Is meditation more effective than medication for anxiety?

Before you trade your pills for meditation, it's important to understand the limits of meditation and its place in your overall treatment plan.

Anxiety is treated with a combination of medication and therapy, but new research suggests that meditation may be just as effective as prescription drugs. Before you trade your pills for meditation, it's important to understand the limits of meditation and its place in your overall treatment plan.

People who meditate may practice one of several methods, but most use mindfulness meditation. This is the practice of focusing on a single thing, such as your breathing, for a set amount of time each day. Encourage your brain to refocus on your chosen activity or object if your attention wanders. If negative emotions occur, embrace these thoughts without reacting to them.

Practitioners know that meditation boosts creativity, increases memory and helps improve focus. Researchers have also found a link between meditating and reduced depression and anxiety. A review of the current research regarding meditation and anxiety was published in the January 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the review, scientists concluded that meditation provided a moderate benefit to people who suffered from anxiety.

According to Psychology Today, scientists believe that meditation loosens the connection between the area of the brain that produces information about your experiences and the fear centre of the brain. A person who meditates regularly will still feel fear or anxiety but won't feel obligated to respond to it.

Many people start meditating by attending a guided meditation class. During the class, your instructor teaches you mindful meditation techniques that will help you relax your body and mind. In most studies, practitioners devote a full 30 minutes a day to meditation. Bursts of meditation that don't last at least 15 minutes aren't considered as effective.

Currently, anxiety medication coupled with therapy is the best way to treat panic attacks and other anxiety issues. Scientific research indicates that the people who respond best to meditation do not have full-blown anxiety symptoms. Also, meditation does not eliminate the feelings that chronic or social anxiety can create.

Research does indicate that meditation can help chronic anxiety sufferers better control their emotions and could possibly diminish the need for medication over time. If you're interested in adding meditation to your anxiety treatment plan, discuss your ideas with your therapist. You probably won't be able to ditch your medication, but you'll still be able to reap the benefits of a meditation and feel calmer and more focused.