Plurality
We have always been plural
From our youngest memories, we have been segmented internally. There was never a singular self, there was always a plurality of self
These thoughts were not intrusions, they were not seen as foreign. All voices have their place, they are not outsiders, there is no delusion present
We occupy different states at different times. We lose track of our thoughts and snap into states where we feel distant from the emotions we felt a moment before
This is plurality
The foxes of the forest |
|
|---|---|
| Alter | Description |
| Vivi (she/they) Red Fox  |
Of the foxes, she tends to deal with the majority of day-to-day stuff She isn't the original, she's not the core, she's not the "true self". None of us are any of those things. Knows that sometimes emotions are better felt than not |
| Grey (they/she) Red Fox  |
Splits the work of many day-to-day tasks with Vivian Sometimes goes by Void or Vi Knows that sometimes emotions are better not felt Persists when nobody else can |
| Misty (she/they) Gray Fox  |
Generally soft spoken, tries to leave most complex tasks to the others Often more open with emotions and being silly than the rest of the alters. If we're acting particularly silly or scared, it's likely Misty you're speaking with Tends to be very open about current emotions Quite often pretends to be Vivian when she's around Usually quite little, but not always |
| Melody (they/she) Red Fox  |
Very shy, has a stutter Went by Red until recently Consistently quite little Doesn't get along well with Grey Like all of us, but especially pronounced in her, is not human |
| The other creatures of the forest; help to take care of the foxes | |
|---|---|
| Alter | Description |
| Sandra (she/her) Blue jay  |
Tends to handle most professional tasks when the others are non-functional Pushes forward everyone to be the most they can be, encourages euphoria and exploration Tries her best to take care of the foxes when they're feeling smaller, especially Melody and Misty Blended often with Vivian, may no longer exist in a meaningful sense |
| Crow (they/them) Crow  |
Deals with strong emotions through repression and disconnection Doesn't enjoy processing emotions, tends to avoid it unless its necessary Tries to keep us safe Often co-fronts with Grey Blended with Grey quite often, may no longer exist in a meaningful sense |
Lanolin (she/they) |
Tries to be soft and warm personality. She is a very good sheep Similar to drone in many ways, very much a mirror image of it |
| Drone (it/its) Drone  |
Flexible personality, wavers and changes They wear many names, but they are a Drone Deals with and/or helps out with many tasks that the foxes find boring and monotonous Enjoys exploring hyperfixations Mostly monotone speech unless it needs to pretend to be Vivian |
| The Haze (it/its) Undefined  |
"I am the shiver that goes down our spine, I am the words that block themselves out, I am that which is only seen when not, I am nothing, and yet, I exist" |
We're all comfortable being referred to as Vivian
All we ask is that you act like a normal person about my plurality. If you're just going to psychoanalyze us, demand we tell you about our trauma, or just tell us we're weird, we'd rather not speak to you.
We're happy to clarify and answer questions, just don't do it in excess, and be respectful.
We have placed this on our website to spread awareness of plurality, help to normalize and destigmatize it, and to soothe our own anxieties regarding it. We encourage others to explore these feelings in themselves.
The mind is complicated. There is no central sense of self contained in any part of the mind. It is a fragmented mess of neurons that are loosly hooked together. Everyone has some level of fragmentation, because the mind is inherently separate parts in communication. For anyone to consider themselves fully and absolutely singular is laughable from a physical viewpoint
Most arguments against plurality and DID collapse when one recognizes the disorder of DID/OSDD-1 is dissociation, not multiplicity
Some people simply are plural, the same way that some people simply are transgender, or cisgender, or gay, or straight, or singular
Any attempt to "cure" plurality is conversion therapy
A few comics that we've come to enjoy that've helped us in understanding ourselves are cuteosphere's brain bunnies' comics, gray/Dupe's Plain or Simple and their other comics, and the comics from a carousel of animals
You can read up a bit more on the concept of plurality here and here