The dissociative response involves disruptions in the weaving together of consciousness, memory, identity, and perception. Persons who have responded to trauma dissociatively have a wide range of experiences, often set up to protect them from the pain of mistreatment or neglect. Some people who dissociate may experience different senses of themselves, hear internal voices, or have out-of-the blue thoughts and feelings. Self states may conflict with each other, which generates difficulties at home and work. Other persons may have a dissociative response but without defined self states.

Current explorations of  dissociation are transforming how we understand the human mind.

Psychotherapeutic treatment of DID has been shown to be very effective for persons who dissociate. (Bethany Brand, et. al, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Vol. 1(2), Jun 2009, 153-171).