How do you tell the difference between personality disorders and PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)? I’ve been given both kinds of diagnoses and I’m not sure what to believe.

First of all, it’s entirely possible to have both diagnoses. However, psychiatric diagnoses are not an exact science so it’s also entirely possible that you have both types of disorders, one but not the other, or neither of them. I’ve known some people who’ve seen 5 or 6 different therapists and ended up with 5 or 6 different diagnoses. The good news is that it may not really matter. The important thing is to find a therapist you like and whom you feel understands you and go from there. It’s not essential to have an accurate diagnosis to get excellent treatment.