A study found that women who had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were more likely to want to continue taking yoga sessions after six weeks of yoga-based interventions.
Feeling overwhelmed by run-of-the-mill stress or fatigue can be bad enough, but what is a person to do if they suffer from a diagnosed anxiety condition? One answer, according to Iranian researchers at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, is to turn to yoga for stress relief.
A study published by the team in the journal European Psychiatry found that women who had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were more likely to want to continue taking yoga sessions after six weeks of yoga-based interventions.
The research team asked half of a group of 40 women with GAD, all of whom were on antidepressants, to take regular yoga instruction as a way to reduce stress. All participants saw a decrease in their stress levels, and those taught the holistic mind-body practice tended to be eager to continue it beyond the study period.
GAD is an anxiety-related condition in which an individual worries excessively about health, relationships, personal finances or other stressors for at least six straight months.
Nearly 6 percent of U.S. adults will suffer from the disorder in their lifetimes, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
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Tags: generalized anxiety disorder, stress levels, stress relief
