I'm not liking the sound of your therapist Nikki! How confusing. As if it's not confusing enough anyway!

The thing is I guess is the dsm is not an exact science, many symptoms overlap and people don't always fit in neat little boxes or history is needed to arrive at the correct dx. Have you seen The website of Dr Jim Phelps? It's really really good.

I've had a similar experience between psychologists and psychiatrists in the UK. Psychologists/counsellors don't like to talk about labels but focus on the person. However those labels help us make sense of what has happened or is happening to us so it's important not to dismiss it! After all the point of the 'label' is to guide what treatments are more likely to be effective. I've had various dx's over the years and now think that these were indicators of bp2. I've been labelled as having neurasthenia (not used now!), panic disorder, anxiety and depression, GAD, PND and adjustment disorder with depressive features lol! It is most frustrating. To have someone else contradict what a psychiatrist says would be the icing on the cake!

Surely one of the pouts of therapy is that you're able to talk about what is distressing you? And in group being able to share those symptoms and experiences to explain and gain comfort from others?

Unbelievable!