When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words: The Hidden Role of Nonverbal and Dormant Alters in DID
- Natalie Frank
- Jul 13
- 1 min read
Exploring how silent parts shape the healing journey and what their quiet presence really means
Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D July 13, 2025
In the world of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), the attention goes to the alters who speak, who front, who write in journals and attend therapy sessions. These are the ones who are named, identified, and, over time, integrated into a healing process that is often loud, chaotic, and brave.
But there are others who remain largely invisible: the silent ones. The alters who don’t speak, who rarely front, who seem to hover at the edge of consciousness, quietly influencing the system without ever directly engaging.
These parts don’t have grand entrances or memorable quotes. They may not have a defined voice, or any voice at all. In fact, some don’t even seem to communicate internally. They are simply there, a presence. A pressure in the chest. A cold spot in the back of the mind. An impression of someone watching, holding something important. And while they may appear inactive or even irrelevant to outsiders, their influence on the system’s internal world, and its ability to heal, can be profound.
