it’s ok to not be a perfect “after” portrait of mental illness- that “i was suicidal once but now i’m in love and have a good job and look ma! no mental illness” narrative that gets pushed, to not be confident you’ll get there. it’s ok to be caught in the undertow and define successes on the terms of “i did this with my troubles and not in spite of them.” i wish someone had told me this sooner.
