ALTERnatives

What are some alternative words for alter? What are your favorites?

Some common words I've seen: others, parts, insiders, system members

Some prefer to just say "person" which is totally valid and okay for anyone who chooses.

I recently read insider on this forum and quite like it. It's like we're all in on some secret plan.

My ex used to call them connected. Or the connected, like we were all part of some network.

Glad you posted this. I am having a rough night and having something not too heavy to reply to and connect with is nice.

My husband often calls us "characters," which I like but it isn't quite right. I think I usually use "parts" or "alters" here or in therapy, just to fit in to the situation. But I would like an alternative because I know these terms don't sit well with some of me.

I know what you mean about "insiders." It is a cozy term. But I think to myself, "inside what?" We do have an "inner world," though, so it makes sense. But if instead of being about being in front or inside, it is about being in on our shared life, the term is more palatable to us.

I tried using "others" for a while but it was too confusing. Was I talking about myselves or other bodied people?

Many of me also grate at the term "system." In our late teens a few of us were involved in the "natural multiple" movement, and the term "household" was popular. I like that because it feels homey. A few of us have apparently studied and practiced Buddhism, and "householder" is a term for someone who is a serious student who is not a nun or monk. We like the idea of being called householders in a multiple household, but it is a little out there.

I often say "aspects" or "sides of myself" in polite conversation. But these terms grate at the more independent, rebellious ones.

Sweet dreams!

I say alters since that's the most common term. I tend to do that: go with what most people are familiar with to prevent misunderstandings.

To be honest, I would prefer another term since alter sounds like some kind of creature to me than a person, which I am and everyone else in the system is, a person with his or her own particular strengths, weaknesses and interests.

I usualy just use the term alters... But somebody did use the term headmates once and I thought that was pretty cool ^_^ ~ Hunter~

when we got to know our T he called us "modes". he stopped very quickly and i still dont know if someone snapped at him because of it. he is using "parts" now. not everyone is satisfied but when i ask they dont know anything better. i think its a wonderful question!

Hi ... Umm ... He usualy refers to us as his alters... Or others ... But a lot of the time he just calls us by name...

We prefer "system members" or "inside people." We strongly dislike the term "alter" and tolerate the word "part."

We prefer the term "fronter" to "host." "Fronter" is simply someone who fronts at any given time, whereas "host" has all sorts of connotations that don't work for us.

We prefer the term "system" because we're big on validating how we work. We prefer the term "inside family" because our system is based on the ideal of what we believe a family should be. Or rather can be.

We have used the word "household" at times to emphasize our perspective of being a collective of selves (and members of a "collective self") rather than a host-based system. But we don't agree with some of the basic tenets of the empowered multiples movement, which we see as too political for us. So we're more likely to use the term "collective" now rather than "household."

We prefer the term "formed" to the term "split." A split seems irriversable to us, and it brings up all sorts of questions about identity. The term "formed" allows for the possibility of un-forming and re-forming, and it eliminates the restriction of having to see individuals as derivatives of other system members. Instead, we simply form from the whole.

MDs

It's interesting to see how others feel about the terms. My name on here, mutedcharacters, is more or less a play on words, as I'm a writer. I really don't care what terms are used; I don't see it as accurate/inaccurate and words really don't offend me, whatever form they come in. Language is just an attempt to communicate an idea, and the attempt is always a muddied version of the idea.

For me, though, I usually use "states" or "other versions of me" or "alters" - because they feel like the most accurate way of describing how I experience my DID.

HHCNH wrote:I usualy just use the term alters... But somebody did use the term headmates once and I thought that was pretty cool ^_^ ~ Hunter~

We use the term "headmates" as well--not frequently, but occasionally.

MDs

-- Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:14 pm --

mutedcharacters wrote:It's interesting to see how others feel about the terms. My name on here, mutedcharacters, is more or less a play on words, as I'm a writer. I really don't care what terms are used; I don't see it as accurate/inaccurate and words really don't offend me, whatever form they come in. Language is just an attempt to communicate an idea, and the attempt is always a muddied version of the idea.

For me, though, I usually use "states" or "other versions of me" or "alters" - because they feel like the most accurate way of describing how I experience my DID.

Yes. Our system name is also a play on words. And we are also a writer. We agree that language is an attempt to communicate ideas, and that despite the nuances of language, it can never truly convey ideas accurately. The best it can do is to be as accurate as possible.

MDs