A 32-year-old woman presents to your clinic with a 6-month history of excessive, uncontrollable worry about multiple aspects of her daily life, including work performance, finances, and family health. She reports difficulty falling asleep, muscle tension, and irritability. She has no history of substance use disorder but expresses concern about becoming dependent on medications. She denies panic attacks and has no contraindications to pharmacotherapy. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial pharmacologic choice given her clinical presentation and concerns?