Concern is normal, especially when one is put in a difficult situation. Persistent anxiety that interferes with daily living is a hallmark of anxiety disorders, according to reputable sources.
Accordingly, the Task Force has just suggested that in October, doctors should examine all children and adolescents aged 8 and above for anxiety and depression. The Task Force had advocated anxiety screening for individuals under 65 just before the announcement, although this suggestion has not yet been adopted.
Mindful breathing, mindful movement, in which participants pay attention to their bodies while stretching and moving, and body scanning are just some of the mindfulness practices participants mastered.
In the antidepressant group, sleeplessness, nausea, tiredness, and headache were the most frequently reported negative effects. Thirteen persons in the MBSR group experienced an increase in anxiety, which was the sole negative side effect.
However, not everyone benefits from practicing mindfulness. Hoge elaborated by saying that a few participants in the MBSR group had requested escitalopram instead due to their lack of satisfaction with the program.
She remarked, "It seems like there are different types of people who respond well to different treatments." The next stage is to identify these individuals so that we can better anticipate which treatment options will be most beneficial to different groups of people.
"Mindfulness-based practices put the person in control of their own well-being," Gelbart said, rather than having the person rely on someone else, like a doctor, to take care of them.
Medication may be helpful if a person has significant anxiety and is unable to manage their physical symptoms using mindfulness-based exercises alone, he added.
However, not everyone has easy access to an MBSR course, either physically or virtually. However, self-practice of a few fundamental mindfulness techniques can help ease anxious emotions.