Now I'm recovering from depression, I have found it have helped me a lot when helping other people, and understanding mental illnesses in general.

Before I fell ill, I held the usual misconception about mental illnesses: that all of the sufferers were 'mad' and violent. You know the type: the stereotypical crazy, frothing at the mouth, attacking people, that type of thing.

But when I did some research when I began to suspect I had depression, I found out so much more about mental illnesses, especially about depression, but also about bipolar, schitzophrenia, and the like. It has made me far more understanding towards those who have mental illnesses, and more tolerant. On another board, I am one of the moderators of a Depression forum, and I would never have got or wanted that position had I not fallen ill with depression: it would not have interested me. In a way, I am glad I fell ill: it has kind of developed me personally, and increased my empathy with mental disorder sufferers. But falling ill also meant that I lost nearly a whole academic year. However, it did mean I found this site .