i think what matters more is what you feel, how you experience things, etc. and not what a therapist says you do or do not have.

even though i am in denial at times with my stuff, when it is right there in my face and happening, i know it is real and cannot deny it. i thought for the last 12 years that my current psychiatrist would not believe me and the degree of things i struggle with, but recently i learned she does believe me...and i feel stupid for thinking she didn't because i was prepared to present a timeline for her of things and it triggered things massively...but it did help having her acknowledge what i felt and experienced was real. so, i think finding someone who can validate what you experience is important or else they can't be of much help to begin with.

i had seen various professionals since my early teens, but i don't recall telling them about all of this type of stuff..also because i wasn't as aware of it yet..so i had a lot of other diagnoses.