The Upside of Going through Mental Illness

Amy Taylor February 06, 2015

One can survive physical illness easily with the right treatments. But overcoming mental illness is harder. And often, it takes a lot of trials and errors before one can finally get through it. But even though the journey can feel like a roller coaster ride, going through a mental illness has its upside too. Yes, you read it right.

Just as some things are learned the hard way, we often develop positive qualities as we go through the painful parts of life. We’ll never know how strong we are until we push ourselves to the limits. You will never know that you possess certain skills and special abilities until life puts you on test.

So if you are ever going through a mental illness, count not the difficulties that you have to bear, but the blessings.

But what are we to thank for?

Basically, they are the insights that we got. The strength that we developed. The new perspectives that make us face life in a more positive approach. Furthermore, we also learn these things:

Empathy

Helplessness is one of the most tormenting realities of mental illness. And knowing that someone is there to walk with you through the dark road certainly makes you feel empowered. Empathy is the ability to understand other people, recognise their pain and have an instinctual desire to help them. Living with mental illness can help us understand people on a deeper level. Whilst the journey you take to recovery is different from that of the others, that all leads to developing understanding of other people.

Courage

To overcome mental illness, it takes courage. Even though there are many different treatment options, it true healing starts with the determination to be well. People with mental illness are often the most courageous people because despite how physically and emotionally draining their condition is, they still try hard to live each day like nothing bad is going on. It takes courage to open up to someone you haven’t met before. It takes courage to accept that something is wrong and that you need help. Courage is a quality that you will need for the rest of your life.

Creativity

It takes a lot of creativity, not just courage, to recover from mental illness. When plan A doesn’t work, there’s always a plan B. Living with mental illness becomes an exercise in creativity then. The therapies used in treating patients with mental illness also often involve creative activities that allow them to express themselves.

Mental illness is such a painful experience. But it has an upside too. If you are going through mental illness or have gone through it, there are things to be proud of. Once you succeed, you can expect to see a better, stronger and really amazing person in you.