Can DID alters be siblings?

If the alters’ family members are “adopted” family outside of the whole DID system/person, absolutely yes. There can be alters who never periodically come outside or out front to take control of what the outer physical self does. But they were created in the same kinds of ways as other alters.

Can people with DID summon their alters?

The important takeaway is that having alters isn’t some wacky, out-of-left-field symptom; it’s merely an acute version of a common response to trauma. And Harris is quick to point out that people with DID can’t always summon one of their alters on command.

DID system with only 1 alter?

Yes, this is perfectly possible. While the average number of alters in a system is around 15, some systems are made up of only 2 alters in total (—this could be the host and one alter who only comes up occasionally, or two alters who share the mind equally).

How often do DID alters switch?

The average number is about 10. Often alters are stable over time, continuing to play specific roles in the person’s life for years.

How common are alters in the did system?

These alters are very common in many DID systems. There can be many littles or children within a single system. Unlike biological children, they can usually understand very complex concepts. They commonly speak and act like children.

Do Your alters know what happened to you?

You don’t know about your alters or what happened to you. While it is a common trait for host parts of a DID system to initially have no awareness of their trauma, or the inside chatterings of their mind, self-awareness is possible at any age.

What are alters and how do they work?

These types of alters are usually the form of the child who was tricked into believing they are evil. These alters usually try to keep the victim loyal to their abusers, blaming instead the victim. That is not always the case and sometimes they can be helped with therapy.

Can alters function independently of each other?

Each can function independently. All the alters together make up the person’s whole personality. Alters typically develop from dissociation caused by prolonged early childhood trauma, although attachment problems and persistent neglect in very early childhood are also known factors.