Mental illness is something that an increasing number of people face, especially at pivotal points in life, like college. While discovering what kind of person you want to be and who you want to associate yourself with along the way, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This is particularly true for those who have mental health problems that begin during college, whether due to these new stressors or just the biological tendency of mental health problems to emerge in early adulthood. And while it is true that society’s views about mental illness are starting to change, many stigmas about mental health still exist.

As someone who was put on my first anti-anxiety medication when I was 5 years old and has faced many issues since, including disordered eating habits, depression, continued anxiety and (my most prominent!) borderline personality disorder, I believe that I can provide some insight on the topic. The truth is: mental illness is scary and undoubtedly one of the hardest things that I’ve had to face. It is also a huge factor that shaped me into the person I am today and given me some of my best qualities, and I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Living with a variety of mental health problems throughout my life, I’ve tried many types of therapy. One of these types is called dialectal behavioral therapy, or DBT, and it emphasizes learning coping skills that can be used to change unhelpful behaviors. One of these skills that I have found particularly helpful is the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness. Being aware of the consequences of my actions allows me stop and think about what I’m doing (admittedly this is easier said than done, and takes a lot of practice). This eventually got me asking myself if could I utilize mindfulness in order to think of reasons to be grateful for my mental health problems instead of continuing to ask, “Why me?” and throw a perpetual pity party. Here’s what I came up with:

1. Empathy.

People with mental illnesses have the power to help others that are also struggling with a mental health condition—which in the United States, is upwards of one in five people in any given year! Who better to talk to about something so difficult than someone who knows exactly what you’re feeling?

2. Introspection.

Struggling with depression, anxiety or mood disorders forces one to look in on their thoughts and actions in a way that most people don’t have to. This is an extremely valuable skill that can help you make all sorts of decisions in life—not just the ones regarding behavioral management!

3. Resilience.

Mental illness is hard, especially at the beginning when you don’t know what’s going on or why. It can take months to find the proper medication (if needed) and pull yourself out of a low point. Many people relapse back into these difficult slumps. But the people who come to life again and again and refuse to stop fighting after facing these hardships are, frankly, some of the most self-motivated and bad-ass people I know.

4. Appreciation.

Diseases like depression often cause feelings of hopelessness, but that can make the “upswing” feel so much better. Knowing how low you’ve been in the past makes the great days just that much easier to appreciate. Using that introspection mentioned earlier makes it easier to reflect on how far you’ve come from your worst and appreciate the little things in life that bring happiness—like sunny weather or a compliment from a stranger.

5. Power to make a difference.

As I said before, stigma does still exist about mental health issues in our society. For those of us who are comfortable speaking about our illnesses, we can work together to shatter the preconceived (and often incorrect) notions of these health issues by showing ourselves to be functioning members of society with so many other qualities that outshine our diagnoses. Changing even one person’s perspective by challenging their incorrect views of mental health problems can make a difference.