Could Mindfulness and Meditation Be the Cure to Anxiety?

Mindfulness Just as Effective as Medicine?

Stress and anxiety feel like an every-day part of our lives. While it’s a manageable annoyance for some, anxiety can develop into a much larger problem that can have huge impacts on day-to-day life.

Students and young adults especially are facing an unprecedented amount of stress and anxiety. 25% of teenagers 13-18 years old will experience some kind of anxiety disorder.

A recent study suggests that mindfulness-based meditation can be just as effective as Lexapro for treating anxiety in a clinical trial. 276 participants with anxiety disorders were recruited from 2018 to 2020 for an 8-week treatment.

The mindfulness-based stress reduction (MSR) used in the study was meant to help participants focus their attention with the goal of calming “the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding [their] mind and causing stress.” Examples of the MSR techniques used can be found online, from the Yale School of Medicine.

So does this mean that we don’t need medication anymore if we all have time to sit down, breathe, and be aware of ourselves? Maybe, but it usually isn’t that simple.

What is “Mindfulness” Anyway?

There are a few definitions and understanding of mindfulness floating around – everyone likely has a different experience with it.

Eric Loucks, PhD and Director of Brown University’s Mindfulness Center defines mindfulness as “paying attention to thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally with curiosity, friendliness, gentleness – accepting how things are in this moment.”

Exercising mindfulness might be helpful for students, especially since managing stress can be beneficial in improving academic performance, forming genuine connections with others, and being better prepared to handle other stressors.

Common means of practicing mindfulness include meditation, taking a moment to be aware of yourself and your surroundings both physically and emotionally, among other methods of handling stress and mental health.

Can We Implement Mindfulness in the Classroom?

Given the benefits of taking a more mindful approach to school, work, and our daily lives, some teachers are trying to make it part of the classroom routine.

Some have seen the benefits of mindfulness on students’ impulse control and focused awareness, noting that the kids can notice distractions, regulate themselves and their responses, and identify what they need in a given moment.

This doesn’t come without challenges, however. Some students struggle to understand and practice mindfulness in a classroom, which can lead to some distraction or disruption.

Even if mindfulness doesn’t become a standard part of a classroom routine, checking in with one’s self can be a valuable part of managing stress and overall mental health.