I think I posted this before, so sorry if it's a repeat!

L is really getting into parts work. And while I'm trying to track and am understanding the basics, I'm getting lost inside my head. I think I have too many parts! It gets confusing and hard to hold onto the hurting parts (exiles?). Like I have too many managers and firefighters. She keeps asking them to let us talk to the hurting part. That's where I start to get confused.

So for example, we figured out that my 11 year old self is the one we need to work with to help me quit smoking. I did some deep memory searching last night about what was going on for me back then. L opened the flood gate a little, and I demolished it. Now I don't know what I want or need besides soothing. L keeps talking to my 11 year old self, and some other part of me is totally jealous when she does that.

Ugh! I don't even know if I'm making sense or if I'm (and L!) are delusional?

How do you do IFS without feeling bombarded and torn apart by these different parts of yourself? I do get the concept and do agree I have different parts, but how to you keep them together and not feel fragmented? How do you let the exile be without protectors?

Any help, advice, experience is welcomed!!!