Story highlights Meditation and psychedelics are being considered as treatments for depression and anxiety

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders

Early evidence shows psychedelics and meditation may have some similar effects on brain activity

Vital Signs is a monthly program bringing viewers health stories from around the world.

(CNN) Do you ever find yourself worrying about an upcoming situation, even though similar past experiences have worked out fine? Or do you worry about your relationship or finances in a way that is out of proportion with your actual circumstances? These are classic symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety disorders, along with depression, are among the most common mental disorders in the world today. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects 350 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Treatment for the conditions are wide-ranging, from prescription drugs to counseling and therapy, but none have proven to have a universal effect.

Scientists are currently trialling meditation and, more controversially, psychedelic drugs as potential treatments due to their perspective-altering effect on the mind. Scientists hope that could help release people from being locked into depressive, or worrying, thoughts.

But recent work has begun investigating whether these two contrasting treatments activate the same regions of the brain to give similar benefits.

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