Sadia Zapp, a 40-year-old communications director in New York, began anxiety treatment after completing a year of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation for breast cancer. Her experience reflects a broader trend: anxiety medication use in the United States rose from 11.7% to 14.3% of American adults between 2019 and 2024, a rise attributed to increased access through telehealth and evolving social factors, according to CBS News.
However, this increase in treatment is being challenged by the MAHA movement, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly criticized the broadening use of anxiety medications. The movement, according to reporting from KFF Health News, questions the safety of commonly prescribed drugs like SSRIs.
Supporters of MAHA have suggested that lifestyle factors, including poor dietary choices and a sedentary lifestyle, contribute to the rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. This perspective, reported by both MedPage Today and the Oregonian, positions MAHA as offering an alternative explanation to pharmaceutical interventions.
Zapp described her anxiety as a shift from a “manageable hum” to a “deeper, more distracting” feeling, where even minor physical sensations triggered fears of cancer recurrence. This experience highlights the complex nature of anxiety, particularly in the context of serious illness, and the individual need for treatment options.
The debate surrounding anxiety medication comes as more Americans seek treatment. The Oregonian reported on this trend three days ago, although KFF House News published its report on the matter the same day. Healthcare Today also covered the story six days ago, emphasizing the increasing number of people turning to medication despite criticism from figures like Kennedy Jr.
The movement’s criticisms have prompted responses from doctors and researchers, who argue that MAHA is misrepresenting the established benefits of anxiety medications. The core disagreement centers on the role of medication versus lifestyle interventions in addressing mental health concerns.
