A Study Shows You Can Fully Recover From Anxiety Disorders

Good news for people with anxiety disorders: A large study of 21,000 people out of the University of Toronto shows that many people will not have anxiety for their entire lives and will recover fully. Generalized anxiety disorder is the most common type of psychiatric condition. People with generalized anxiety disorder worry excessively for long periods, and most days they struggle to control their discomfort,according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Anxiety affects 31 percent of American adults, and it's about twice as common in women than men, often going hand in hand with depression.

The research team released a paper in January 2020 showing that of respondents with a history of anxiety, 72 percent were in remission, 58 percent were free of mental illness for the past year, and 40 percent met the criteria for complete mental health — defined as being free of current mental illness, being able to function well, and feeling good about oneself, relationships, and community connections.

"There is hope," lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson said to U.S. News. "There is a great deal of recovery, even for people who have suffered for a decade or more."

According to the team’s findings, people who had at least one person in their lives who provided them with a sense of emotional security and well-being were three times more likely to be in excellent mental health than those without a confidant.

“For those with anxiety disorders, the social support that extends from a confidant can foster a sense of belonging and self-worth which may promote recovery,” co-author Kandace Ryckman said to Psych Central.