I agree with this. You have to realize you are more than your mental illness. I look at it a bit differently. When I entered the psych system, I had a bad (as in look at me, obvious) case of anorexia. It took many years to get over the eating disorder, both physically and mentally. Mentally I am STILL not there 100%, but it is better...

However, as I gained weight, as it became less and less obvious that I had an eating disorder, I felt lost. I clung to the ED for so long, it WAS my identity. I thought of myself as (usually) the skinniest person in the room and that everyone noticed me because of that, and wasn't that just great? Gaining weight meant having to re-examine and regain a life for myself. I had to decide just what my identity was if I wasn't going to be the person with anorexia. I came to realize I wanted to leave a legacy as a good wife, good mother, great friend, good sister & loving aunt. I realized I had more facets to myself than just my eating disorder. I took up old hobbies I hadn't done for years, like doing latchhook or putting together jigsaw puzzles.

But it WAS hard. Losing the eating disorder felt like losing my identity. I think that is part of the reason I clung to the ED as long as I did; it certainly wasn't because it made me happy, that's for sure.