Hi there,

Yep, seems labels, validation of dx and treatment are intertwined.....

But rarely does it lead to understanding, contentment or healing. It is the therapy over time that does that, not the dx itself.

In saying this, it is our spirit that prevails, that gets us through the really bad times, when behaviour has not changed yet through therapy. The spirit prevails initially......

Labels/dx are imperative imo......only because they guide the therapist.

It would be like being given the less stigmatised physical illness, when you are actually dealing with a stigmatised terminal illness. The treatment would not save your life for it is misguided. It would not be ethical for a doctor to dx you with a minor ailment, to save you the intense discomfort and isolation of stigma.

If you are afraid of labels, ask yourself, why? None of us want to be discriminated against and having had much stigma thrown at me, it only made me more determined.

My T does not discuss labels with me either......but a session involves much T speak......psychobabble, I call it......a spade is still a spade no matter how you look at it. After 16 years of therapy on and off for BPD, PTSD and schizoeffective, I think little of the names, but am glad that I had the opportunity initially to know what it was I was dealing with. It took 13 weeks to be dx by psychiatrist, psychologist and my trusty mental health nurses on my first inpatient stay in hospital. So, dx should take a while when dealing with multiple symptoms.

The only thing I know for sure, is that all things wax and wane in intensity, that profiles of what we are dx with change over time due to gaining of wisdom, maturity, self-esteem, life/coping skills and so on......nothing ever stays the same......it is the flexibility of spirit, the idea of unconditionally loving oneself despite darkness and the understanding and belief of our own worth.

A name is just a name.......a label is just a label......it is what you do with it that counts, babe........and I think your T is coming from that direction......she sees great insight in you to come to your own conclusions as I do when reading your posts......all paths lead back to the same journey, and you are ALWAYS on the right path......no matter......

Take good care......sounds like you got it in the bag.....

Hugs

Michah