A common misconception is that switching can be forced by others or by the host. Sometimes calling their name may cause them to come forward, but that is not always the case. In fact, forcing a switch is extremely dangerous for all who are involved. If an alter is brought forward against their will, you may cause them to lash out at all who are surrounding them. Another possible consequence involves the system: if the alter who is being called is currently stuck and they are forced out, you can cause them to be stuck for a longer period of time.

Last year, there were three months where my brother was stuck. Every time he was forced out, whether on accident or not, he would emerge in panic attacks and it would only last a few minutes. The next time we saw him was always longer than the previous amount of time. Forced switching is not something to mess with. The system should be given the choice on who can front (be in charge) and when.
However, you can find triggers than can make switching for you easier. I have personally found that laughing at something funny and physical pain allows for me to switch back into control when I am unable to. Sometimes a trigger can be something enjoyable. For Sally, she is triggered when there are coloring books, toys, or even sweets around.
We know that switching is when the body changes from one alter to another. The switching process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a split second. However, I learned that sometimes there is a process known as long switching. Long switching can take hours to complete and usually occurs over a period of sleep. For example, when Sally does not want to do any of my chores, she will take a nap so that when we wake up, in two to four hours, I am in charge. The body is in a period of sleep because it is not in control of either person and is unable to move on its own. So next time you take a nap and someone else wakes up, it wasn’t a nap, it was a switch!
Switching can be exhausting work for everyone involved. Imagine your pushing back and forth with others between a crowded room to get into the main chair. There may be times, especially after a period of fast-switching where the body can’t handle it anymore. In that time, no one will be at the forefront and instead the body will be at rest. However, when this happens, it may seem like the person has either fallen asleep or passed out. Try not to be alarmed and just make sure they don’t hurt themselves. Sometimes we can be without a host while standing or sitting down and it can be a bit dangerous.
I have two alters, Denise and Beatrix. They are two years apart, but I like to call them the twins. Why? Well, they like to front together in order to show a united front. At first, I used to have a hard time trying to decipher who was who. Then, one day, I stumbled upon a TikTok about alters who front together for safety. As soon as I heard it, I knew that was what had been occurring. My girls were shy and probably still scared of being in charge, so they fronted together to feel safe and to support each other. Maybe one day, when they are ready to face their trauma, they will feel ready to face the world on their own As for now, they will remain my twins who even share a room in the inner world.
Next, blending. There are many people who mix up the term blending with merging, however they are vastly different. Blending is an action done by multiple alters at once. Most times, when blending occurs, it is hard to tell which alter instigated the action. Sometimes, an action can be passed between alters. These two terms get mixed up because the alters are combining. It is important to remember that blending can occur at any moment and is temporary while merging is permanent.
During some weeks, I blend with Sam (a different alter). There are been many moments where I have been unable to tell who did what action. Was it me? Was it someone else? The answer is both! Me, Sam, and Sally were doing actions together, making it hard to determine who was who. It may feel weird at first and stop you in your tracks, but eventually we will all get used to it.
Killing an alter is impossible. Let’s remember that an alter is a part of the mind and the mind cannot be partially removed. The alter will either merge or go into hiding. What is merging? Merging is when two alters become one new one. They have the traits of both the previous alter, but are a completely new and combined identity. Some people with DID decide to merge with their alters while others decide to co-habit. Co-habiting is when both the alters and the host learn to live in a functional system together for the rest of their lives. I personally chose to co-habitat because I cannot imagine myself merging with Sally or my other nine alters. I would rather have all of us than a new persona. Deciding what is best is up to each system.
“No one ever talks about issues like dissociative identity disorder, fugue, or psychotic breaks in anything but the most negative light. No one ever talks about how the personality does this thing to protect itself, to save itself, or how powerful and effective it is.”— Lisa Unger
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