Lena Dunham Says Chronic and Mental Illness Made Her Adopt a New Attitude

Living with any type of illness can be incredibly challenging, but sometimes living with a chronic or mental illness can cause your perspective on life to broaden and change. On Monday, Lena Dunham tweeted she has a “new attitude” about living with chronic illness, depression and anxiety.

The “Girls” star wrote, “chronic illness is cool cuz it gives me no choice but to nurture myself […] & I know Anxiety and depression are gifts for the same reasons!”

New attitude: chronic illness is cool cuz it gives me no choice but to nurture myself AND friends in pain can trust I'm down & I know

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 17, 2017

Anxiety and depression are gifts for the same reasons! Practicing gratitude for all it's embarrassing but feels great.

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 17, 2017

According to Dunham, her new attitude involves “practicing gratitude” as well as caring for her body while she deals with various health struggles.

Dunham has been outspoken about living with endometriosis and chronic pain, often sharing updates on her social media accounts.

Spent the week in the hospital being treated for a pre-existing condition exacerbated by 2 other pre-existing conditions.

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) May 5, 2017

View this post on Instagram

Thank you for all the love & concern that's been pouring in since Tuesday. Although I'm much healthier than I was a year ago, complications arose from my most recent endometriosis surgery. When the healthcare of so many American women, especially our trans sisters, is at-risk- or already nonexistent- I am lucky to be in the position to seek help when I'm in pain. To those in that privileged spot- never forget that we are blessed and can pay it forward by supporting Planned Parenthood and LGBTQ clinics like Callen-Lorde with our ???? and ⌚️. I also want to remind all the women suffering from chronic illness that we aren't weak- quite the opposite, actually. We do our jobs with skill even when we're struggling. We care for our families even when we can hardly care for ourselves. We serve major face on a red carpet when we feel like lying face down would be more appropriate. I'll always be proud of those Met Gala pics- not just because I felt beautiful, surrounded by art and magic, hugging my best friend tightly, but because they're evidence that women contain steely multitudes. Just that morning @dianafalzone sued Fox after they took her off air for disclosing her endometriosis. But they're the ones who lost when they lost her, because everyone who's anyone knows that if you can battle chronic illness there's nothing you can't take on.

A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on May 4, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

She’s also publicly discussed her struggles with mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As part of these conversations, she’s advocated for erasing the stigma and shame surrounding mental health issues and has encouraged others who are struggling to seek help.

We've somehow made anxiety seem cute, efficient, like it keeps us afloat whereas depression is too much for many to face in their loved ones

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 26, 2017

Fact is, any mental health condition that keeps you from engaging in your life is scary for the sufferer. There's no "better one." #stayopen

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 26, 2017

Been thinking about how we often defend our mental state by saying "oh I'm anxious but not depressed."

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 26, 2017

It can be difficult to see illness as a “gift,” especially when it causes so much pain and struggling, but Dunham seems determined to embrace the positives and use her illnesses as an opportunity to listen and care for her body.

To learn more about how to practice self-care when you have a chronic illness, check out these tips and advice. If you’re having a tough day, here are some ideas for self-care.

Header image via Facebook.