Alter Quote by Alison Miller
““It is unlikely that one ANP will serve as a constant throughout the person's life. Your client is, therefore, likely to have others besides the ones you know, or several who you might think of as "the host". Adults with dissociative disorders often have several ANPs from earlier stages of life inside. They usually have the same name but are of different ages. Sometimes, there are several current ANPs, each of whom assumes she or he is the "real" person and is amnesiac for the existence of the others. Their current knowledge and experience may overlap, while their other characteristics differ somewhat. This makes them glide easily from one to the other, and the therapist can easily miss the switch. p22””
About This Quote
Source Book: Clinical Handbook of Dissociative Disorders, 2020
People often have multiple self‑states that act as distinct personalities, each believing it is the true self, which can cause confusion for therapists.
In simple terms: Multiple self‑states can coexist and compete for control.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and track shifts between self‑states.
Themes
identity
dissociation
therapy
awareness
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
clinical
educational
When to use this quote
- psychotherapy sessions
- clinical assessment
- case formulation
Key Concepts
fragmented self
amnesia
personality integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can clinicians reliably detect a switch?
- What strategies support unified self‑concept?
A Different Perspective
Patients may resist labeling experiences, hindering integration.
![“A child who is being abused on an ongoing basis needs to be able to function despite the trauma that dominates his or her daily life. That becomes the job of at least one ANP [apparently normal part of the personality], whom the child creates to be unaware of the abuse and also of the…” quote by Alison Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f94/alison-miller-20257_amnesia_a-child-who-is-being-abused-on-an-ongoin_1146863.jpg)
