Summary Mental illness and recovery can profoundly change how you see yourself, challenging your identity and sense of purpose.  Rebuilding your identity after mental illness isn’t about returning to who you were; it’s about discovering who you are now.  This shift requires both self-awareness and self-compassion as you begin to piece together a life that reflects your truth, not just your survival. This post explores the process of rebuilding a stable, authentic identity after mental health struggles. Embracing this transformation allows healing to take root and helps you reclaim your voice and life with intention. Reclaiming Myself: My Identity Beyond Diagnosis For a long time, I thought of myself as only what I struggled with. Depression and anxiety weren’t just conditions I lived with; they became the lens through which I saw everything. I was the “sad girl,” the “worrier,” the one who couldn’t keep it together. Even in spaces where no one said those things aloud, I ...

🔹 Summary 🌱 Midlife transitions are often framed as a "crisis," but could they actually be signals of healing and self-discovery? This post delves into the emotional shifts many experience during midlife and challenges the idea that they’re all signs of crisis. Supported by recent research, we’ll explore how midlife changes can reflect profound healing and the reclaiming of authenticity. ✨Reframing the “Midlife Crisis”: What If It’s Actually Healing? As I entered my early 40s, I began to feel a growing sense of dissatisfaction with my life, even though I had accomplished many of the things I thought would bring fulfillment. My goals were achieved, yet a sense of unrest settled in. I couldn’t help but wonder: was this a midlife crisis, or was it something deeper? One sleepless night, during my usual episode of “Let’s Overthink,” I found myself spiraling around that phrase,  midlife crisis. It popped into my mind like a reflex, the kind of label we casually throw around wit...