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Meditation vs. Medication: Drug-Free Anxiety Buster Works Just as Well, Study Reveals
Mindfulness meditation equals effectiveness of a popular drug that’s loaded with side effects
There are ample reasons to be anxious these days, from the pandemic to political polarization, inflation to rising interest rates. No surprise, anxiety has been rising like a colossal collective lump in the throats of adults and children in the United States and around the world. However, people don’t always realize when their constant worry has blossomed into a diagnosable disorder.
When stress and occasional anxiety devolve into full-blown generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) — defined as excessive, hard-to-control worry most days for at least six months — antidepressants are often prescribed as a front-line treatment. One such drug is escitalopram, sold under the brand name Lexapro. It boosts the brain’s release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, behavior and memory.
You can imagine why scientists seek alternative treatments. Escitalopram’s side effects range from diarrhea, drowsiness and dizziness to confusion, hallucinations and seizures.
New research finds guided therapy called mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) can be just as effective…
