Extensive research, symptom tracking, & active consideration that many disorders have overlapping symptoms must be practiced. Unfortunately, the DSM & ICD files are only best to read as a surface introduction, since many complicated disorders, such as PDs, have only had the surfaced scratched there. Using personaiity disorders as my main example, the symptoms provided depict a very external & generalized understanding of what it looks like to a therapist, but not at all the internal machinations of the person with the PD.

You can discuss about your traits with other PD-havers, but that can be hard to come by, like in cases of OCPD & HPD where they hardly have an online presence, so finding a community or just a person willing to lend an ear is slim to none.

& furthermore, if the DSM & ICD can't be your only source, it's best not to limit your pool on Tumblr & Reddit, either. They're keys to scientific & reliable articles, & there exists blogs who summarize...