Dissociated self-states are distinct parts of a person’s personality or identity that operate somewhat independently from one another due to psychological dissociation.
Rather than experiencing the self as fully integrated, the person experiences separate “modes” of being that may have:
- Different emotions
- Different beliefs about self and others
- Different behavioral patterns
- Different memories or access to memories
- Different bodily sensations
What Is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a disruption in the normal integration of:
- Consciousness
- Memory
- Identity
- Emotion
- Perception
- Body awareness
It exists on a continuum, from mild (e.g., daydreaming, highway hypnosis) to severe (e.g., dissociative disorders).
How Dissociated Self-States Form
Most commonly, dissociated self-states develop in response to:
- Early attachment trauma
- Chronic emotional neglect
- Overwhelming stress
- Repeated interpersonal threat
When experiences are too overwhelming, especially in childhood, the mind may compartmentalize them into separate “self-organizations.”
Types of Self-States (Structural Dissociation Model)
The theory of structural dissociation:
- Apparently Normal Part (ANP)
- Handles daily life
- Avoids traumatic memories
- Focused on functioning
- Emotional Part (EP)
- Holds traumatic memories
- Carries intense fear, rage, shame, or grief
- Often activated by triggers
In more complex cases (e.g., Dissociative Identity Disorder), multiple ANPs and EPs may exist.
How It Feels Subjectively
People with dissociated self-states may experience:
- “Part of me feels this, another part feels that.”
- Sudden shifts in mood or worldview
- Feeling like a different person in different contexts
- Gaps in memory
- Internal dialogues between parts
- Strong emotional reactions that feel “not fully me”
Importantly, this does not automatically mean psychosis. The person usually retains reality testing.
Clinical Examples
- A highly competent professional who collapses into a terrified child-like state when criticized.
- A nurturing caregiver who becomes emotionally numb and detached under stress.
- A trauma survivor who alternates between hyper-control and emotional overwhelm.
Each state serves a survival function.
Distinguishing from Psychotic Fragmentation
Dissociated self-states:
- Often trauma-linked
- Context-triggered
- Have internal coherence
- Maintain overall identity continuity (except in severe cases)
Psychotic fragmentation:
- Involves loss of reality testing
- Delusions/hallucinations
- Identity disruption not necessarily trauma-compartmentalized
In Modern Therapies
Several modalities work directly with self-states, including:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Ego State Therapy
- Phase-oriented trauma therapy
These approaches aim for integration, not elimination, of parts.
Key Concept
Dissociated self-states are not pathology in themselves, they are adaptive survival strategies that became rigid.
Integration means:
- Increasing communication between parts
- Reducing avoidance
- Developing compassionate self-leadership
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 