I am not sure how having to live with the unpleasant symptoms of mental disorders is a gift exactly. Not only is the psychological pain bad...but the physical aspects can be pretty terrible as well. For instance I have constant digestive discomfort from my mental issues especially the PTSD since when your brain tells your body to stay on guard and not waste energy on digestion or other not immediately vital functions it makes things difficult. Sometimes I cannot even eat because I am so on edge it makes me too nauseous.

So I guess I cannot say that is a reason I hold back...whether people with cancer or people with mental illness are worse off is rather subjective to me...and even than thinking of people who are worse off in ways does not really do anything to reduce the unbearable pain I deal with. Its a different sort of pain than cancer causes I am sure but just as real.

Also I might add something about the phrase, 'its a permanant solution to a temporary problem.' well mental problems are not always 'temporary.' there are some symptoms I have that I will have to live with for the rest of my life. Sure I am not suggesting suicide is the answer but yeah it is hard not to consider it when specific things bring me down further or when I am frustrated because I cannot figure out any solutions, especially with the knowledge that I will not be free from all the unpleasantness in my head in my lifetime. I don't know whether its ever intended or not that phrase to me seems to sort of downplay the issues one may be experiencing that drive them to feeling suicidal. I mean how can the observer know if the particlular problem was temporary for that individual...but perhaps I read into things too literally.