1. Do you have alters? If so, how did you discover them/how did they make themselves known to you? Also, are they distinct, clear-cut personalities or are they more amorphous? (or both?)
Yes. Our Alters made themselves known to us in early 2017, following a mental health hospitalization, a single one at first then more in succession. They are both distinct and more amorphous avatars (the word we use to describe them) of more distinct Alters. The 'avatars' seem to be focused on a specific trauma during a specific time of our life.
2. How would you describe your system and the way you operate? How is it decided who will be "out front", or is that a conscious decision?
We describe ourselves as an 'autonomous collective' and, although Daria seems to be the Host Prime, other Alters tend to come 'online' depending on external stimuli, with the caveat that we can call upon some of the stronger Alters such as Pixie or Aloysius when they are needed.
3. In your system, is it usually one part who has control at a time? Or does there always seem to be some sort of overlap/co-nsciousness / "blending" ? (or both?)
We count ourselves fortunate in that we are, for the most part, co-conscious with our selves, with some notable exceptions.
5. Is it always clear to you who's "out"?
We think it is clear to us around 85% of the time.
6. Do you have a gatekeeper? If so, what are his/her/its functions?
If we do have a gatekeeper, and it's not entirely clear that we do, it would be Aloysius/Ligella, who are able to separate themselves from emotion and see things on a purely logical and analytical level.
7. Do you "switch"? If so, could you describe what this feels like/how this takes place? Is it obvious when it occurs?
We switch and would say that unless someone knows us very well indeed, they will not likely notice a switch. Prior to our true acceptance of our multiplicity, we would only notice that our emotions had, for example, become suddenly very child-like while in someplace such as Toys 'r' Us or Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Now that our self-awareness seems to be somewhat better we tend to become disoriented about our surroundings for a thankfully brief period of time. Very strong emotions can accompany this as can what we call, 'intrusive memories'. At its worst we may not know who we are for a brief time. We also have been known to switch during a flashback which is no fun whatsoever.
8. Do you have an "internal world"? If so, when and why was it created?
We have Castle Sanctuary and a Fallout Shelter, both designed in therapy for the purposes of self-soothing and an attempt to fulfill the goal of “bringing parts to present day and to help them know the time of danger is over” (we are quoting our T).
9. Do you think your DID/DDNOS stems from an attachment issue related to a primary caregiver?
We have documentation detailing the severe neglect (to the pont of 'failure to thrive' and 'malnutrition') and abuse we suffered during our formative years.
10. What confuses you about having DDNOS (versus being officially "DID")?
Nothing.