The word, “cure”, is generally not used in mental health because it implies an either/or binary relationship between what is seen as “mental health” and “mental illness”.
It’s not black or white. Mental health can be seen as falling on a spectrum which has “total”or “perfect” mental health on one side and a complete absence of mental health on the other. Neither really exists except conceptually.
Perhaps being medically brain dead would be as close to a lack of mental health as is possible while being alive. On the other side, someone who is very high functioning, and does not experience any severe symptoms related to their mental health for the better part of their lifetime.
It’s complicated by the fact that mental health is something that is dynamic, rather than static, meaning it changes year to year, day to day, and minute and minute. This means someone might be relatively mentally healthy at various points of their life, and not at others.
A traumatic life event can tip the scales for even a very healthy person.
Someone who is unstable in their teen years might be very stable throughout most of their adulthood.
Psychotherapy can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, help identify triggers and effective coping mechanisms, and help an individual understand why they might be anxious in the first place. There is no silver ballet or magic pill will make it vanish entirely.
The fact is, anxiety is a necessary human emotion. It helps us survive and function in the world. Someone who does not consciously feel anxiety might be seen as potentially less healthy than someone who felt it regularly. Anxiety is a signal that helps identify when we need to act. It’s important we feel it, as long as it isn’t so excessive that it impacts our ability to function day to day.
To find out more about my services click here: Anxiety Therapy