I don't know that it's made me stronger, but it certainly has revealed some of my better qualities...which are in some ways my least attractive qualities as well.
For example, I'm pretty f***ing stubborn, sometimes to the point of stupidity. I've stubbornly held onto my inner image of myself all these years. That's a good thing.
But once I dig my heels in, it can take a serious piece of yellowgear to pull me out again. I'm learning when and how to pull myself out, though. Valuable skill to have.
One characteristic that has no down side that I can see is my ability to survive. No matter how much I wanted to die and escape my pain, I hung on. No matter how many times I wanted to give up, I didn't. Many times I just wanted to live day to day, but I always pushed myself beyond that and tried to improve myself in some way. Most of the time I succeeded.
Some people might not see it, but staying alive is one of my better accomplishments.