Can Everyone Recover From Anxiety Disorder?

I've been struggling with anxiety disorder symptoms for many years. I've just come across your website and finally have hope. But I'm wondering, is it possible for a person to never recover from anxiety disorder?

Answer

It's my (Jim Folk) opinion that everyone can overcome anxiety disorder when they do the right work.[1]

But does everyone recover? No!

It’s not that they can’t recover, but that they don’t do the required work to recover and attain lasting success.

There are many reasons for this. For example:

• It’s difficult to successfully identify and address the root causes of anxiety disorder without the professional help. This is why we recommend working with a knowledgeable and experienced anxiety disorder therapist, and one that is familiar with the underlying factors of anxiety disorder. (If a person knew what to do, they wouldn’t have anxiety disorder.)
• In denial – some people don’t believe they have any issues to address. So, they don’t. Yet those unaddressed issues continue to cause problems.
• Some people don’t see the value in working at the underlying factors of their anxiety. So, they don’t. Consequently, their underlying factors remain and continue to cause problems.
• Some people believe they can’t afford the right help or for long enough, so they choose not to pursue therapy.
• Some people stop their work before it's completed. It’s common for people to stop therapy when their symptoms subside. But anxiety symptom cessation doesn’t mean the underlying factors have been addressed or sufficiently. So, they continue to cause ‘invisible’ problems with anxiety.
• Some people don’t believe what we’re saying is true. Everyone has an opinion, and some people believe we’re just out to make money, so they don’t believe our information or approach.
• Some people are afraid of dealing with their underlying factors. So, they don't.
• Some people believe they can’t address their underlying factors, so they don’t try or give up quickly.
• Some people succumb to the negative stigma associated with therapy. So, they don’t pursue it.
• There is a mismatch between the therapist and client personalities. This mismatch prevents trust and undermines continuing through to success.
• The therapist they chose to work with is inexperienced, or isn’t capable of addressing the root causes of anxiety disorder.
• Some people would rather not spend the money or time required to overcome anxiety disorder. So, they work at it on their own but don't understand the depth of recovery and all that it takes.
• Some people aren't convinced anxiety disorder is something a person can overcome. So they don't try.
• Some people would rather blame their anxiety for not achieving their potential. As long as anxiety is an issue, they don’t have to be responsible if they fail.
• Some people’s loved ones downplay or negate the importance of therapy, deterring them from seeking meaningful help.
• Some people’s loved ones don’t want to see their spouses/mates change, so they discourage them from seeking meaningful help.
• Some people can't afford therapy, so they try to self-help themselves without knowing the depth of knowledge it takes to overcome anxiety disorder.
• Overcoming anxiety disorder is most often hard work. Some people quit before they attain meaningful results.
• Some people don't have the social support they need to be successful, so they stop their recovery work and revert to unhealthy anxious behavior.

To name a few. Please know that we aren’t blaming people. But these are the common reasons people don’t achieve lasting success.

While anxiety disorder recovery is available to anyone, some people choose not to pursue it or for long enough for various reasons. But again, yes, it’s my opinion that everyone CAN overcome their struggle with anxiety disorder by doing the right work and for long enough. Staying the course leads to success.[2]

ALL our recommended anxiety disorder therapists have regained their normal anxiety disorder-free lives by doing the right work. I did, too. We are proof recovery is attainable.

People who continue to struggle with anxiety disorder do so because they haven’t done the right work. It’s as simple as that!

A normal life free of problematic anxiety can be your expectation, too, when the right work is completed. Getting the right information and help is vital if lasting success is desired. It is achievable with help and support.[2]

* There can be other contributing factors in the development of anxiety disorder, such as a medical problem or circumstance, side effects from medication, other psychological problems (such as ADD, Dissociative disorder, and more serious mental health problems like schizophrenia, to name a few), other emotional disorders (such as bipolar disorder, unresolved grief, and Asperger's Syndrome, to name a few), and spiritual problems (some beliefs and faiths aren’t conducive to overcoming fears that involve spiritual matters).

This is not to say that many of the above can’t be addressed. Tthey can, and often very similar to anxiety disorder by identifying and addressing the underlying factors of the condition. But to attain anxiety disorder success, you may need to address the other condition first before problems with anxiety can be overcome.

Moreover, if your anxiety is coming from living with a mate/spouse who is struggling with one (or many) of the above medical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual problems, you may need specific help, as well.

For example, someone living with a mate/spouse who has ADHD most often needs to work with a therapist who specializes in ADHD. Because ADHD is a very specific condition, dealing with the consequences of ADHD requires the help of a specialist and not just any therapist.

Nevertheless, getting the right help can help you overcome a struggle with anxiety disorder.[2] For more information, you may want to talk with one of our therapists to see if you require specialized assistance.