Can being mentally ill actually enhance any part of you?
 

Since being struck down with severe depression and anxiety I've learnt a lot more about myself as a person. I also guess I'm better at listening and advising other people since it.
Also I guess I appreciate things a lot more. Like because I've been so low, when I'm doing better I really notice the little things. I realise how much of a cliche this sound, but oh well.

It has enhanced my compassion does that count?

Yes that counts.

I agree. Ever since being diagnosed, I've been more understanding towards others and I see beyond the stigmas. I've become very open minded too.

Since suffering from depression,self harm and borderline personality disorder i feel although it has negatively afected my life in many ways there are also positives. I completed my level 2 counselling course and i'm currently working through my level 3 because its made me want to use my experience to help others :)

Being diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, Eating Disorder, some sort of attatchment disorder, &possible BPD, I have become insightful to others, &also open minded, &I can understand better what it's really like. I can offer experience too, and how it has impacted my life, and how it has gotten better(or worse), so I can offer my two cents worth.

It's also enhanced my temper and short fuse. LOL.

I think it has helped me be more understanding and try to be more supportive to others. Sometimes it helps me be more creative [e.g. writing poetry etc.] but not always.

what about you? [btw cool idea for a thread]

You put it so eloquently Sarah :P Same for me!

Apart from my short fuse, it has enhanced my compassion/empathy towards other and helped me to have a better understanding with things in mental health.

I do.

since ive had depression and anxiety, my creativity levels have gone through the roof because ive been drawing from alot of different emotion to write about and sing baout. so yea i think so

This is weird but sometimes I hallucinate the answers to maths questions floating in the air in blue writing.

I've become creative since I've been ill. Although I'm not entirely sure it was all down to me or me being ill, since I was encouraged by my team to do things that involved creativity to help distract me. I still do things now like making jewellery and occassionally drawing.

iv been creative since iv started selfharming and diagonsed with anxiety iv started writeing poems

I feel that I am more open-minded, sensitive, and empathetic towards others...I feel a connection with people who have experienced mental illness...

I'm an art student, and it has both fueled and hindered my creativity. When I was younger, I used to write a lot of poetry b/c I couldn't vocalize what I wanted to say...Eventually I just shut myself off from my emotions entirely, and I can't even write anymore...Also, I've wanted to address some of my "issues" in my art, but am too scared to...Or I am too depressed and anxious and doubt my ability as an artist all together, so I figure why bother.

I hate to say it, but lately it's been hindering me a lot. :sad:

i think it helps me in my job, ok so i dont really know what its like not to have a mental illness cos i was too young to remember being "normal" but anyway....i think i am def less judgemental that other medical professionals i work with and realise that MH doesnt make you any less of a person

our dept at work actually is pretty good, we would slag off or judge people who came in that we know have self harmed (i am podiatrist but we still see evidence of this in feet) we just try and treat them as them......but i do here people saying oh..but they are schizophrenic/bipolar etc make sure we have 2 people in cinic when you see them.....well i have a mental illness should i be left alone ??? and my thoughts on this is...well yeh sometimes we will need 2 people but at least these people we can be aware..who is to say the "normal" person isnt actually the ones that we need to look out for?!

anyway ive kinda gone of the point...as usual. but yeh i think it also makes us stronger in the end! xxx

Depression enhanced my ability to write! When I was alone, that's all I could do to distract myself so I did it all the time and got really good at it. Without my depression, I don't think I would have had an A in my English GCSE.

I think in biological disorders such as aspergers, personality disorders, etc there are biological components that are enhanced in a positive way. For instance I know people with aspergers often have an amazing memory for numbers/maths.