The Rising Epidemic of Anxiety in Today's Teens
Studies show that today's teens and young adults are more anxious than ever before. In contrast to stress, which is temporary and stems from particular tasks, anxiety is defined as a continual feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease. While this condition is mild in some cases, it can also be chronic. With the added difficulty of navigating new technologies and social media on top of societal and academic pressure, anxiety and depression rates have steadily increased, especially in America. The United States holds the highest percentage of anxiety disorders in the world, at 7.1% for children aged 3-17 as of 2018. While many cases of anxiety go undiagnosed; studies show that nearly 80% of citizens in this age demographic suffer from undiagnosed or untreated anxiety disorder. From the perspective of someone who has never experienced anxiety, dealing with this illness may not seem like a difficult task, and many people conflate anxiety with everyday worry and stress. But clinical anxiety represents a much more serious condition. In one survey, 70% of teenagers responded that anxiety and depression are major issues for them. These conditions affect the work, self-image, and relationships of millions of teens across the country.
Anxiety ranges in severity and implicates many related factors, such as self-esteem and the ability to respond to stress. It can change someone's life quickly, with a myriad of possible effects. Anxiety can cause restlessness, insomnia, and a decrease in effort in all areas of life. It can also increase the severity of eating disorders, depression, and suicidal ideation, among other mental health issues.
Students and young adults may struggle with more intense levels of anxiety due to academic pressures and those created by finding a career and achieving financial independence. Life moves quickly, and to someone with anxiety, this frenetic pace seems inescapable. For some people, anxiety acts as a pothole in the road to success: an annoying yet manageable aspect of their lives. But for others, it serves as a concrete wall, making their situation appear hopeless and their goals unreachable. For someone with extreme anxiety, simple, everyday tasks become unmanageable.. Although the prevalence of anxiety has surpassed that of depression, many schools and parents fail to recognize its influence. Many teens already find their personal and home lives overwhelming. When academic stress pervades the lives of teens, it may compound this sense of futility.
Parents, schools, and society must address the epidemic of anxiety affecting young people, or millions of teenagers will continue to suffer in silence.
By Sydney Feld