Table of Contents
Preferred Language
This page explains some of the language we use to talk about our system, and why we use the words we do. You might notice that our terms aren't always clinical or "official." That's on purpose. The words we use help us feel more connected, understood, and real to ourselves and to each other.
This list isn't exhaustive, but it covers the big ones. And for what it's worth none of these trigger us, they are just not our preferred terms.
System Members
-
Headmate, part, or Crew member
We usually avoid the word alter because it feels clinical and detached. Crew member fits our internal metaphor best, but headmate and part are also fine. -
Host
We're comfortable with this term, especially since it's widely understood. Internally, we call our host the captain (Sky), and our second most present member the first officer (Lily). -
Core
We don't identify with this concept. No one in our system feels like "the original" or like the body belongs to them more than anyone else.
System-Wide Terms
-
System
We use this term publicly and in general contexts. Internally, or with people close to us, we often say the Crew. -
Switching
This term is fine and widely understood. Internally, we refer to it as taking the helm. -
Fronting
We usually use fronting when talking to others, though internally we think of it as being at the controls or on the bridge. -
Inner world
Ours is a work in progress. It's based on the Enterprise from the J.J. Abrams Star Trek films. Right now, the bridge is developed, and we're working on building out rooms like bedrooms and common areas. -
The Bridge
This is the bridge of the starship in our inner world. This is where we can see and hear the outside world, either just as observers (co-consciousness) or fully fronting or co-fronting with another Crew member. -
Co-consciousness
We experience this as multiple Crew members being present on the bridge, which is literally a starship bridge in our internal world.
Emotional and Regulation Language
-
Dysregulated
This is fine but we might also describe ourselves as off-course, systems disrupted, or say the warp core's acting up again. These phrases help us describe our state in a way that feels more analogous to what's going on. -
Grounding
We prefer the term anchoring because "grounded" reminds us of being "grounded" as a punishment. You may also hear us talk about stabilizing or returning to the ship.
This language helps us stay connected to who we are, and it's okay if it takes time to get used to. We don't expect perfection -- we just appreciate understanding.