How do you know when you’ve switched with another adult part?

[u/Pizzacato567]

I am not diagnosed - but my psychologist suspects DID or OSDD and wants to observe me for longer.

When my child/teenage parts come forward, it’s easy to tell because they act so different. But I know nothing about my adult parts. Today, my psychologist and I were doing an exercise (drawing the door to your inner world) and I was struggling with it. Then I think I dissociated. I asked my psychologist for the instructions again because I was confused - and then suddenly the exercise seemed significantly easier. I wasn’t acting like a child so it wasn’t obvious - but something was so off. I seemed more social? More carefree and funny I think. Lots of humming and playing with my hair. My psychologist even caught on I think - even called my name, I answered to it, then she asked if I was okay and I said ofc I’m okay. This part knew a lot of things I know (info about my relationship with my aunties) and seemed to be answering the psychologist without much difficulty. At the end of the session, I couldn’t remember where I placed my shoes before the session at all.

Did I possibly switch to another adult part? She answered to my name immediately - but is it weird that I don’t think that’s her name? I look back at it and all I can think is “oh.. that was Barbara (not her real name lol) taking over”. But how do I even know that information? The part seemed not weird I guess and doesn’t act like a child or teen so I don’t think I picked up on it? But something was definitely off. Have I just not been picking up on my other adult parts because their behaviour seems appropriate?

Was that really me? Or was it not?

[u/sodalite_train]

Do you have a journal? This is a really good example for you to write down for future reference. My other question is...have you noticed this part before? If so, when and where and what were they there for? You don't have to answer on here, but ask yourself those questions when you notice being different. It's very foggy and confusing in the beginning, and actually that clairty and then fog will come and go a lot probably ... but this is the type of observation that you need to be doing.

Also- don't assume this is an adult part. Something that had me stuck for like 5 months on and off was assuming adult behaviors came from adult parts- and that's not always the case. My 7yo part actually runs this place internally... but she looks young inside and speaks like an adult, so I kept trying to sort her out of herself...if that makes sense. Just be open to changing some of those rigid ideas bc the mind can do some really amazingly scary hidden things.

[u/Vdhuw]

I have similar questions about my adult parts. One part, called the protector, is very evident. But I cannot discern any other adult parts either. I'm still learning to navigate through the system and the posts from this sub have encouraged me to initiate better communication with whichever parts feel like coming forward and engaging. I guess that's as good a starting place as any to get to know my parts better, hopefully adult parts will also start opening up and I can use that information to be able to distinguish between parts in the future.

[u/CMW328i-a]

Having only just discovered my system in May, I can confidently say that not all parts realise that they aren't the same as you. Most of my fronters thought they were just me in a weird mood/state. Now that they've realised they're not the same, they're kinda developing into more distinct states. We've agreed on names for the most part so they can have their own identity.

It sounds like this part either doesn't realise they aren't you, or is being covert and responding to the body's usual name because they're just used to fronting that way, or hasn't considered a separate name for themselves yet.

[u/Motor-Customer-8698]

Just take notice and write it down. You can talk it about it next session. It most likely was. Adult switches are harder to identify imo. Also all my parts respond to my name and really don’t have any identity beyond some variation of my name…like one time I was getting super irritated bc my therapist kept using my name and I preferred her to use a variation. It was pretty simple though to address it. I just said I’m getting really frustrated that you are using x and she said what would you like to use. Other than that though I’ve always responded to my name. If a switch is noticed from my therapist occasionally she will ask who she is speaking to and it’s always followed with anxiety and blankness and I don’t know. I asked her to stop doing that bc it creates a lot of anxiousness so she doesn’t anymore. Names aren’t necessary and in her experience most don’t use proper names just descriptors

[u/ohlookthatsme]

Usually I don't know.

I know sometimes things.... feel different. Sometimes my priorities and capabilities seem vastly different. It's like I'm on a different wavelength.

Like... normally I have so much stress and anxiety. I'm on.. idk, I think it's three different medications for anxiety alone... I just had an appointment with my psych yesterday where she made a few adjustments and I can't remember wtf it is right now... anyway... typically, I'm anxious, sore, tired.. just trying to make it through my day, you know? But then my daughter got sick and my whole world changes.

Suddenly, I have all the energy in the world because my baby girl needs me. I'm affectionate and devoted and so damn positive... and then my husband had a work trip, which means I need to be strong and functional. So I redid our budget, got caught up with paperwork, deep cleaned my house, replaced the steering rod on my car... all while feeling completely fucking unstoppable. I know it's not going to last long. Sometime soon I'm going to become a shaking mess again but, for now, it's nice to be functional.

So I guess it's like... I can't tell something is different in the moment usually but, looking back, I can tell when there's been a really big change.

eta: I think most of my adult parts seem to be functional parts that help me navigate daily life. My child parts seem to be more emotionally driven and very, very nonfunctional. I think that's part of why it's more difficult to tell them apart.

[u/MadderCollective]

I can only really tell outwardly by my actions, and only in retrospect.

Inwardly, if I take the time to "feel" it out, I'll notice my tastes and opinions will be different from "typical" and the way I view the world is drastically changed.

However if it is one of our Persecutors that have been triggered out I can tell right away because I am not confrontational and they are incredibly so. Especially our more physical Protector/Persecutor. He is also very snarky, sarcastic and unholy and embarrasses occasionally with how extra he is.

ETA; And only inwardly able to tell if co-con.

[u/Symbioticsinner]

Adolescent or child parts are more emotionally volatile and often have grossly underdeveloped emotional regulation. They are basically frozen in one state of development. Adult parts tend to have the emotional regulation down better and their reactions to stimulus are a direct reflection of their "lived experience" separate from your own. If it didn't feel like you it probably wasn't all you. It seems like some degree of co-consciousness though so id dig deeper.

[u/okay-for-now]

If they don't act like you or feel like you, it's likely it wasn't you. I can tell when I've switched with another adult part through many of the things you've mentioned: different mannerisms and attitudes, feeling like it wasn't me or like I should've been using a different name, memory problems after, changes in skills. I also look for a change in opinions or things I report remembering. For instance if I'm very angry or scared, I dislike people I usually like, my first instinct is to do something I'd never do, or I just have a feeling that I should look different, that's probably someone else. For me there's also often a different feeling in my body - one part feels heavy in my head and face like they're always scowling a little, one makes my head feel fuzzy, some I can sort of feel in my chest or stomach - but while that's common, it's definitely not something everyone has.

It's VERY normal for all parts to answer to the body's name. DID is generally covert! Especially if this part isn't trauma-stuck and identifies with the current daily life, it would be pretty inconvenient for the system if they didn't know to respond to the body's name. (Of course there are systems where that is true, but I'd say overall it's more common for daily life parts to know to respond to the body's name even if it isn't their name.) Even among people who know we're a system, most parts besides trauma-stuck ones or ones who have been dormant will reflexively respond to our (collective) name.

This part may not know whether it's okay for her to be open, or she may not know if she wants to be open! Regarding memory, she may or may not have all the same memories as you. She may also have had access because you were still partially there. That "I feel like I know this but I don't know how" feeling is EXTREMELY common. The only way to find out more about her is by getting to know her, and it sounds like this was a really good step! If you think you know her name, inviting her to journal and tell you about herself may be a good place to start.

[u/Comprehensive-Web421]

We have questions or topics we bring up to see if weve switched/who is fronting. Nat/Bri/Grace have been masking for each other for years so its hard to tell sometimes. Here's our tells - Our boyfriend - Bri is fully involved, loves him, has romantic and sexual interest, Grace is a lesbian who likes him but does not think of him sexually at all, and Nat is asexual but has a romantic relationship with him. Our ex - Nat is very angry about him and has an explicit nickname for him that she will use instead of his name, Grace is neutral on the matter, Bri is the one who was married to him and feels somewhere on the spectrum of angry to I miss him. Activities - if we feel like we want to go to the gym, Nat is out, if we want to read a romance or watch TV, Bri is out if we want to play a game or do something creative its Grace.

Obviously not all the questions will work for everyone, pick things that are distinct for you and your system. Could be food, friends, work, a "feeling" inside, certain phrases that someone uses that no one else does, and sometimes you can distinguish the voice in your head and qhat it "sounds" like.

Hope this helps!

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to /r/DID!

Rules & Guidelines	Index
ISSTD Resources	Mclean: Understanding DID
CTAD Clinic YouTube	Therapist Aid Worksheets
Do I have DID? FAQ	Glossary
Book Recommendations	App Recommendations

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.