Thanks Diva for your wisdom. When textbooks use terms like disorder, I think that we become bogged down in the ominous associations. The same applies to being "cured". I have also always suffered with high levels of anxiety and with some OCD tendencies. But for most of my life I can say that I have been happy. At the moment the goal is just to reach that normalisation. Good to hear that for some they return to complete normality. I think that it is important for all of us to realise that it is possible and to never loose hope.
Miki, I feel the same. Just try to think of the days and times when you are as carefree as you were. I am sure that eventually those days begin to become more prolific until you begin to forget about the bad days. As a young teenager I had major depression but time does heal. That phase of my life no longer holds any dread for me.
One day at a time. We have to use stepping stones. First we must do those things we used to do with anxiety, after which the anxiety will begin to dissipate.