Can mental illlness ever be a pleasant surprise?
Answer:
The definition of mental illness is that some mental behavior (behavior can be just thoughts) is interfering with normal functioning. It's a problem by definition. That said, some early episodes of manic behavior can feel good--energized or super creative, for example--but only in the beginning. The problem is when mania escalates until the person loses the ability to use judgment--they may lose normal functioning and make seriously damaging decisions in their finances, sex life, job relationships and so on. In advanced mania the person typically loses the exhilarated feeling and spirals into extreme tension, over stimulation, or hair trigger violence. Psychotic levels of mania mean the person loses touch with reality. Some milder mental problems like Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder may have some advantages in certain circumstances--for example, it's good for a sentry on duty in a combat zone to notice every little rustle (while the same person would be at a disadvantage while trying to concentrate on taking a test). But the same definition problem applies: if the person only experiences positives, it is not a mental illness. Another thing sometimes happens when a diagnosis is made. If the person has been suffering a long time with no explanation, it can be a relief to know what has been causing it, especially if there is some hope of treatment.
Sure, if it answers questions about your behavior/thoughts that freaked you out and there are meds to bring you back to earth.
In some cases, it can be perceived as a pleasant experience. For example, one who has deluded himself into believing that he is a super-hero or anti-hero will feel emboldened by his delusional thinking process.
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