Big surprise, a mother in law question. I had studied to become a counselor, and ironically I'm asking for advice, but the best advice I ever got was to keep asking, especially for yourself.

So to keep it simple, I have PTSD. I had always thought as time goes on things will get better and I'll be able to work through my issues and eventually help people with the same. As I found out it isn't as simple as that. Working with people and their traumatic situations was eventually a bit too triggering for me to live a stable life. I work in a related, but technology career now using my degree and I'm happy.

My MIL's sister who I heard through my husband also has PTSD. She had also studied counseling, but didn't end up working in the field and choose to focus on being a mother. I also heard that my MIL had said she just doesn't understand why she just can't get over it. My MIL apparently went through the same situation and is "fine".

My MIL isn't aware that I have PTSD. When she was visiting my husband and I she was talking about how her daughter was interested in studying counseling and said something to the effect "Can you believe it?! She wants to study counseling!" and continued on with more insults, something to the effect of psychology being a useless degree, right in front of me! I didn't say anything, I thought I must have been hearing this incorrectly, but I wasn't. As you can see I have some reservations about sharing that I have PTSD, and I've frustrated about the misconceptions of mental health treatment. What I would have liked to have said is that my sister in law would likely have been very good at it, since she's so interested in it. She's now chosen biology as her major, but doesn't really know what to do with it.

I'd just like to hear some feedback and advice about any aspects of my situation, and suggestions of what I could say or do (if at all). I'm a believer of speaking my mind, but I'm not sure I want my mind gossiped about if you get my drift. Thanks