We write this letter with the intention of explaining what plurality is for those who don't know, and also of explaining how plurality works for our particular system.What is being plural?
The manifestation of plurality, also known as multiplicity, can occur in different ways depending on certain factors. But, in essence, it is an umbrella term for anyone who has more than one autonomous and independent agent occupying the same brain/body, which I will refer to as "individuals." However, they do not necessarily see themselves as separate individuals, and may see themselves as parts of the same individual. Each community has its own terminology, and they haven’t all evolved together, so the philosophy of each community may be a bit different as well. To facilitate communication, I will explain the important terms.System (or Collective): The group of headmates sharing the brain.
Fronting: When an individual controls the physical body of the system, sometimes called the Front.
Headspace: An internal environment shared by a collective, and often where some go, in some systems, when they are not fronting.
Singlet: Someone who is not plural, meaning a single person in a brain.
Switching: When members of a system exchange control of who is fronting, voluntarily or not.The meanings above are adapted from the website: https://morethanone.info/. Reading is recommended.Social stigma
Reading this, it might come to mind, at best, Dissociative Identity Disorders, whether the classic (DID), partial, or Other Specified Dissociative Disorder. And that is correct; systems suffering from these disorders are part of the plural community. However, there is a very common and incorrect view that the only form of plurality is the clinical, disordered kind. Many systems do not suffer because of their plurality, and for these systems, plurality is completely healthy. Not all systems suffer from amnesia, involuntary switching, or are unable to communicate with each other, for example, and for those who experience these dissociative symptoms, it is often possible to reduce them.At worst, you might think of a violent character from media you’ve consumed, like Kevin from the movie Split, for instance. Cinema has always thrived at the expense of vulnerable people, and almost all representation of plural people is stigmatized; disordered systems are no exception. Media creates the idea in the average person’s mind that these individuals are dangerous, which is not true. According to statements from the ISSTD, recent research shows no correlation between having DID and committing crimes.The majority of violence committed by individuals with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is directed at themselves. Over 70% of people with DID have attempted suicide at least once, due to, among other things, the weight of past trauma, health issues, lack of access to competent and compassionate healthcare, and frequent retraumatization caused by social stigma and ignorance.Healthy Multiplicity
Healthy multiplicity refers to a view or type of multiplicity that is not inherently disordered. Disordered systems may choose to work towards a healthy or functional coexistence instead of final fusion, and some systems may consider their plurality/multiplicity as healthy from the start.Sources/Materials Used:
https://morethanone.info/
https://powertotheplurals.com/faq-resource-about-plurality/
https://pluralpedia.org/w/Plurality
https://pluralpedia.org/w/Healthy_Multiplicity
https://news.isst-d.org/isstd-statement-on-the-movie-split/
https://sophieinwonderland.tumblr.com/post/675009576946565120/a-case-for-the-existence-of-endogenic-plurality
How does our plurality work?
We are a Trauma-Endo system. This means that we have both traumagenic origins, meaning that we have members who emerged from trauma, and endogenic origins, meaning members who were not created from trauma. Do not ask us about the traumatic origin. It was years of extreme stress for different reasons, which I prefer to discuss only with those closest to me and with mental health professionals.We have no communication problems; our internal communication is constant. Our switching is completely voluntary. All members share the same memory. If you need or want to speak with any of us specifically, just let us know.Our multiplicity is healthy and not disordered. We need each other for our mental health and take care of one another; it is a positive experience for us.Final notes
This is an ultra-condensed summary of other summaries, with the addition of our own comments. This doesn't cover even a third of what plurality is and the issues involved both inside and outside the community. I only wrote about what I considered most important for singlets to know from the start.