this is really interesting. I'm not a system, nor do i personally know any, so this was really good to realise that you're not functional DESPITE being in a system, you're functional BECAUSE you're in a system

I love the bowl metaphor, in my story I explained it as a pizza with different toppings but it's one big pizza still

Your explanation of your alters wanting to become their own individuals really touched me. My protector Sawyer wanted to be her own person so badly that she actually physically harmed the body. She's since made up for it and there's a lot of communication going on. Thank you so much for providing this information and being so fun and kind about it.

Also as a system who’s new to knowing they are a system, I’m really impressed with this metaphor. I’ve been trying to explain this to my boyfriend for like weeks

My fav metaphor for this is the alters are each an American state. They all make up America and it’s not America without every state. But Florida is not Texas. They’re both American states but not quite the same.

..I think we’re experiencing that idea of one of us... actually, multiple, in my system’s case, wants to be their own person. And it’s so hard, because I’m trans, ftm, and pre-everything, and dressing at all like a girl makes me soo dysphoric, but then I have an alter who wears dresses and makeup and I come to in a dress, and I go into a dysphoric panic attack and it’s just.,. It’s not good. Idk if I make any sense or not...I’m sorry if I don’t, I just got done having a really bad nightmare, so... yeah.

Our body had a miscarriage a week ago, and things have just felt chaotic. So many different strengths are needed to survive this, and the bowl helps explain even tho different, we need eachother.

I think that was a very clear analogy and definitely gave me a better understanding. Be well and enjoy animal crossing 🖤🧡🤍

I'm a system that recently became super self aware!!! (Or at least parts of me did....) and we're so excited to hear this! Some of us already fully get it, but watching this video is good for some of our other parts too I feel like and hopefully it will help them come to terms with being part of a bigger whole that we share

This makes complete sense, and also wonderfully visualises why each and every alter is valid and serve an important role in the system. The bowl is no longer complete and may not function if one piece is missing.

my adopted dad recognized what I was describing to him early on might have been DID(his ex wife had DID and he'd been with her to many specialists & did his research). He explained it to me like trauma had shattered the bowl, and the cracks(dissociation & lack of inner communication) could be put back together with gold(healing, inner communication).

I've been struggling a lot. Wanted to just, go away and let everyone else take over the whole life thing and be the better version that I don't seem to be able to.. be, grow, fix.

Honestly it would be really interesting to see a “day in the life” (I’m not sure if it’s been done) to kinda further show how “typical” your life is despite having DID and how people interact with you daily.

A super lovely metaphor! I think you are absolutely correct in the importance of having this conversation.

...Our system (The Minties or Mints) have been coming to terms with our DID. Things have been hard. We have had communication breakdowns. But otherwise. We understand that we have our roles. Thanks a lot for this video. It gave me especially a great new insight to it. And I've been around for less than a month. So I've been trying to educate myself and getting the facts ready so I can help. Thank you and many blessings to you. -Tina Mint

i love the way you describe this, you’re so right! it’s called a system for a reason. tech systems don’t function without other components in the same way D I D systems can’t function without the other “components” (alters).

So beautifully worded. As a system member myself, it is very validating to here that others feel that we are our own people (which we do view ourselves as) I am a co-host and do have a mother within the system and it is so comforting to hear your system say this. Thank you Daniel, you did an amazing job explaining and wording this and thank you to your system for educating us. -Eva and Clara

you’re absolutely right and thank you for saying this. as someone who is new to discovering my own system, we were always super clear about knowing we were part of one functioning person, individuals who need validation but ultimately part of one brain that needs every bit to form a fully functioning whole. and that’s something that people avoid talking about in DID communities and it’s kept us away from a lot of conversations with other systems who maybe have a higher level of dissociation than us. so thank you for bringing this up - you’re incredibly brave with your topic choices as always <3 we love and support you

Hi Daniel. I’m Willow and I am a part of a system. Just wanted to give you a big thumbs up on the metaphor and how you broke it down. I’ve used a plate metaphor to explain it to my kids but definitely like the bowl better. I wish I saw this video when I came out about being DID to my family. Thanks for this video.

I'll be honest, the whole idea of "separate but whole" is.... really comforting to me as a recovering persecutor. It makes me feel more like I'm recovering for myself as a whole, than just for the rest of my system. It's nice to feel.