If you’re early in your recovery journey you might be confused by your system and feel overwhelmed by the other parts. You can use the Structural Dissociation model to help you start to figure out your system. The Structural Dissociation model is one of the best ways we can explain and understand DID. I plan to talk about this model at some point in the future but, right now, I want to focus on how it can help you better understand your system.
In this model, all alters or parts belong in one of two categories. By sorting your alters into these two categories, you begin to have more understanding of your system and its structure. It can also help you have a better understanding of the main roles or functions of various headmates in your system.
Everyday Life Alters
The originators of this model used a term for the first categories or alters or parts that I don’t like: Apparently Normal Parts. I prefer to call these alters “normal life alters.” This is because these are the alters who are tasked with handling everyday life. They are the ones that get the kids to school, do the grocery shopping, go to work, and so forth. A host alter is most likely a normal life alter.
Trauma Holding or Emotional Alters
The other category of alters are called EPs, short for “emotional parts.” These alters tend to be focused on defenses and these defenses have a huge emotional component. For example, a fight part that defends the system through fighting is often angry. A flight part, which defends the system by fleeing, is usually fearful. And so on.
If you are fairly new to your system and trying to have it make sense, one way to do this is to determine as best you can, based on what you currently know, whether a particular part or alter seems to be a normal life part or an emotional part focused on defense. There are, of course, other ways to categorize alters and I plan to talk about them, but for now I hope this video helps you to start making sense of your system. Leave a comment and let me know if this was helpful!