Texting Yourself: Avoid duplicates or two sided texts

Stop duplicate texts when texting myself within iMessage

This is directly related to your Apple ID email. You need to create a contact with your Apple ID email and start a text thread that contact. Do not enter a phone number into that contact. Also, settings --> messages --> send & Receive ---> The top where it says "you can receive imessages to and reply from" phone number and your Apple ID email should be Checked On, the "Start New Conversations From" you should only have your phone number checked. imessages should be turned on.