More And More Anxious, Why?

We are increasingly anxious: the statistics say so. For medicine, this is the most common mental disorder and one of the biggest challenges to be faced. For the pharmaceutical industry it is a turnover; for the millions of people around the world who suffer from it, it is a distressing reality that completely limits their lives. Why is anxiety becoming an epidemic?

There are those who say that the world is now divided into two groups: people who suffer from anxiety and those who do not even know what it is. This label contains an error because anxiety is part of human nature. We all know, more or less, what it tastes like, what it feels like and how this obscure roommate can turn us into so many Cinderella.

Let’s say, then, that society is divided into three profiles: who has received a diagnosis of anxiety disorder (in one of its forms or variants), who knows how to deal with and manage anxiety and, finally, who will probably never receive a diagnosis of this type because he will never go to a doctor or a professional.

The question is terribly complex. The good news (so to speak) is that this reality is becoming normal. In the US, for example, the magazine Anxy is enjoying great success , which aims to give greater visibility not only to anxiety, but also to a good part of mental disorders.

These are small steps that help us better understand this condition although the aspect that interests us most in this article is why anxiety is so widespread, why we are increasingly anxious.

Why are we increasingly anxious?

So, is it true? Are we increasingly anxious? Are we facing a real epidemic? To begin with, the current definition of the word “epidemic” is different from that of the past century.

This term doesn’t just refer to a physical disease or the spread of a virus. An epidemic is any event that can negatively impact an individual’s life. 

Clinical data show us that, indeed, anxiety diagnoses have increased over the past decade. Research conducted by the University of Göttingen in Germany shows us that, at least in Europe, 33.7% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder  such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, generalized, social, anxiety disorder. from separation, specific phobias, etc.

On the other hand, the prevalence rate is chronic in many cases. In recent years, however, it has been observed that the elderly are better able to cope with this psychological condition. The younger population, on the other hand, is the most vulnerable. How can this trend be explained?

When stress turns to anguish

Stress is the constant that accompanies our days. It has been defined as an inherited mechanism that allows us to face challenges, to adapt to the context. Be that as it may, this set of psychic and physiological reactions is activated as a response to environmental pressures, work, study, relationships.

If managed correctly, stress flows and channels itself along a dynamic path. When it is constant and crushes us, anxiety and anguish soon emerge. But what exactly is anguish? It is the worst of emotions: fear. When this dimension appears, a series of inner dynamics occur.

The fear experienced is continuous and nameless. We no longer know what we fear, the surrounding environment is full of threats beyond our control. It is the worst enemy, it is a formless entity that we do not always know why it arises. 

A world marked by uncertainty

We live in what sociologists call the era of uncertainty. The economic crisis and its effects on everyday reality, the digital revolution, the continuous changes on a political, social and personal level plunge us into a strange feeling of helplessness.

We live in a context in which it is difficult to achieve professional stability, in which young people study without seeing prospects for the future.

If we ask ourselves why we are increasingly anxious, this is one of the answers. The brain needs certainty and reassurance, but our environment pushes towards the opposite.

I feel lonely, I’m sick, nobody notices me (a hyper-connected but isolated society)

If anxiety is an epidemic, loneliness is another epidemic with the same (or worse) characteristics. Our seniors are suffering more and more from isolation: this is a challenge that should be addressed socially. But there is another segment of the population that feels the weight of loneliness: young people.

The data says millennials show increasing rates of anxiety. And we cannot ignore the fact that the number of suicides is also increasing among adolescents.

Factors such as bullying, toxic friendships, low self-esteem, poor management of emotions, the pressure of social networks where reality is distorted take a huge toll on a psychological level. This is another reason for the increasing anxiety.

We are increasingly anxious: what can we do?

What can be the solution in the face of these data? It should be noted that there is not just one way, but multiple solutions. The first step is to be aware that we don’t always have control over what surrounds us. Society changes, it puts us under pressure, demands and we feel safe about very little.

When faced with something we cannot control, there is only one choice left: to develop adequate coping and emotional management skills to at least be able to have control over ourselves. At the moment, therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy can be of great help. However, others are needed.

Not even drugs are the solution. More resources, social support and effective prevention systems are needed. In schools, universities, workplaces, ASLs there should be resources and specialized personnel, so that psychological support can be accessible and of quality.

On the other hand, we must also strengthen our emotional education, learn to manage fears, irrational thoughts; learn to respond better to everyday difficulties. It is the great challenge of the moment. For this reason it is good to remember an important aspect: we must ask for help. Let’s not let fear and anguish push us to the limit.