Osdd-1a System

[Cynthia Skane]

OSDD1aCoinerPsychiatric termRelated Term(s)Dissociative Identity Disorder, Other Specified Dissociative Disorder, OSDD-1b, Unspecified Dissociative DisorderCommunityMedical systems communityOSDD-1a, or other specified dissociative disorder type 1a, is one of five diagnostic labels clinically recognized to cause a system, along with DID/MPD, OSDD-1, OSDD-1b and USDD. It is a sub-type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder type 1, wherein the members of a system are less differentiated than in classic DID[1]. People who have this sort of experience but do not wish to label their system medically may describe themselves as being mid-contiuum or median.

Dissociative identity disorder is typically diagnosed if there is amnesia between the different identities, provided that the different identities have notably different senses of self. In OSDD-1a, the different members of a system typically share the same name, and may present as different ages or different modes of the same person, such as a "work" vs "home" self. There may be no consensus in an OSDD-1a system about whether a specific system member is the "main" member[2].

Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) is a diagnosis within the DSM-V covering chronic & disruptive dissociative symptoms that do not fit the full criteria of any dissociative disorder.[1] There are four listed example presentations of OSDD, but what qualifies as OSDD, or what OSDD can look like, is very diverse. OSDD is not diagnosed by subtypes, unlike its predecessor, DDNOS, and functions as a counterpart to Unspecified Dissociative Disorder.

OSDD is any dissociative disorder that "cause[s] clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate" but does not meet the criteria for another dissociative disorder. A diagnosis is "other specified" because the diagnosing clinician specifies the reason that another disorder cannot be diagnosed. If the reason is unspecified, it is UDD.[2]

OSDD-1 systems lack some criterion of Dissociative Identity Disorder while still exhibiting alters. The most common types of this are OSDD-1a & OSDD-1b, missing the distinct alters and amnesic barriers respectively. However, OSDD-1 can include lacking both distinct alters & amnesia barriers, or other presentations of dissociative & disordered plurality.[3]

OSDD-1a is missing the distinct alters found in DID, preventing a diagnosis. Alters are more blurry between one another and often have a core or shell identity. The identities with an OSDD-1a system may be very similar or diverse; one common presentation is one individual within different "modes" or ages, like an angry self, a 12-year-old self, etc. OSDD-1a is different than typical mood changes due to the amnesiac barriers between headmates.

OSDD-1b is missing the amnesia found in DID, preventing a diagnosis. There is no full amnesia ("blackouts") related to switching, but emotional amnesia may be present, as well as "grey-outs" in some cases. There may still be memory loss relating to trauma, but not between alters.

OSDD-2 is characterized by identity disturbance due to brainwashing, torture, thought reform, or otherwise coercion-based dissociation. Examples include being indoctrinated into a cult, being held captive, etc.

OSDD-3 is a transient diagnosis in which severe dissociative symptoms are present directly after a traumatic event. Depersonalization and derealization, amnesia, sudden loss of skills or coordination, etc and other signs usually last around a month. This diagnosis may last longer if this symptom (severe dissociation) occurs after every time a traumatic event happens to a patient.

OSDD-4 is described as dissociative trances that do not have any other cause (including other conditions, spiritual practices, or drug use). Individuals slip in and out of these trance states, often unaware of their environment while in them, and may "come to" confused and missing memories of their time while dissociating.

In earlier iterations of the DSM, the term DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) was the diagnosis assigned to dissociative disorders not fitting into identified disorders. This graphic explains the shift.

The Plural Association and The Alexandrite System have collaborated on an OSDD video in the past. This video goes together with an article and letter from The Plural Association. You can read that article by clicking here.

It should be said that OSDD systems who have shared memory with their system tend to have a leg up over systems who have memory gaps. In general, you are going to more easily be able to orient new system members on your current life situation and possibly be able to communicate with them better than DID systems. Take advantage of this!

The Plural Association is the first and only grassroots, volunteer and peer-led nonprofit empowering Plurals. Our works, including resources like this, are only possible because of support from Plurals and our allies.

The Alexandrite System are 25 activists, content creators, and intra-community educators in one body. They dedicate their time to documenting their plural journey and showing others that you can live a great life with OSDD. (she/her/hers or plural they/them/theirs)

Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder (or OSDD for short) is a diagnosis given to systems who don't meet the criteria for DID but display symptoms similar. The only OSDD type to include alters is OSDD1.

OSDD1a is characterized by having very little distinction between parts in the system. The parts may be very similar to each other and take on certain aspects of one individual. They may be stuck in a certain stage of the body's life, such as when they were a child. There tends to be a dominant alter who is the main current fronter of the system.

OSDD1b is characterized as having almost everything that DID has except there is a lack of amnesia between the parts of the system. The alters in the system may be very distinct from each other and take on aspects of things from their environment. The system may experience better memory but still holds some dissociation symptoms.

Age Slider- An alter who's internal physical/and mental age can change and/or bounce between different ages depending on different factors. Different from regression in that their knowledge isn't always on the same age level they may be presenting at. Age sliders may also have ability to regress, but that is separate from age sliding.

Archivist- An alter who has more of an extensive knowledge access where they can sort, file and fetch memories /emotions /knowledge for safekeeping or later recall. A type of Internal Self Helper alter.

Amnesia- Partial or complete memory loss. It may be temporary or permanent. There are many different types of amnesia due to the many ways it can occur. For the sake of this we are focusing on types that often effect systems.

Blackout- 1.A complete or partial loss of memory due to the brain being unable to fully recollect events during a period of time. This can happen as a trigger response due to past or current trauma, heavy emotions, intoxication, or even loss of consciousness.

2. Complete (or sometimes partial ( See Grayout) amnesia between two (or more alters) that switched with each other and do not have recollection of what the other experienced during that time. This can come along with not having any communication with one another due to heavy dissociative barriers.

Caretaker- Alters who take care of others in the system, the body and/or outside of the system. Can get exhausted easily often due to forgetting about their own self care. They are a type of protector. (See Protector)

Derealization- An alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems unreal. Things can seem foggy, or like you're piloting a suit rather than it being your own body.

DID- Dissociative Identity Disorder- It is a trauma-based dissociative disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identity states that have the ability to take executive control and experience varying amounts of amnesia between switches. It also includes a wide variation of other dissociative symptoms and large amounts of trauma and a wide variety of reactions to that trauma. It is a spectrum, so not everyone always has the same symptoms past the criteria. (Check out Partial DID and OSDD 1)

Dissociative Fugue- Amnesia along with sudden, unexpected travel away from an individual's usual surroundings and denial of all memory of his or her whereabouts during the period of wandering.

Dormant/Dormancy- When an an alter is non communicative, disengaged or is an inactive state for a longer period of time. Some alters may describe this as taking a nap or break from being an active member of the system.

DPDR- Depersonalization / Derealization Disorder- When you persistently or repeatedly have the feeling that you're observing yourself from outside your body or you have a sense that things around you aren't real, or both.

Emotional Amnesia- The inability to associate emotions with certain events; Being able to recall another headmate's memory, but having no emotional connection with the memory, though the memory may have emotions connected to it.

EP- Emotional Part)- Holds traumatic memories and/or traumatic responses. In systems, these alters may handle some daily functions such as: exploration, play, and socialization, but it can be difficult to sustain being a long term fronter for these alters.

Grayout- Partial amnesia between two (or more alters) that switched with each other. They might have some recollection of what the other experienced during that time, but usually it is just a vague understanding or like bullet-pointed events. This comes along with having dissociative barriers between alters.

3a8082e126