Well, I did experience being stirred up a lot more when I talked about the trauma that gave me PTSD, and while I was in the middle of sharing it, my symptoms increased, which is typical. But I worked with my therapist on some coping strategies that helped a bit, and after a while, the symptoms receded and I didn't feel the need to work on the trauma anymore. And things got better at home and I continually get better at the items I set as my goals. It is not all linear, I still have days where it's hard to see progress or where I slip up but overall, if I look objectively, I can see huge changes. I've been in therapy a couple years but very frequent sessions, though the thing is, we all have our own pace and timeline.

I am concerned that you are concerned about landing three diagnoses that it seems like maybe you feel do not fit (?) and about whether your unhealthy coping strategies are damaging?

Is your therapist able to help you with distress tolerance techniques and to moderate the intensity of your sessions a bit so you aren't completely overwhelmed? I had to press my therapist for techniques, but they really helped.

I will say, during the worst of my trauma work, I was always afraid of falling apart, but I didn't actually. I would have crying spells, anxious ones, upset ones, etc. but... I did hold down my job, family commitments, etc. So, I think it's about.... balance and if you think what you're doing is worthwhile, if you feel in your heart it's going to help.

Have you made progress on your goals- are you working toward a happier healthier life? Can you see the point of what you two are doing together? I think that kept me going. It wasn't always perfectly clear, and it was excruciating sometimes, but I saw the reason, I was invested in healing through dealing with all the ugliness so I felt... like I had a compass I guess.