I don't know for someone who has a mental illness or multiple ones it can be a pretty large and very difficult part of life since it interferes with everything. Also most people don't have a chronic mental illness so its not 'just another part of life.' at least not the way I see it.

Sure everyone has to deal with mental health issues at some point I am sure but that is not the same as being disabled by a ongoing condition. But just my opinion, I don't think it so much a matter of 'choosing' to have it define my life, but sometimes it does take over more than I would like.