Topic Tuesday: The positive side of mental health difficulties *closed*

[NikNik]

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Topic Tuesday!

Last week when we closed the poll we found that overwhelmingly people wanted to discuss the “gifts” or “positives” that have come from their mental health difficulty or experience with mental illness.

Around the forums I have seen many discussions about these 'gifts'. Some have discussed how mental illness has increased self - awareness, other discussions have touched on how their experience has helped others.

What have some of the positives or gifts that have come from your experiences?

[BatGuano]

hiya nik,
the positive for me was it made me decide what was important

[BatGuano]

I am a person who deserves peace of mind and happiness.

If I have to work at it, then ok.

[-karma-]

clarity...

I think people who suffer physical illnesses, also report a similar phenomenon

[NikNik]

BatGuano - is 'peace of mind & happiness' what you were referring to as important to you?

[BatGuano]

yep

if you're making a list I also deserve to be filthy rich, have a loving partner, win a Nobel prize, .... and a large meat lovers with garlic bread and extra jalapenos 

[coffeegirl]

Woah BatGuano - that is very... specific 🙂

For me it's been friendships. Either new friends that I have bonded with over common experiences, or becoming closer to pre-exisiting friends as I've opened up to them (& vise versa)

[Eagle]

Some really cool posts so far -

My positive was my career choice! After experiencing certain things it made me passionate about mental health & wellbeing, I wanted to understand it better.

[NikNik]

I can definately relate with you Eagle. And when you find something you're passionate about, it doesn't even feel like 'work'

What about any positive impact your experiences has on others in your life?

[BeHappy]

I was once told when that when you don't get what you want, it's a blessing in disguise. I look at having a MI this way. The blessing that I see is that the dark cloudy days helps me to appreciate the brighter days a whole lot more. It makes me thankful of the simple of things in life.