my illness is a gift
I've long viewed depression, anxiety, addiction, and OCD as something negative that I am plagued with. A bad thing I'm inflicted with that I'd like to be rid of, that make me not "functional".
There's some truth to that, but it's just one perspective. Let me present another.
These gifts make it hard to live within modern society, the way the world works today. Depression has made me kinder and more compassionate, more thoughtful and reflective.
Anxiety and obsession have made me look intensely at mistakes I've made, ways that I've hurt people, and they have helped me grow immensely as a person, to be more understanding, less stubborn.
Addiction was fun at times (though I don't recommend it!). Working through alcoholism (9 years sober) and weed addiction (2 months sober) has taught me about how hard it is to exist, how limited free will can be. It's another thing that has taught me to be compassionate and understanding, to reserve judgement, to forgive.
Overcoming some aspects of depression and anxiety has also taught me about setting boundaries, setting expectations, and asking to be treated how I'd like. The burnout-side of things has taught me about setting personal limits, about not pushing too hard, and about the value of enjoying life.
It's not worth burning out and being miserable for a week at a time just to get eek out a little more productivity in the short term. (plus it backfires when I can't do anything productive for a whole week at a time)
Some of my obsessions/compulsions make me safer and a better environmental steward - thorough handwashing (only occasionally excessive), deep discomfort with toxins (scents, antibacterial handsoap, teflon scraping off a pan), a need to repair and recycle and be mindful about what I throw out.
Other obsessions drive me toward great productivity - a short stint in independent journalism with rigorous sourcing (better than my local news outlets do), creating software projects that (eventually maybe) will do some actual good for the world.
I have a couple other examples I'll skip over.
It's not all a gift, of course. Like when the alcoholism ruined a relationship, or when the obsessions made me delusional about a couple of friendships, leading to toxic behavior on my part. Depression has made me needy and lonely and willing to put up with horrible treatment because I can't stand to lose that friend if I'm not "perfect". I have many other complaints, too.
But it's not all downsides, and I've learned to manage a lot of the ways my gifts used to harm me. They still bring some harm. But I am also a kinder, wiser, more compassionate, and more thorough person thanks to these gifts. I don't know what I would be without them, and I'm not sure I'd wanna redo life without them. I don't think I'd be the same person, and I love who I am, despite my flaws.
It's not that the "illness" or "gift" perspective is necessarily right or wrong. They're just different perspectives.
P.S. I didn't say ANYTHING about patience. Whoops. I've learned a LOT of patience from my gifts, both patience for myself, and for others.