Can We Be Cured?

triceps said:

A bit of a catch-22 question as those who might be cured aren't on this forum anymore. I'm just very curious as to what level of optimism members have for getting over their anxiety disorders.

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Hi, I am currently in a place where I feel optimistic about my ability to manage my anxiety. Meds and therapy had been a great combination for me for the last six or so years. When I became pregnant I was in a good place and was ready to end talk therapy after 10 years. I came off my meds and was great for a while. I did recently have a relapse triggered by an illness, but went straight to see the practioner who prescribed my meds. She recommended meds to take as needed. So far I haven’t needed them and I’m back to my regular self. I have no problem going back on meds if I need to, but so far so good. Do I have days where i’m anxious, sure, but it’s not the debilitating anxiety I had suffered in the past. I don’t know if it ever gets cured, but managble, I think so. This relapse did not last long and I was able to use the tools I have learned from therapy, gained support from this forum and drew from past experiences to get through it. Through therapy I have come to see the other side of anxiety and some of its benefits. I think it has made me more empathaic, a better problem solver and has made me successful in my own business.

I agree that when I am having good days, I don’t visit this site as often, but I do try. When I was really struggling, the people here were a big help and I would like to return the support. I also think it can be hard to talk about successes when others are struggling because I know in the pits of anxiety sometimes you feel like no one understands and it can be hard to relate to someone who is not currently having the same experiences.

triceps said:

A bit of a catch-22 question as those who might be cured aren't on this forum anymore. I'm just very curious as to what level of optimism members have for getting over their anxiety disorders.

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It all depends. In my case its genetic....so....no cure for me...just management of my bipolar 2 disorder. This means that I am mostly depressed with episodes of mania every now and then. If it's life or situation in life....it can be cured by removing yourself from the situation or coming to terms and excepting the past. So in a nutshell...I say yes....and no.

triceps said:

A bit of a catch-22 question as those who might be cured aren't on this forum anymore. I'm just very curious as to what level of optimism members have for getting over their anxiety disorders.

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Hmmm.... i feel like never :'( and triceps...you and i have talked alot and today i went to my doctor and they found a spot on me that looked abnormal so i have to go see a dermatologist. it would be my luck that i go thru all of this with my anxiety and panic and something totally different will "actually" kill me in the end im sooo freaked out. idk even know what to do or think. im so scared my panic is THRU THE ROOF!!! and right before thanksgiving where i need to go to my moms, which is an hour away...ugh......idk if i can handle all of this anymore.

triceps said:

Geez scharley, what a time to have to deal with the mystery spot stuff. Did you point out the spot to the doctor or did he find and question it himself? One consolation is that if he was really worried about it, he would've done a simple scraping or biopsy in the office and sent it in. Hope Thanksgiving goes better than expected at Mom's.

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no i found the spot and showed him. he doesnt scrap it or biopsy it he said if the dermatologist thinks its abnormal too, he would do that. god i hate the holidays!! and having to drive th at far....i seriously would just rather hide under my covers and stay in bed allday. the holidays havent been good for me for the past 2 years anyway. my dad died unexpectedly a few months before thanksgiving. he was only 70. a light went out in me when my dad died :'( but happy turkey to you and your family. i hope all goes well for you.

Oh, tough question. I have some hope, yes, for a 'cure.' Maybe not an absence of anxiety all together, but freedom from the most debilitating parts of it? I think it largely depends on the source, though, like @Concernedgal says. Some issues (like Bipolar I &II) need constant treatment because they are genetic. But I believe in relief for obsessive thinking and PTSD-related anxiety.

Truth is I go through phases - sometimes it feels possible, other times not.

Since my anxiety feels genetic, I don't think I will ever be completely cured from it but with a support system and therapy, I have a fighting chance.

I simply think that some people learn ways to exist with their conditions. In the very back of the mind there will always be some form of creeping doubt. Just sitting there. Waiting to be let back in again. Ask yourself about the days you may have felt good? I know loads of people who when they feel good, they wonder why and think ' this is not right '. Like they are looking for something to be wrong with them. They are simply not used to good days. So react badly to a good day. Putting their minds to work. Because this is not how they normally feel. Kind of strange. But the mind can work for you and against you.

triceps said:

I believe that anxiety disorder is an incurable disease at this point. I've dealt with it for over 50 years. It can be tempered to a certain degree with different therapies and/or medication but I hope researchers can find a cure in my remaining lifetime. Honestly, it would take an adjustment period to live anxiety-free.

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I agree with you. I have lived with this for almost 20 years.
I believe that we need to consider this a chronic incurable disease that can only be managed with medication and therapy.

I also agree this is an incurable disease we must live with. I've had it since my teens and I am now 80. I pray they find a cure. I sure would like to see what it is like to live without it.

Rosy said:

I also agree this is an incurable disease we must live with. I've had it since my teens and I am now 80. I pray they find a cure. I sure would like to see what it is like to live without it.

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That day would be magical. The day that a cure is discovered. ...would be a miracle .
I hope they do...because I hate living like this.

I'm not very religious but I pray a lot and one thing I pray for is that a cure be found for this disorder.

Rosy said:

.. incurable disease we must live with. I've had it since my teens and I am now 80. I pray they find a cure. I sure would like to see what it is like to live without it.

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Rosy, Has your experience included stretches of anxiety-free good months or years.. and conversely bad months/years (?)
Or has it been a basically consistent affliction (?)
I'm only 3-4 years in.. so I admire/salute you surviving 60+ years of anxiety. Peace

He Man said:

Rosy, Has your experience included stretches of anxiety-free good months or years.. and conversely bad months/years (?)
Or has it been a basically consistent affliction (?)
I'm only 3-4 years in.. so I admire/salute you surviving 60+ years of anxiety. Peace

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He Man I have had bouts of good times and bad times. I worked almost all my life and there were years I walked to work and on the bad days I would walk from house to house saying if I can get to that house I am okay. Once I got to work I was okay. lol I used to take librium as need and there were months at a time where I didn't need anything. So I would say a bad incident would bring on a siege. There were times I had trouble riding in a car. One thing I found out is you find something that helps and when you apply it , it will help. I have a wonderful husband and he is understanding and truly helps me through the bad times. In my day you hid something like this because people didn't understand it. Now it is more open and we can get the facts out and ways to deal with it. In spite of this I have a good life. It would be nice to live without it though. lol lol Hang in there, you will be okay.

triceps said:

I believe that anxiety disorder is an incurable disease at this point. I've dealt with it for over 50 years. It can be tempered to a certain degree with different therapies and/or medication but I hope researchers can find a cure in my remaining lifetime. Honestly, it would take an adjustment period to live anxiety-free.

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Agree totally with this whole post!

I do not think I will ever be cured of my anxiety issues. I am having trouble learning how to deal with them as well. I was in therapy a couple of times and honestly feel that it did not help me at all, although I have learned how to deal with anger issues, somewhat, and not all of the time.

I often wonder what it must be like to NOT have anxiety issues, amongst other mental disorders. Mine all stem from sexual abuse during early childhood. It really became very prevalent when my ex husband left me in 2012.