Optimal Well-being is Attainable
If you or a loved one is dealing with anxiety, depression, or substance use disorder, you may be wondering about the potential for achieving optimal well-being. Much of the research has been focused on assessing how to reduce symptoms, but scientists are interest in the recovery of high functioning after suffering from mental health issues. New research examined long-term outcomes following a period of psychopathology.
Researchers studied the recovery of optimal well-being, defined as “a life characterized by high levels of purpose and meaning, autonomy, self-mastery, healthy relationships, and frequent positive emotions” following a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and substance use disorder.
Researchers conducted a secondary analysis on a sample of 25,113 Canadians over the age of 14, from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health. Of the participants, the following reported experiencing optimal well-being:
No history of psychopathology – 24.1%
History of substance use disorder – 10.2%
History of depression – 7.1%
History of anxiety - 5.7%.
Takeaway: It is possible to recover and thrive after anxiety, depression, or substance use disorder. Only 24% of Canadians without these disorders reported experiencing optimal well-being. Thriving is a realistic goal, therefore investing in your well-being (getting some exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, sleeping more, and cutting back on alcohol), and working with healthcare and mental health professionals on recovery from anxiety, depression, or substance use, are all beneficial activities.
Source
Andrew R. Devendorf, et al., Optimal Well-being after Psychopathology: Prevalence and Correleates, Vol. 10 Iss. 5 Clinical Psychological Science 981-996, Sept 2022, Optimal Well-Being After Psychopathology: Prevalence and Correlates - Andrew R. Devendorf, Ruba Rum, Todd B. Kashdan, Jonathan Rottenberg, 2022 (sagepub.com).
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