Hi Anita,

You ask a good question.  I am not sure what my personal definition of mental illness is.  I guess it is the tendency more often than not to be in a negative thinking mode.  Whether that is anxiety or depressive thinking or a combination of the two.  I feel like I am in a negative thinking mode more often than not.  At least that is the case for the past 8 or so months.  That is not to imply that longer than 8 months ago everything was bliss.

I know that is not the most robust definition, but that is what comes to mind right now.  A person who is not mentally ill if more often than not in a non-negative thinking mode.

As an example…Today I had an interview for a position I was actually going to pull my application from because I am no longer interested.  However, I went ahead with the interview to learn more about the opportunity, as well as for the practice.  I feel like I did ok in the interview…but going into it as well as after I felt disheartened.  I feel disheartened because I feel like I am never going to find and land a good job.  I feel disheartened because I feel like my doctorate prepared me for nothing.  I know I am not the only person looking for and struggling to land a fulltime job.  My guess is there are people who are struggling but are still able to remain optimistic.  If an opportunity does not work out they might think, “That is ok…a better opportunity will come around!”.  Even though I know I only need one good opportunity I feel like it will never materialize.  I am in a negative mode of thinking, as opposed to a struggling, yet remaining optimistic and determined mode.  I hope that makes sense.

Switching gears…thank you for the quote you shared from Lori Deschene.  I appreciate it.

Richard