In my case suffering built character. Before I suffered intensely for 8 years, I was basically not a person. I had no goals, and just did whatever people told me I should do. I was always highly valuing my time and moving from one attention consuming thing to the next. Always playing games.
Suffering showed me how real, how inescapable reality was. It showed me what real power was, and how humanity had almost no power.
Now I definitely feel more like a person, an aware human being with free will, dreams, and a strong admiration for all that is. I feel more integrated into reality and the universe.
My illness did mean I wasn't fit for a job. If I was forced to constantly be working I doubt I would have developed much. It takes a mental toll on a person when working, especially when it feels terrible. And worrying about money is also terrible.
So I've grown a lot, but existence is still very hellish, I'd have committed suicide if my mom wasn't so fragile. I have to wait until she passes away.