Why Is Anxiety So Common Today?

Anxiety comes in many different forms, including generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, panic disorder, and more. It affects 18.1% of the population of the United States, making it the most common mental illness in the country.¹ Anxiety plagues people of all ages and backgrounds, but there are many questions surrounding this topic: Why? How did this number get so high? Why is anxiety on the rise? Why is anxiety so common in Americans particularly? Why is anxiety so common today? There are many questions, myths, and misconceptions about anxiety, but the experts who lead our facilities for mental health debunk them below.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a common feeling linked with worried thoughts and associated physical changes like increased heart rate. While anxiety is natural, anxiety disorders are more extreme. Anxiety disorders involve intense fears with more severe physical responses that can interfere with a person’s daily life. There are many different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobia disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorders.

Why Is Anxiety So Common in America?

Unfortunately, no one seems to have an exact answer as to why anxiety is so common, but many attribute this presumed increase in anxiety disorders to factors such as social media, poor sleep habits, lowered stigma, and underreporting in the past. In particular, the United States has one of the highest rates of anxiety at 6.64% compared to most other countries that fall below this level.²

It should come as no surprise that many mental health consultants blame the rise of the internet, and social media especially, for anxiety in teens and twenty-somethings. It is thought that the various social media effects on mental health are largely negative. Comparing lifestyles depicted in social media and a fear of missing out (FOMO) are likely causes of anxiety, as well as the way social media ironically makes people feel lonely.³ Not to mention the fact that social media is addictive, producing the same increase in dopamine that drugs give you. At this point, it appears anxiety and millennials are intertwined.

With the rise in technology also came an increase in artificial lighting and bad sleep habits. The blue light waves from your phone or computers late at night can have twice the adverse effects on your body’s production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, than normal artificial light.⁴ Could something as simple as unplugging alleviate some of the anxiety in millennials?

Why Does Gen Z Have So Much Anxiety?

A recent report from data management firm Harmony Healthcare IT shows that 61% of Gen Z have a medically diagnosed anxiety disorder.⁵ The report includes a survey of about 1,000 Gen Zers, or adults 18 to 26, who struggle with anxiety. Additionally, more than half of respondents said that their anxiety has worsened in 2023.

Additionally, the most common cause of anxiety among half of Gen Z’s is their future, in addition to cash and finances. Other top anxiety triggers for this generation include work, social activities, and relationships. Unfortunately, the study also revealed that many Gen Z do not feel supported by their peers, particularly their parents (36%) and coworkers (34%).

A major contributing factor to anxiety in Gen Z is phone and social media use. According to the same study:⁵

• 3 in 4 Gen Z get anxious when making calls or speaking over the phone
• 22% reported increased heart rates, sweating, and restlessness when they can’t use their phones
• 37% feel their phone interferes with their quality of life, including work and relationships
• 57% panic when their phone battery is low, or the internet isn’t working
• 79% said they have their phone on them at all times
• 91% sleep with their phone within arm’s reach

To self-medicate their anxiety, many Gen Z turn to:

• Eating unhealthy food (41%)
• Marijuana, edibles, and vaping (34%)
• Alcohol (32%)
• Binge eating (30%)
• Vaping tobacco (17%)

Ultimately, financial stress, social media, and phone usage are the top contributing factors to anxiety in Gen Z. Without professional support, many of these individuals turn to harmful behaviors such as substance abuse and binge eating to cope. If you’re 18 or older and struggling with anxiety, reach out so you can find support at one of our mental health facilities in Massachusetts or Florida.

Is Anxiety on the Rise?

Some researchers suggest that anxiety disorders are not necessarily increasing, but people are more open about their anxiety and actively seeking treatment. Years ago, mental health disorders and anxiety were taboo topics, but now anxiety has become a constant topic of discussion. Were rates of anxiety mostly underreported in the past?⁶ Even if this is the case, anxiety is certainly a topic that should be at the forefront of our conversations. With 6.8 million Americans currently struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 6 million Americans with Panic Disorder, 15 million Americans with Social Anxiety Disorder, and 19 million Americans with Specific Phobia Disorder, anxiety is not going away any time soon.¹

How common anxiety is today in our society underscores the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support. Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Banyan Mental Health offers specialized treatment for mood and anxiety disorders.

Our mental health facilities in Florida and Massachusetts are committed to providing compassionate care and tailored interventions to help individuals regain control of their lives. If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, don't hesitate to call Banyan Mental Health at 888-280-4763 to learn more about effective anxiety treatment programs.

Sources

1. Anxiety and Depression Association of America - Facts & Statistics
2. Our World In Data - Mental Health
3. Psychology Today - Social Media, Loneliness, and Anxiety in Young People
4. Thrive Global - Why Are So Many Teens and 20-Somethings Today Anxiety-Ridden?
5. Harmony Healthcare IT – Why Does Gen Z Have So Much Anxiety?
6. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health- Epidemiology of anxiety disorder in the 21st century