How to talk about the things in my life without making it too specific.... 

Lets lay the foundation

Its 2022 - Mothers Day has recently passed, next year I will have been a mother for 20 years. I turn 40 this year. I have been responsible for 2 other lives for half almost half of mine.

It is one(2) of my greatest accomplishments. 

Keeping myself alive is pretty high on that list as well.

It is no secret to my children that I struggle with mental health issues... self diagnosed as I have yet to get with a therapist that actually wants to give me a 'title', besides PTSD.

Which, it is highly possible that my lifelong struggles do stem from PTSD as the road to 40 hasnt been the smoothest/easiest. 

Depression, anxiety, panic attacks have become more frequent in the past 10 years.

I have pretty good control over it without prescription meds so I guess I dont really NEED a diagnosis

Though I have seen therapists for years, it became regular about 4years ago. Definitely PTSD going on at that time, but I also got into discussions about EMDR. It sounds like it could be scary and traumatic all over again, we'd have to go back pretty far to reprocess some things.

I have fully embraced my mental health journey though and if its meant to be I will come to those terms when is necessary.