I grieved deeply in the first two years after diagnosis, especially re the loss of my career. I was sui and spent a lot of time in hospital.
In one of those admissions my pdoc asked pastoral care to come and see me. They showed me that it was possible to accept my diagnosis and live with it. I didn’t have to like being mentally unwell, but I could accept it and I could get on and live life.
This is apparently called ‘radical acceptance’ theory and it made a huge difference to me. I really don’t think I’d be here today if I hadn’t been taught it.