I've believed this to be true for a long time. Dissociation was definitely a helpful mechanism for me, but difficult to disarm once no longer needed. Hypervigilance definitely kept me somewhat safer than I would have otherwise been, likewise with other symptoms. The trouble is, becoming stuck on that stress-response, years later, having it still affect me. The "off" switch for feeling threatened just never got turned off properly, and today and in the past has caused me more grief. But it's a condition I honor: this is how I am as a result of being a nearly defenseless, almost powerless little child who coped to the very best of my abilities. All things are blessing and bane my therapist says, and PTSD symptoms are definitely that in my life. I have gained some advantages from them too, so I am content to be who I am, though the work to heal is hard.