ISH *Trigger?*

**Um, trigger warning - labels. I think that needs a trigger warning...?**

((ISH - Internal Self Helper))

So someone inside (apparently Janice has fessed up to it) has been wondering lately about the term ISH and what is typical of ISHs or something. I'm not sure what exactly she wants to know, and she doesn't seem to want to talk about it, so I thought I'd get a little something up and started for her. So, whatever you know about ISHs or your own experiences with ISHs (or if you are an ISH - though if I'm not mistaken, I think they usually stay inside...?). Anything is good. ^^

ISH's usually don't see themselves as a "typical" alter. They usually are seen as ageless, more like "spirit guides" or "the voice of wisdom" or "epiphany bringers" or something like that. They normally don't actively help out within the system, in the sense that they won't just "fix everything" or immediately explain something or give information without being asked, rather they usually stay "outside" the system for the most part, and give help when it's looked for, absolutely needed, or asked about. Kinda like...sphinx's. They're kinda like that. They're not going to be very involved, their meanings can be hard to decipher at times, and they're not going to come to your aid when you think you need it or want it, they're going to try and help you learn or be able to do it by yourself.

They also usually know the most about the system, what's going on, etc., but again, rarely share it (it's kinda like a teacher knowing all the answers to the test, but of course they're not going to just give them to you).

We're suspecting the Maiingan might be an ISH, but depending on how much she helps out and interacts with the system, she might be a Gatekeeper instead. Gatekeepers and System Managers can often be mistaken for possible ISH's, but the huge difference is that Gatekeepers and System Managers are active within the system, they don't just "stand on the sidelines", they tend to help out within the system often, and they often still see themselves as more of a part of the system instead of something more similar to a "spirit guide".

Gatekeepers are alters who kinda regulate who's allowed out, when, what time, they can affect when alters surface, they can help guide alters to be known/learned about, they can help alters inside with things (like when Phenix was being "reborn), stuff like that. And just because they can regulate who's out and when doesn't mean they do so all the time. With us, we've mainly noticed that at least someone, possibly Maiingan, regulates by absolute necessity who is out when. Like if it is absolutely necessary that we need an alter who is able to drive, an alter who is able to drive will be out, but only long enough to get what's needed to be done, done. And it doesn't mean that they'll come to the "rescue" every time, either. Some Gatekeepers regulate every switch and such, others are more like "last-resort-efforts" and even then, it depends on the severity of the need, the situation, who's already been triggered, etc.

System Managers are kinda self-explanatory. They're going to know a lot about the system, they're going to be helpful within the system and be active within it (at least inside), they try to help manage the system as a whole (switches, alters surfacing, what's learned about when, etc)., and they're usually like ISH's in the sense that even if they do know most or all the answers, it doesn't mean they'll just give them to you.


-Cassandra

janice here.

um, well, Teen is... well, i guess i have to talk about the structure a bit first.

um, not that james and i are all-knowing, even after remembering what we, well, forgot. but we kinda see the layers like... theres the first layer where Jess and Jen stays. Jess and Jen both rule over their layer. thats why its so small and so bland. they have something very solid, very structured, hard to change, because its like the world they live in. its something they cant argue over. the second layer has Teen and the kids. and possibly another, but im not really sure. we do still forget about people, which kinda sucks. have a feeling tho that there mite be another one on Teen's layer. but we see Teen as the leader of her layer. she cares for the kids, but also... i dunno. there seems to be more to her. James has this respect for her, (almost to a point of obsession, i think). and she seems... it just seems like there is more to her than meets the eye. i dont know what it is. as far as i know she sees herself as part of the system, at least to the degree that she is a caretaker. but she rarely comes out and only for very brief periods, and james and i feel that she is... different. but she never talks about anything. or rarely. i mean, she talks, but, like, she sits down and lets me talk to her about theories, and she helps expand on them, but i can come to her with two opposite theories and she will be just as enthusiastic about building on both of them. she doesnt reveal much information herself, just helps you piece your information together. she has been directly asked if she knows anything - about a lot of things, most recently the introject - and she wont lie, so she doesnt say that she doesnt know anything, but she does say that she has nothing to tell us or if still pushed, shell say that she doesnt feel comfortable talking about it. she wont answer questions. i was wondering if anyone can tell me why or tell me where this odd respect comes from and if we need her and her information more on our side. is she hiding something important, or is this ok?

also, your post made me wonder what james and i play in all this. i mean, we dont talk either, but we seem to have more freedom than the others (in how we come out, co-hosting and all that, our switches are usually smoother, etc), but then the layer we stay on is chaotic. i mean, there are rules, but they are unspoken. they are enforced by those who have the power to enforce rules. its almost an anything goes kind of rule in our layer. there are others in our layer, but im not going into that. which brings me to the next point, i... even remembering, i cant talk. about much. just saying what ive said is really breaking my mold and i feel like im treading dangerous ground. i dont know if this is a sign that people shouldnt know, or if im being forced to stay quiet. i just know i get terribly uneasy when talking about things that... people dont know yet. certain things more than others. and i dont know if thats someone from my layer enforcing a 'rule' or if its a defense to protect people who shouldnt know stuff yet. and if im holding information that others shouldnt know, does that make me someone important? like an ish or manager or something, without knowing it? or james?

im not sure what im looking for either, but i am always thinking and always watching and always looking for more information. and its hard to get information to answer my questions when... im not even allowed to talk about the topics of my questions...

A good rule of thumb for ISH's is that they would not normally come out, especially to post here (another reason why we're thinking Maiingan might be more of a Gatekeeper). Basically, view ISH's as like, well... ah-ha! Found the quote I was looking for.

ISH: (internal self helper, inner self helper, guidance, unconscious mind, observing ego, higher self, hidden observer, inner wisdom) Sometimes these parts are called managers, but that then gets confused with the parts that do perform the role of managing the system. [4 p.64] This part does not see itself as an alter usually, but it is a dissociated part that objectively observes and holds little emotion or effect. Although there is usually only one in a system, the larger systems can have more than one ISH. "Because the ISH is thought to have access to the memories of the person as a whole as well as to the memories of each alter individually, (because the ISH was there and observed, not because this part can read minds) and because each alter knows a relatively small part of the real history of the patient, one of the most frequently requested clinical applications of work with the ISH involves its sharing information." [88 p.170] Those without DID also have this part of the self, but it is most commonly called the hidden observer in those who do not have DID.


As for Teen, it sounds normal for DID. She sounds like all she's doing is trying to help you not overwhelm yourselves and learn things at a pace that's good for all of you and such.

To me, from what I've read right here, Teen sounds more like a possible System Manager, or something close to an ISH, but possibly not an actual ISH.

Of course you can be something without knowing it. It's not like alters know they're alters before they learn that word and what it means and that it applies to them. Same with System Managers, Gatekeepers, ISH's, etc., they just are and then it's noticed later that they, basically, "fit" a "defined role".

Here's a link I think would be helpful and interesting to all of you (it's the link I quoted the above quote about ISH's from): http://www.dissociative-identity-disorder.org/terminology.html

I think I had more to say but I just lost it, sorry...


-Cassandra