There is no value in trying to categorize a 'healing state.' You could continue improving or you could slow down in your improvement. Nobody can suggest either situation.

I'm confused as to why a PCS patient/client would need to spend so much time talking with a doctor or therapist.

You may be over focused on your symptoms versus focusing on improvement. Some doctors and therapist can encourage one or the other.

If headaches from conversations are you only continuing symptom, have you noticed if all conversations trigger headaches or if there are just certain types of conversations that trigger headaches ? Are you pushing your memory during these conversation (struggling as you try to remember something) ? Do you tolerate quiet conversations differently than conversations with lots of ambient sounds ?

The point is simple. Some symptoms may remain for a long time and we can still move forward by tolerating those symptoms as just the cost of doing the task. We then choose whether the task is important enough to justify the headaches or fatigue.

I do many things with an "I know this is going to cost me." attitude going into the activity. Sort of like, If I run out to the garbage can in freezing temps without a jacket, I'll come back in shivering. I know this before and could have put on a coat but instead chose to tolerate the shivering.

The holidays are just this kind of situation. The many events with people and sounds can cause symptoms. If I get home fatigued or with a headache, it is not a big deal. It was the price of admission.

The researchers have found that those who learn to tolerate their symptoms recover much better than those who constantly identify and react to their symptoms.