Living in a society with an increasing amount of diagnoses of mental disorders sounds equally as frightening as it is eye-opening. Almost everyone can agree that children should not grow up with daily panic attacks or depression due to common events or the inability to stay focused for more than a few minutes. The list goes on and on but there is one thing that some of us may be forgetting; to not dwell on the negative aspects. I, like millions of others, have dealt with mental disorders most of my life and I have grown to realize a few things; negative situations like loss or death are all grieved through the five steps of acceptance and, once we get through all of the denial, anger, bargaining, and depression, we end up with acceptance. Having a mental disorder is similar to this cycle. While the cycle is constant throughout our lives, there comes a point of beautiful clarity that gives you a chance to reflect on the outcomes of your situation and realize the positive qualities that come from a negative situation.

Empathy

Suffering from anxiety, depression, bipolar, ADHD, PTSD, or dozens of other common disorders is absolutely exhausting. But I have noticed that experiencing such confusing thoughts in my mind helps me to understand others a little better. I have hit rock bottom more times than I would like and I can relate to those who are going through the same. It's actually a really special gift to have; to be able to feel like you can enter the other person's mind and feel their emotions and tell them the things you wish someone would have told you when you were going through a similar situation.

Appreciation

The constant highs and lows of life make it difficult for me to get my hopes up very often. Knowing that I could be enjoying a night out with my friends and then be hit with a panic attack out of nowhere is terrifying. But I have taught myself to appreciate the days that I feel untroubled and carefree and store those thoughts in the back of my mind for when I need them in the future.

Creativity

When my emotions are scattered, I find the best outlet it to express how I'm feeling in a creative way. Whether it is writing about my feelings, drawing, listening to music, or reading, having an outlet to convey my feelings makes it a bit easier to get through the day.

Maturity

I have gone from worrying about numerous kinds of uncontrollable scenarios to accepting things the way they are and either moving on or making something positive from it which has resulted in a higher level of maturity. I have advanced from feeling like I was drowning into a bottomless lake of emotions to surfacing and taking in a deep breath of pure relief. This has all helped me to grow into a stronger individual, full of empathy, appreciation, and creativity.

This is me; this is who I am. Sometimes I am a nervous ball of anxiety who worries about every possible situation I can think of. Sometimes I get so lethargic that I my body feels paralyzed. Sometimes I cannot focus on any simple tasks which leads to all of the above occurring. But also, sometimes, I am happy and content. Sometimes I am full of laughter and love. And that's what makes me me. I have taken the time to come to the realization that I may have wars in my mind throughout my entire life, but it has actually made me a better person in a way.