1) The Host (main personality)
The host is the alter that takes charge of everyday life and is the person who is out most often. If you were to meet a person with DID then this is the most likely alter that you'll meet before you even know they have the disorder. The host is often depressed, introvert, dependent on others and can feel easily rejected. The opposite can also happen to hide the inner feelings; the host may seem overly happy or excitable. The host personality can usually be easily taken over by other personalities and is sometimes classed as the weakest personality, especially when they're unaware of having DID or are in early stages of treatment.
2) The Original (birth personality)
Occasionally, the host personality is different to the original personality. The original personality is the person who was born in the first place. If the host and the original are different people, the original will rarely come out but will be the most powerful personality and normally know who all the others are in the system if the host doesn't. They have the power to go in and out whenever they like but mostly choose not to because of the fear of having to face memories or other such things. If this is the case, the other alters are usually very guarded and protective of the original, treating them like a sort of treasure to make sure they don't get hurt. This is normally only the case when the host and original are different people. This can be quite complicated in therapy when trying to get the original to come out.
3) The Littles (the kids/younger ones)
Child alters are present in almost all cases of DID and their age can vary depending on the day, or sometimes they'll stay the same age all the time. These alters are innocent and can be hurt very easily. The rest of the alters in the system (sometimes even the angry one) are very protective of the littles and if one of them gets hurt it can cause all kinds of problems with all the alters e.g. trust issues, depression etc. The littles usually only come out if they know its ok for them to do so, if they're on their own or if they're in the company of someone they consider to be safe. Be wary that even though they're children, some can be very advanced children. Some child alters may not be able to read or write but may have the capability of driving a car for instance. It all depends on the system. However, no matter how advanced they seem to be, they should still be kept safe from things like sexual activity and such.
4) The Protectors
There are various kinds of protectors. Some protectors can also be classed as saboteurs (described below). One kind of protector can protect against emotional abuse. These protectors are normally quite quick-witted and can talk back to any insults that they are subjected to. At other times these protectors can be quiet at times when it's best for them not to retaliate. Some protectors protect the system from the external world, like being abused or being threatened. Others are internal protectors that try to keep the younger ones safe and try to control any chaos that's going on inside. What about protectors that can also be classed as saboteurs? These alters are normally very aggressive and hostile to anyone who comes close and come out to try to eliminate any perceived threat. They use physical and verbal abuse to keep away anyone who tries to get close to prevent any of the system being let down or hurt. With these protectors it's very obvious when they come out as they present completely differently to the depressed and introvert host. With the quieter protectors, they can normally try and impersonate the host/original personality. It can be hard to identify the difference unless you know what signs to look out for. Depending on the alter, they can have varying strengths from extremely dominating, to medium strength.
5) The Saboteur/Angry One (self-destroyers)
The title in itself explains it. The angry one or saboteur is created from a mixture of anger, frustration and hatred, often because the host hasn't expressed it properly. This type of alter is usually purely impulse-driven and has little thought or doesnt even care about the consequences of their actions. They normally don't like to show themselves but when they get to the point of becoming really angry they can burst out, almost like an explosion. These kinds of alters can also be several times as strong as the host, abnormally fast and agile, and be uneffected by pain (or even enjoy it). If an alter like this should come out then communication should be done in controlled circumstances to avoid the danger to themselves and to other people. Often this alter is very domineering and doesn't get on very well with the rest of the alters. They know the rules but mostly don't abide by them. They can be controlled if an equally strong alter is available, though even this may not help.
A saboteur could be quite the opposite and be quite quiet although they may feel suicidal. Angry ones or saboteurs or suicidal alters need to be treated carefully if their aim is to destroy or kill the system. Sometimes there can be alters which are a mixture of all three which can make a situation very volatile.
6) The Rational One
A rational alter doesn't make decisions based on emotion. These types of alters are logical, rational and forward-thinking. Sometimes they can also be internal helpers, seeing through the trauma and negativity to find a solution that works for everyone. They're clear-headed and aren't clouded by any anger, sadness or depression unless in extreme circumstances when the system is close to collapse (this can happen during a crisis period). Sometimes these alters are referred to as Inner Self Helpers (ISHs). They often know a lot about the host and other alters. They know how the system works mostly and are often the only ones who have some form of control over saboteurs/angry protectors. This control can vary depending on the situation. The rational alter also has rules within the system and the majority of the alters usually abide by them, though obviously there can be slips!
7) The Sexual One (seducer, flirter)
What's more to say?! This type of alter will often seek out sexual interaction. They can be promiscuous, overly flirtatious and try to seduce anyone they want. They can be of any gender or sexuality and their individual personality will vary between systems. The sexual one is considered one of the weaker personalities as, in the beginning, they'll usually only come out to flirt or have sex. Given time, they will also start to come out in situations that they consider safe. They're sexual behaviours can be fuelled by many things, not only lust. It's best to be careful around this kind of alter as sometimes they have been sexually abused and can view themselves only as 'sex machines'. Even if they present as bubbly and excitable, the sexual one can be one of the more damaged personalities within the system.
8) Fragments
Fragments aren't fully formed personalities. They can represent emotions, objects, a specific memory. These fragments are normally called things like "The Sad One" or "The Angry One". Once these fragments have been identified and the feelings they hold are dealt with then they filter into the background. Sometimes alters can be objects. Not ordinary objects, they're objects with consciousness, such as notebooks that write themselves.
9) Pets (less common)
The majority of families have pets, as do some systems. Animal alters can either be like a family pet that the alters look after like you would a cat or a dog in a family, or they can be wild animals or protective animals such as a tiger or an eagle that keeps guard of the system.
That's as much as I know about different types of alters so far. If any of you have any questions or would like me to add or change something then feel free to ask. This post is quite a free-flowing post and won't apply to everybody, or it could apply completely! It all depends. Like I said before, everyone is different. I hope I explained the types of alters clearly and also hope that if there's anything I can explain a little more clearly that you will let me know :)
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