Contrary to the belief that some mental illnesses are irreversible, research shows that many people can fully recover and lead fulfilling lives.
advertisementMany people will likely experience mental health issues at some point in their lives, but historical stigma around the issue can lead to misunderstandings.
Patients are sometimes labelled as lazy or weak, and this stigma has led to the belief that recovery from mental illness is rare or almost impossible.
still, The studies are conflicting These ideas suggest that some medical conditions are not chronic in nature and that for many people there is hope for recovery.
“There’s a lot of negative stereotypes out there that suggest that once you have depression, or many other mental illnesses, you can’t recover or get better,” Andrew Devendorf, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the University of South Florida, told Euronews Health.
“There’s a stereotype that recovery from mental health issues is impossible, but the data we’ve found and the research we’re doing shows that’s not true,” he added.
Understanding recovery from mental illness
In psychiatry, mental illness is recognized through the symptoms exhibited by the patient, and therefore recovery is also closely linked to these symptoms.
“They are defined by a certain baseline of symptoms and duration, and if those symptoms are gone within a certain period of time, you are considered recovered,” Devendorf said.
But Devendorf stressed that while the absence of symptoms is a criterion for recovery, the real goal should be to remain healthy, not just asymptomatic.
For example, to be considered recovered from depression, a person must demonstrate high levels of well-being, including maintaining good relationships, experiencing joy and pleasure, and maintaining an overall optimal life.
The path to recovery may vary depending on your specific mental health condition, but the core goals are similar.
Lead author Dr Esme Fuller Thomson said: the study A paper on recovery from bipolar disorder published by the University of Toronto in Canada describes the journey to full recovery from bipolar disorder on a three-point scale:
The first level requires that you have been free of bipolar symptoms for at least a year, after which you must be free of all mental illness, including substance dependency issues.
The highest level, called “optimal mental health,” requires frequent displays of happiness and life satisfaction that allow a person to thrive.
Relapse of mental illness
In the case of depression, if a person goes eight weeks without experiencing symptoms, they can be said to have recovered from the depression, or at least recovered from that episode, but they may relapse, Devendorf explained.
“If a patient experiences a depressive episode again, we consider it a recurrent episode, and recurrent means they’re experiencing a new depressive episode,” Devendorf says.
He added that based on large population studies, about 40 to 60 percent of people with depression will experience at least one depressive episode in their lifetime, but that this isn’t all bad news.
From another perspective, these figures also mean that around half may have only experienced depression once.
“Our study shows that among people without symptoms of depression, about 20 percent meet the criteria for maintaining good health,” he added.
advertisementThe data also offers hope for a range of other mental illnesses.
Fuller-Thomson said research has shown that people with a history of generalized anxiety disorder have a significantly higher recovery rate, with 72 percent in remission.
And a recent study she co-authored found that in the case of bipolar disorder, one in four people with the disorder achieve complete mental health, with 43 percent experiencing the disappearance of all symptoms.
What helps you recover from mental illness?
The road to recovery from mental illness begins with treatment, which has a variety of options and may include anything from psychotherapy to medication or a combination of both.
Early detection also plays a key role in improving the chances of long-term recovery.
advertisement“People who wait a long time before seeking treatment for depression are likely to have worse long-term outcomes,” Devendorf says.
Fuller Thompson says people who use religion or spirituality as a coping mechanism have been found to recover more effectively.
She also stressed the importance of having a strong social support system and trusted friends that people can confide in.
However, she noted that certain factors can hinder the recovery process.
These include chronic pain and poor sleep quality, which can affect both mood and functioning, making it difficult for individuals to improve overall.
advertisementNevertheless, Fuller-Thomson stressed there is hope that many people with mental health problems can not only recover, but thrive in life.
“The bottom line is that most people with severe mental illness recover — not just to the point where they are symptom-free, but to a state of optimal living that includes happiness, life satisfaction and warm, supportive relationships,” she said.
