Can DID alters be older than the body?

Alters can stay the same age forever, change age depending on the situation (age-sliding), or age normally. Many systems have alters of various ages, including ones that are older and ones that are younger than the body.

Why do alters have different ages?

Some alters may age every year on the body’s birthday or on a specific date that holds meaning to them, often the date at which they first came into existence. Other alters may age sporadically as they process their trauma and come to accept the current date and the age of the body.

Do all DID systems have Littles?

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.

What are child alters?

Several child alters exist in most people with DID. Child alters often talk in a child-like way, but unlike a biological child they can normally understand abstract concepts and long words. They are often found to hold memories of child abuse which occurred at around the age the child alter feels he/she is. [

What does Switching feel like?

They may appear to have fazed out temporarily and put it down to tiredness or not concentrating; or they may appear disoriented and confused. For many people with DID, switching unintentionally like this in front of other people is experienced as intensely shameful and often they will do their best to hide it.

How many alters do you have in your system?

Research suggests that males average 12 alters and females average 15 alters. However, systems can range in size from 2 alters to 100s of alters, although in very large systems it is unlikely that all alters will front frequently.

Are your organs aging at the same rate?

Researchers say understanding how each organ ages could lead us closer to preventing or treating certain age-related diseases. You know how many birthdays you’ve had, but that doesn’t mean all your organs are aging at the same rate. Why should you care? Because as organs age, they start to deteriorate.

What is the main cause of loss of function in old age?

Thus, disorders, rather than normal aging, usually account for most of the loss of function in old age. Even though most functions remain adequate, the decline in function means that older people are less able to handle various stresses, including strenuous physical activity, extreme temperature changes in the environment, and disorders.

What is the difference between an alter and a subsystem?

Instead, alters in large systems are likely to become active mostly when needed or triggered, and they often present in pairs or small groups. Subsystems are systems within systems. There are two main types of subsystems. The first refers to separate internal groups within one larger system.