Life as a System

Types of Alters (Part 2)

Trigger Warning: Mention of trauma (sexual, emotional, mental, physical) Mention of suicide/being suicidal, Mention of an abuser, Mention of Psychosis

I will place a * next to alters/words that involve a triggering topic. It doesn't go into detail, simply states the trauma occurred and what type it was! (keep in mind that I will be saying "this was caused from trauma" or something like that for almost everything, but I don't go into details and that's why there isn't a star)

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*Little/Child Alter: Littles are children alters, with the youngest being unable to read, write, or talk, and the oldest being 12. (basically the ages of around 3-12) They can act, talk, and behave like children but they can also understand abstract topics and long words that most kids can't. They are normally formed from childhood traumas, and often are the age that their trauma occurred/around that age. Like other alters, they can age if they feel that they have begun to accept and understand their experiences better. Sometimes, a child alter can be the description of the "perfect" child. This normally happens if the child didn't feel that they were good enough, and therefore the brain made the kid they wished they could be to escape abuse/traumatic experiences. Littles aren't to be confused with the "inner child" of someone without alters, because these are actually formed form traumas instead of just behaving childish. Child alters can be fearful and shy or playful and outgoing, depending on how hey view the world. It isn't uncommon for a system to have multiple child alters, but most systems decide to conceal them for their safety. Just like an actual child, these alters can be easily persuaded and if someone were to say "I know where you live, give me ___ or I will harm ___ alter," the little would believe them. These alters are naive and so most systems protect them at all costs and don't share a lot about them. (That was long, sorry. I'm just really passionate about littles and making sure people understand them)

*Opposite-Sex Alter: An opposite-sex alter is exactly what it sounds like. These alters are a different sex or identify as a different sex, than the actual body. For instance, in my system we have Jake, who is a male alter created into a system that has a female body. Most opposite-sex alters are made because a child believed that if they were a different gender/didn't have female/male body parts, then they wouldn't be abused. A female child might say to themselves, "If I didn't have a v-part or chest, them maybe I wouldn't be abused sexually." Similarly, a male child might have a female alter because the idea that males dominate and females submit causes the child to believe they are taking on a females role during sex. 

*Sexual Alter: A sexual alter is an alter that hold memories of sexual abuse/rape. They often keep these memories away from other alters by controlling the amnesia walls within the system and allowing only certain alters to view them. One alter/group of alters might be made to handle abuse from males, and another from female abusers. We have a sexual alter named Rose in our system and she blocks off the memories so that a little can't see them and be triggered. However, she also keeps them away from Kenzie, our host, so Kenzie will never know the full reason why she has a sexual alter. 

*Teen Alter/ Middle: This alter was made during the host's teenage years of life, or may be a little that has grown up. They typically range form ages 13-19, like normal teens, but the range can depend on the system. We have a teen alter that is also a disabled alter. Our teen was a little that grew up. At first, they couldn't speak at all, but now that they have aged, they consider themselves to be selectively mute. However, nobody has heard them speak ever since they confirmed they could use their voice. (Note that not all teen alters are disabled, ours just happens to be)

Baby/Infant Alter: These alters are unable to express themselves and may remain the same age, or grow up and take on a different role in the system. Most of their traumas are made from emotions and bodily sensations.