practical faq

^{Can I ask for more information about your headlights? What about names?}
If I've linked you this page, absolutely feel free to ask me stuff. My lights don't have formal names as others' alters might, but I use labels/doodles of the critters on the left to define them as landmarks.^{Can I ask who is fronting? Is it okay to ask to speak to a different headlight?}
My headlights have roles and are situationally dependent, I do not control switching but I can intentionally try to engage in specific activities to switch. This doesn't always work, however. I yam who I yam. Please don't tell me you prefer certain parts of me over others or that the others need to go away. Every part has a purpose.^{If I notice a switch do I tell you?}
I prefer you don't in the moment (it's disorienting), but discussing prior/previous moments is fine. Referring to specific headlights in conversation is okay, too.^{Is it okay to talk about trauma? What topics should I avoid?}
point blank, I have had a traumatic upbringing. I don't mind talking about it or discussing the roots of my CPTSD. Understanding trauma development helped me heal.All of that said, please do not engage in jokes about lolcow/spectacle culture or jokes about kidnapping with me. I will disengage.

• more info about osdd/did

The Moth/Dog

• exploring new zones
• meal prep & eating
• DIY/handicrafts
• writing, drafting
• small social groups
• courting loved ones
• personal grooming/care
• cleaning

Watchdog ➡ roaming states

Exploring is a lot of fun, I like tagging along on hikes and walks- but I experience hypervigilance. I don’t always watch over other states fronting, but I tend to spend energy keeping an eye out unless everything feels completely safe. I do all of the eating for the body.Seeing the clouds and stars feels balancing. I make DIY stuff like jacket patches and brainstorm while I’m out. Golden hour is my favorite time. I’ll make mental notes for later to pass on to my flow and flux states. I like to notice things about loved ones for later, like gift ideas and planning surprises. food surprises delight me.I’m drawn towards cryptid designs and unnerving stories with mixed signals of safety and danger. Small parties preferred, big social events make me wary.. but I can get on alright in groups as a wallflower (with the help of the crow/flow state).I prefer to dress grungy/alt/masc-androgynous. I experience social dysphoria when I’m around strangers. I often feel like I have to have my guard up to keep safe. Sudden touching makes me tense up and I do not enjoy group attention. I do a majority of chores and housekeeping unless we’re in a frenzy (when DAZE states take over). I can come across cold or stand-offish when I'm hypervigilant.

nonbinary, demisexual/ace

fronts in new environments & unfamiliar social situations, usually co-hosts to keep safe.

The CroWug

• digital art creation
• meditation
• life mapping/project dev
• studying/language
• rhythm games
• psych/soc, consoling
• dream/tarot interp

FLOW ➡ Creative & Flow states

I tag along with other states to help out!I make comics and cartoons! I can spend hours on an animation or doodle, the act of creation makes me feel like me. I can be a bit curt in response to frequent interruptions. I also like keeping things organized with a system (like house-clutter and notion).I believe there is magic in meditation and introspection. I also love to study psychology, sociology, and neurobiology. Trauma development & recovery are special interests of mine.I prioritize wearing things that are comfortable. I love pastels and soothing color palettes with accents. Gender dims for me, I do not experience much dysphoria. I love fronting in the early morning and taking care of my tasks. Spending quality time with my loved ones and parallel play is wonderful. I always forget to eat as I don’t feel the stomach.

queer, demisexual/ace

helps other headlights focus and enter flow-state on tasks

Pup & Fawn

• silly games/joking
• cuddling & physical play
• flirting, teasing
• dancing, stimming, vocal stims
• understanding shadowboxes
• infodumping

Flux ➡ Social States

I love time spent with loved ones!! Physical touch is the best!!! I love cuddling and watching people play games. I can play along too with the help of the flow state.I love fun shapes and colors & dressing in brightly colored clothing. I get excited to see animals and love to make silly jokes and impromptu plans!! Group environments and parties are so much fun. I experience social/physical dysphoria.Being silly is a big part of who I am. I can come across as shameless sometimes. I feel safest fronting in my own zones like at home- but I can sometimes pop up if I’m feeling safe with my company in a new environment.I fall in love hard and get dorky around crushes when I’m fronting. I'm really praise motivated, and I have a tendency to people-please and fawn, even when I’m having a good time.

comfortable playful & social state, puppydog

fluidflux, pansexual

Snail/Legs

• RSD induced moments
• fluster moments
• meditation (with flow)
• friction-heavy stims, pacing
• journaling / expressing POV
• reactive tidying, cleaning as a coping mechanism

Daze ➡ Reactive & Dissociative states

I don’t front as much as I remain when the others can’t front or briefly pop up for moments of high reactivity or sudden dissociation- I frequently experience derealization & depersonalization. "It's okay, nothing is real." When RSD hits any other state, I feel it later. chronic pain that can otherwise be ignored by other states (with Flow focus) is constant for me. I’ll usually try to squirm out of social events/promises made by other states that take me too far out of my comfort zone. I catastrophize, but with my history it can be hard to tell when I'm stuck in a thought loop or recognizing a pattern.Acts of service out of love melt me. I enjoy stimmy content and liminal space stuff. Finding comfort in the uncomfortable is important to me. I am not good at focus-heavy activities other than re-grounding for meditation and trance with the aid of my Flow state. I can get worked up talking about something I’m passionate about, good or bad. I don't like being outside and get stuck if I'm alone/trapped in an unfamiliar location, which leads to panic attacks.I’ll shell up to make sense of things sometimes, but if things feel really Wrong, pacing & venting to make sense of things is a possibility. I tend to vent and then feel bad about venting. I can’t stand clutter and feel a deep unrest until it’s tidied. I experience extreme physical and social dysphoria. I don't really choose any way to dress/express myself.

agender, biromantic asexual

receptive vs reactive: shows up in glimmers cohosting with other states/headlights or when all other headlights are out or during prolonged isolation