Q. for DID people; are alt personalities stereotypes?

sunday silence wrote:Do you find that it is the "core' or "host" that is the one alt that is aware of all of the others? Do you find that the other alts often don't know about or communicate with the others?

Actually, the host is usually the most clueless about what's going on in his/her system... especially before they know about the DID The host is supposed to appear as normal as possible, so it makes sense that they wouldn't know a lot about what's going on inside, until they try to learn about what's going on with them.

The level of awareness and communication is different between different alters. Some alters might know everyone in the system, some might know some of the others but not all, some might not know anyone else in the system, some might even deny being part of a system, etc.

But if that's the case, then how do you know which one is the "main" or the "host?" Not sure how I would know which one is the main one if I were DID..

Generally speaking, the host/main is the one who is out most of the time... the one who usually deals with the basics of their life. The host would probably be the first person you meet, and will usually identify themselves as whatever their birth name is. People who don't know anything about DID might call this the "real" personality (honestly, there is no "real" one, since they're all parts of the same person ), because this is who they probably interact with the most.

Now, if the original host can't be around for a lengthy period, and another alter takes their place in dealing with everyday life, that other alter would technically be considered a host (sometimes it's a current alter who takes over temporarily, and sometimes it's a new alter made to fill the host role). This second host might have a different name than the birth name, though...

Also, not all systems have anyone who they consider to be a host, and some have more than one who they consider to be their hosts. Every system is different.

I hope that wasn't too confusing. I'm too tired to make sure it makes sense

that actually makes a lot of sense, thanks.

I have a tangential question: what does it mean when they go outside or inside? I saw this term in another discussion and wonder what it means. thanks.

sunday silence wrote:what does it mean when they go outside or inside? I saw this term in another discussion and wonder what it means.

I would have to see the discussion to know for sure, but they probably meant being inside the mind (there's usually a house or something inside the mind, where alters stay while someone else is in control of the body), and outside meaning being in control of the body