Help me understand (or other lame title)

[KayleeSaeihr]

Sorry for the lame thread title, couldn't think of something witty or interesting.

I don't fully understand the Multiple/Plural/Two Spirit, from what I've read it sounds like multiple personality 'syndrome', but I've also read that it's not like that. That's left me confused.

I don't know why I find the topic so intriguing though, usually if I don't understand something after a bit of research I generally accept that I can not understand it and leave it at that, but I want to understand this. Maybe I feel that I might be multiple? Maybe not...But still it is something I'd like to understand.

[Kass-ID]

Well not speaking as a multiple, but as someone who thought they might be, the big bright line is being able to either have another personality front or having the personalities being easy differentiated from your subconscious. I've never had that in my head, I mean I can talk to other aspects of my personality, but it's just me talking to me in my head not to a separate person.

[KayleeSaeihr]

Well not speaking as a multiple, but as someone who thought they might be, the big bright line is being able to either have another personality front or having the personalities being easy differentiated from your subconscious. I've never had that in my head, I mean I can talk to other aspects of my personality, but it's just me talking to me in my head not to a separate person.

I do that alot. Talking to the "voices of me" in my head..even arguing with myself.

[Jamie]

"Multiple Personality Disorder" and "multiplicity", I'd argue are similar in outcome, just different in cause.
As a disorder, you "split" through "trauma" whereas for a lot of multiples, there came to be more than one of them naturally.
Essentially, it's a group of people in a room, the room has no windows and one door. If you stand in the doorway, you are interacting with the "erfworld" and if you don't, you aren't.

[Kass-ID]

I do that alot. Talking to the "voices of me" in my head..even arguing with myself.

OMG, I argue with myself all the time. I tell myself stories, have conversations, talk myself into and out of things, I've been doing it forever too.

I remember this one time in 5th grade we had to write something or other in a little journal, I wrote something along the lines of
Hello are you there?
Yes I'm here
Cool
Still there now?
Yea
ect.
My teacher read it to the class, not sure if they found it funny or were just laughing at me.

[KayleeSaeihr]

"Multiple Personality Disorder" and "multiplicity", I'd argue are similar in outcome, just different in cause.
As a disorder, you "split" through "trauma" whereas for a lot of multiples, there came to be more than one of them naturally.
Essentially, it's a group of people in a room, the room has no windows and one door. If you stand in the doorway, you are interacting with the "erfworld" and if you don't, you aren't.

What about memory? Can one personality access another's memory? Or is a shared memory?

[KayleeSaeihr]

I do that alot. Talking to the "voices of me" in my head..even arguing with myself.

OMG, I argue with myself all the time. I tell myself stories, have conversations, talk myself into and out of things, I've been doing it forever too.

I remember this one time in 5th grade we had to write something or other in a little journal, I wrote something along the lines of
Hello are you there?
Yes I'm here
Cool
Still there now?
Yea
ect.
My teacher read it to the class, not sure if they found it funny or were just laughing at me.

Sounds very familiar

[Yochanan]

"Multiple Personality Disorder" and "multiplicity", I'd argue are similar in outcome, just different in cause.
As a disorder, you "split" through "trauma" whereas for a lot of multiples, there came to be more than one of them naturally.
Essentially, it's a group of people in a room, the room has no windows and one door. If you stand in the doorway, you are interacting with the "erfworld" and if you don't, you aren't.

That's weird. Not what you said, but the fact that that is exactly how I envision the inside of me. I'm not a multiple, just a transboy, but I have several different aspects of me that I've named and that interact. And when I think of them, they are all in a dark circular room, with me standing (I guess) in the "doorway". I've wondered whether I might be multiple, but it's all very confusing...

[Jamie]

As far as I know, it differs from person to person, wether memory is shared or not

heh Yochanan

[Kaimialana]

"Multiple Personality Disorder" and "multiplicity", I'd argue are similar in outcome, just different in cause.
As a disorder, you "split" through "trauma" whereas for a lot of multiples, there came to be more than one of them naturally.
Essentially, it's a group of people in a room, the room has no windows and one door. If you stand in the doorway, you are interacting with the "erfworld" and if you don't, you aren't.

I would also like to add this: If you are multiple and in a disordered state, there are ways to move past that and become healthy in your multiplicity.

~Kaimi

[Jasmaya]

This is more "how we knew" or "how we figured out we counted as plural" than an explanation of its origins, but for us one of the main reasons we feel like distinct people and not moods or aspects is because we're always consistent. That is, when Amaya's out, she is always attracted to women, quite shy, distinctly feminine, and fond of classic literature and reptiles; Jasmine is always heterosexual, more outspoken, and likes chick-lit and loud music. This holds true whether there's just one of us around, or whether we're both present and conversing with each other. And yes, we talk to each other a lot, and it just feels different from "talking to myself" - more stable identities, I suppose? Wow, this is really hard to get into words, heh.

We have shared memory, though there's a weird effect sometimes when one person looks at another memories - like seeing things from a different angle or in a different light? It can also sometimes be slightly harder to recall things another person did - we don't lose time or have blackouts, but if, say, Amaya read a book when I wasn't around... I would probably know what the basic plot was but might not be able to recall as many details and subtleties as she would be able to.

[static nonsense]

As far as I know, it differs from person to person, wether memory is shared or not

heh Yochanan

And from "state to state", so to speak.

We can share memories, but we don't always. In order for someone to remember the same memories as one of the others, they have to be with them. Or the Keeper gives them access.

Other things you may remember without even having the memories attached to them. Like how to cook.

Kay

[static nonsense]

This is more "how we knew" or "how we figured out we counted as plural" than an explanation of its origins, but for us one of the main reasons we feel like distinct people and not moods or aspects is because we're always consistent. That is, when Amaya's out, she is always attracted to women, quite shy, distinctly feminine, and fond of classic literature and reptiles; Jasmine is always heterosexual, more outspoken, and likes chick-lit and loud music. This holds true whether there's just one of us around, or whether we're both present and conversing with each other. And yes, we talk to each other a lot, and it just feels different from "talking to myself" - more stable identities, I suppose? Wow, this is really hard to get into words, heh.

We have shared memory, though there's a weird effect sometimes when one person looks at another memories - like seeing things from a different angle or in a different light? It can also sometimes be slightly harder to recall things another person did - we don't lose time or have blackouts, but if, say, Amaya read a book when I wasn't around... I would probably know what the basic plot was but might not be able to recall as many details and subtleties as she would be able to.

Can definitely back up the "talking to myself" feeling. Especially since we do talk to ourselves - which feels drastically different than when we're talking to each other. The latter is directed. The former is just bouncing thoughts back and forth. The way we typically tell the difference is that one feels like it has an actual target, whereas the other doesn't. Zero does it a lot when it comes to arguing certain points, to get a better idea of how to word them.

Kay

[Ryles]

I agree with the talking to yourself v. talking to someone else in system. I talk to myself a lot, and there was one time when a very shy member would talk through me but wouldn't make it clear they were someone else so I had the feeling of talking to myself and the feeling that I was talking to someone else- that was really freaky until I figured out what was going on. So there's a pretty definite difference.

"Multiple Personality Disorder" and "multiplicity", I'd argue are similar in outcome, just different in cause.
As a disorder, you "split" through "trauma" whereas for a lot of multiples, there came to be more than one of them naturally.

I don't think a disorder requires you to have split or experienced trauma- the disorder label applies more if the system is disordered or not. Even if it's a perfectly natural multiplicity, if it's significantly interfering with the system's ability to live and function, then it's disordered. If you were torn asunder by some soul-shattering trauma, but able to function just fine, then it doesn't seem particularly disorderly.

People also differentiate between personalities and people- so multiple personalities suggest it's a system of personalities. (by my understanding, personalities aren't as independent. There was a topic on this earlier.)

[EJA]

I used to have multiplicity.
It's complicated.
Anyway -- It's similar to MPD but at the same time very different. While I had two other personalities, they weren't 'me' - these were totally separate people with different likes, dislikes, preferences, personalities, et cetera. They just happened to be living in my head instead of having their own bodies. I could talk to them, they'd talk back, they could take control if I/they wanted to. It's not like just talking to yourself - it's like talking in a group with other people.