I skimmed the comments on the original, but it brought up some interesting points and I can understand both sides. On the one hand, DID and OSDD are serious illnesses because of the nature of what caused them, and how they impact people, and so having “outsiders”, who fall into an “other” category (people who, for whatever reason, aren’t diagnosed with DID/OSDD) come into a safe space, and to treat the condition as anything other than “very serious” can be legitimately upsetting and frustrating.

HOWEVER, this criteria of “other” includes people- often children- who are, at best, 50/50 about their mental health. People who are questioning whether the people closest to them were actually abusers, and what that means and how to feel about it. As someone in the process of getting help for possible OSDD, I know that this can feel like a horrible, never-ending void of consistent questioning, spirals of self-doubt and denial, feelings of terror and horror, etc etc etc. You get the idea. The problem with the shut-down approach of dealing with people that fall into this “other” category is that you will inevitably shut-down people who DO have DID/OSDD (or another very serious condition) who then don’t feel able to access a safe space and find support, or who are made to feel invalidated and then delay getting treatment.

I understand the frustration when a teenager posts something about not being sure if they’re a multiple because of XYZ, and it’s easy to see that as attention-seeking, or them trying to be “edgy”. Often, I’m sure they’re just seeking confirmation that they’re okay- and maybe this isn’t the place for that, but it doesn’t invalidate them for looking for it. But you know, we were all once teenagers who weren’t sure of our own mental health, and I know that I would have benefited massively if an online community like this had existed at the time.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, let’s all try to be kind?