I also separate the two. I see my "being" as who I am, and AvPD as a construct of my physical brain. We instinctively learn our most primitive reactions to fear in infancy, and the brain learns to wire itself for physical survival. This helps us to cope with our helplessness as children, but becomes a debilitating coping method to use as an adult. I look at it as "me" trying to overcome the rigidly enforced survival thinking my mind wants to hijack me with constantly.

I also tend to seperate. Not sure if this helps but I wasn't stoned when I started separating it out so it can't just be a high idea... unless I'm just that out of it naturally.

I do want to ask if it's unhealthy if it's to the point of arguing with yourself and referring to yourself as we even sometimes in open conversation with other people.

Like I'll notice that when I'm talking to someone I might say we did something when I was the only person involved. Is that bad? Am I stepping into a different territory here?

This is also kind of how I see it. AvPD isn't who you are. Rather it is the hiding/concealing of who you are.

This is an important distinction because healing doesn't look like becoming somebody else. It looks like being yourself; who you already are deep down.

I think of it as my inner critic which I guess is more or less the same thing. It helps me not blame myself too much :)

I can do this when I am alone and self reflecting. However when I am in social situations, with people I become my AvPD.

i see my avpd as seperate entity