Meditation 'works just as well as anti-depressants'

[NCTraveler]

100. I really don't like articles like this.

People suffering from anxiety or depression often can't properly meditate until they find the proper medication for their condition. It also promotes an already existing stigma that those suffering from depression or anxiety are just looking to pills as their way out when they could be doing meditation which would help them just as much. The study also doesn't match the claim made in the headline.

Both depression and anxiety take a multi pronged approach. Almost all doctors stress this to their patients when putting them on medication. Even those who are helped by medication alone can benefit greatly by combining medication with other things in their life, often lowering their dosage or helping to manage episodes. Exercise, meditation, therapy, ect.... If a person suffers from either of these problems, and relies on medication alone, they are doing it wrong. Often the fault is not the patients alone.

Anxiety: With many people, exercise, therapy, and a proper diet can be just as effective as medication. Yet they will still suffer from anxiety. Medication alone can be just as effective as exercise, therapy, and a proper diet. Yet they will still suffer from anxiety. A combination of all of the above will have the greatest effect.

Medication is rarely the answer to depression or anxiety, although it is an extremely important part of the answer. For many with more extreme anxiety or depression, medication is the starting point. It will get them over the hump to where they can take part in these other measures. If you haven't met someone who suffers from more extreme bouts of anxiety, you won't understand that every part of daily life is an extreme struggle. The struggle is to the point that meditation and exercise aren't even really an option until they find the proper medication. That starting point is so important.