I tend to approach my mental health from a position of HEALTH rather than pathology. This is helpful to me. My therapist is the same way and has never told me I am ill. I think he sees me as healthy and normal, with some problems he can help me work out. There was one time he told me about a certain client, as an example, and he added, "but he was mentally ill," and I took that to mean something very different than most of the clients he works with, including myself. I currently have or have experienced depression, anxiety, and PTSD. But I have never been mentally ill.

What is most important to me is that I have this outlook, rather than other people.