In this heartfelt and affirming episode, we sit down with the Shadow System, a guest navigating the early stages of discovering they’re a system. Just over a year and a half into their journey, they share openly about the confusion, curiosity, relief, and emotional labor that come with realizing you have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or OSDD.

✨ What We Talk About

* Journals, handwriting, and the clues that didn’t make sense—until they did

* The “am I making this up?” spiral (and why it’s so common)

* What happens when your system knows before you do

* System communication through writing, art, sensation, and intuition

* Why some parts step forward—and others stay hidden

* The pain of not being believed by a therapist… and the power of finding one who does

* How to talk to loved ones (even when they’ve only seen the media version of DID)

* Taking up space, offering feedback in therapy, and building trust at your own pace

This episode is an honest, deeply relatable look at the messy, sacred beginning of system awareness. If you’re newly navigating DID or OSDD—or supporting someone who is—you won’t want to miss this one.

⏱️ Timestamps

* 00:50 – Meet the Shadow System + Early Clues of Multiplicity

* 03:00 – Journaling, handwriting shifts, and confusing memories

* 08:30 – Realizing: “Wait… this is real”

* 12:00 – System denial, self-trust, and questioning your own mind

* 17:00 – Journals, art, and making space for parts to speak

* 22:30 – Therapy: What helped, what didn’t, and finding a safe fit

* 28:00 – “Do you think I’m just bored?”: Humor + honesty in healing

* 36:00 – Telling her husband she’s a system—and his loving response

* 44:30 – When parts front at home + parenting through system dynamics

* 50:00 – The inner world, the conference table, and communication struggles

* 55:00 – Advice for newly aware systems: “Slow down, trust your parts”

01:00:00 – New hope: What feels possible now

📲 Follow & Connect

* Follow the Shadow System on Instagram: @exploringmyshadows

* Subscribe for weekly blogs, downloadables, and community support: healingmyparts.substack.com

* Explore our website for free resources, support groups, consultations, and more: www.healingmyparts.org

* Shop our merch for cozy, conversation-starting gear made by and for systems: healingmyparts.org/merch

* Follow us on Instagram @healingmyparts for bite sized nuggets to support your healing.

🛠️ Want support for your system or your clinical work?We offer consultations, workshops, and speaking engagements for both systems and professionals. Find what fits your needs at Healing My Parts Services

🛑 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and support purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. Please take good care while listening.

📝 Episode Overview

What does it really mean to live as a system in a world obsessed with being “just one person”? This week, we’re joined by psychologist, researcher, and unapologetic plural Sandi James. Together, we dive deep into the lived realities of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and plural life—unpacking treatment trauma, internal disconnect, and the everyday magic (and chaos) of showing up in a world that often doesn’t see you.

Sandy shares unfiltered truths about:

* Surviving—and thriving—after treatment that missed the mark

* The funny and frustrating sides of dissociation (like dog-sitting for strangers!)

* The real reasons systems “drop off the planet”—and why connection still matters

* Practical tips for co-fronting, calendar hacks, and making therapy work for your system

* How therapists and allies can better show up for plurals

Whether you’re a system, a clinician, or someone who loves and supports either—this conversation promises validation, laughter, and hope.

🕰️ Episode Timestamps

* 00:00 – Welcome! Meet Sandi James and today’s big questions

* 01:00 – Sandi’s story: treatment-resistant research, and why labels matter

* 03:15 – Deconstructing myths: “Manipulative,” “attention-seeking,” and “resistant”—what’s really going on?

* 06:00 – The clinical blind spot: “I don’t remember” ≠ lying

* 07:00 – Loneliness, masking, and the ache for connection in plural life

* 10:30 – Getting out the door: swings, surfboards, and sensory hacks

* 13:30 – Bright shoes and reclaiming the gaze: system pride in public

* 16:00 – Negotiating who fronts in social settings—and building internal trust

* 21:00 – System imposter syndrome: Who’s the “real” me, anyway?

* 28:00 – Holding space for others, even with internal doubt

* 33:30 – Calendar color-coding, alarms, and planning for plural life

* 42:00 – Partners who don’t know you’re plural: navigating silence and safety

* 51:00 – Friendships, “ghosting,” and parts with different social needs

* 57:00 – Hope for systems who feel like “too much”

* 1:04:00 – Harmony isn’t perfection: it’s persistence

* 1:12:00 – “I don’t want to go back—I want to discover who I am now.”

* 1:16:00 – Closing: Healing doesn’t require perfection or performance

💡 Who Should Listen?

* Plurals and systems seeking real talk and solidarity

* Therapists, case managers, and support teams wanting deeper understanding

* Friends & loved ones who want to show up better for the systems in their lives

🌈 Why You’ll Love This Episode

Prepare for laughter, honesty, and a gentle reminder: you’re not too much, and you’re definitely not alone. Tune in for validation, practical tips, and hope—no matter where you are on the journey.

Listen now, and re-discover what it means to be plural and becoming.💫

Episode Overview

What happens when therapy isn’t accessible—or when it just doesn’t fit? Jade Miller joins us to talk about the power of peer support for people with dissociative identities, why healing doesn't have to follow a clinical script, and how redefining recovery can lead to real transformation.

This is a conversation about choice, internal trust, and the radical act of loving all your parts.

💡 Key Topics

🔹 Peer Coaching vs. TherapyWhat peer support is—and what it isn’t.

🔹 Redefining HealingWhy integration isn’t the only (or best) outcome.

🔹 Lived ExperienceHow peer work fills gaps traditional therapy can’t.

🔹 Provider PitfallsWhat not to assume when working with systems.

🔹 Daily Life as HealingMicro-moments, not checklists, keep systems steady.

🔹 Internal ConnectionRespect among parts is foundational for healing.

🔹 Jade’s DreamListen in to find out!

🧰 Tools & Resources

* System Synergy Workbook – 150+ pages of printable tools for systems, from check-ins to coloring pages.

* Dear Little Ones – A gentle, beloved book for littles and systems everywhere.

* Medical Provider Letter Template – Free download to support safe, trauma-informed care.

🌐 Connect with Jade

* Website: PeerSupportForMultiples.com

* Instagram: @peersupportformultiples

* Facebook: Peer Support for Multiples

* Support Safe Harbor Peer Respite

💬 Why Listen?

If you’re a system, provider, or someone who loves a system—this episode is a gentle but powerful reminder:There’s no one right way to heal. Only your way.And you’re not alone.

🎧 Hit play and share with someone who needs to hear this.