that free time. Its just like running a household I guess. Anyways the biggest thing is to talk to them, and let them talk back, in any relationship communication is the key.

You're right, it's just like running a household. I've got four main personalities I'm dealing with now, but they each have their own sub-identities, and their own elaborate psycho-dramas.

We have a journal we all share. That's helped a lot.

Thanks for your response. I don't entirely understand it, because quite frankly, this whole thing still seems crazy to me. With a little more time I think I'll be able to deal with it, but not all of my alts are that mature.

Trust me I know at first it seems crazy, but the faster you accept it and embrace it the better things will get. Not accepting them will hurt them and that will make them act out negatively. Making a map of your system helps. Yes your alters will all be different, they are people, and all people have their own problems and lifestyles ect. If you need to post on here daily I can help you with your system if I can. May I ask who are your four different personalities? Tell me about them?

(This is long, take your time)

I call them Axis I, II, II, and IV. They are basically groups of identities, personality states, and introjects. We relate to each other as groups since some of the personalities kind of overlap. It got stressful constantly trying to figure out who was doing what, since some of us can't tell the others apart. But if I refer to "Axis I", everyone knows who I'm talking about. And each Axis has an ambassador-type person who represents and takes responsibility for the group, and is usually the one acting. The rest are either introjects, or guardians who don't manifest under ordinary circumstances.

I'm not sure if all of us agree on this system, but the ones at the top have found it very useful. Some of us disagree on the number of axes, and think they're lumped together arbitrarily.

Axis IV is represented by Ravin. Ravin is an introverted and emotionally borderline male who shares headspace with a female guardian named Dul. As such, he tends to be homosexual, although his orientation varies depending on his proximity to Dul. He is obsessed with finding and confronting Thorn (from Axis II), and practices lucid dreaming and witchcraft in an attempt to master his subconscious. He is suspicious of drugs and alcohol, although Dul takes Adderall to gain enhanced introspection.

Axis III is represented by Bernard. He considers himself much older than the rest of us, and is consumed by the idea of regaining lost time. He is not happy with the way his life has turned out and wants to be back in grade school. He shares the axis with personalities of each age he wants to return to, and he uses those to regain youth. I personally think he is the one creating them. Overall, Axis III is not really a problem for the rest of us, as they are very disciplined and driven in regards to school and work. Bernard is prone to emotional drinking, but doesn't binge constantly like Jake (who is also likely to be a product of Bernard's midlife crisis, as they share each others memories and tend to have the same traits).

Axis II is represented by Kameleon. Very little is known about him, except that he is very suggestible and is easily controlled by the others in the system, particularly the guardian Spider, who wants to keep him from forming his own identity. When he isn't being controlled by another personality, he will take on the persona of someone in his environment. Usually the last person who made an impression on him. The other two are called Thorn and Scout. Thorn is an antagonistic introject which tends to show up in the form of nightmares and confusing flashbacks. Scout is thought to have been the dominant personality during a few years I have almost no memories of. Whenever Thorn appears, Kameleon tends to chain smoke to calm himself down.

Axis I is represented by an adolescent named Jake. Jake is very energetic and is more aggressive than the others. He likes physical activity and tends to avoid anything too deep or intellectual. He has a drinking problem and is a little homophobic, so he is often at odds with Axis IV. He wants to pretend none of this is going on, and the more mature Axis IV members are losing patience with his antics.

That's all I know right now. I'm kind of a fifth axis, but since I'm the only member of that axis, I don't really consider there to be an Axis V. I consider myself to be the core (whose name is David), but knowing the drama that would cause, I just call myself Z.

For anyone who read my first thread in the Living With forum, the names Xail, Karone, and Cazviek were aliases I used in fictional stories. The names on this thread are their real names, with the possible exception of Axis II, who tend to not like names.

looks like you have a very complex system, definitely going to take some time.

On your part, or mine? I guess I should have paired it down, lol.

haha well i will help with what i can, hope the advice you got was helpful so far.

I'm sure it will be. I mean, I'm sure you know more about this than I do.