Why are Stress and Anxiety Becoming So Common Today | Alarming Facts

This surprises me, how common stress and anxiety have become. And this is concerning as prolonged stress and anxiety have adverse impacts on one’s physical and mental health. This can also end up interfering in the daily life functioning of an individual hampering their life.

That is why it is crucial to find answers to important questions like “why is stress so common” “why is anxiety common nowadays” “what are we doing wrong” and “what can be done right.” Because it is only by creating awareness and learning about the course of action that can prevent these rising numbers of stress and anxiety among the masses.

STRESS & ANXIETY: Why Are They So Common Today

Red Flags: Increasing Number of Stress and Anxiety

How common is Stress Among Masses?

Here are some alarming facts about stress that supports the notion that stress has become so common nowadays (source APA):

• 80% of people have experienced the physical symptoms of stress in their life.
• Nearly 48% of people have suffered sleep disorders due to prolonged stress.
• 33% of the population considers their stress level extremely high.
• About 70% of workers experience stress in their work-life, to an extent that they feel unhappy about it.
• The workload is the leading cause of stress.
• Millennials are more likely to feel stressed than Gen X (the leading cause being Technology).

These facts clearly outline the prevalence of stress today and it also addresses some of the leading causes behind the same.

How common is Anxiety Among Masses?

Now let us address alarming facts that will help us understand how common is anxiety (Source: Different studies):

• Nearly 40 million adults in the U.S. are living with anxiety which contributes to 18% of the total U.S. population.
• Nearly 1 in 3 of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 experience an anxiety disorder.
• Women are 60% more likely to have an anxiety disorder as compared to men.
• The rate of anxiety among corporate employees is the highest, that is, 40-50%. Sadly, with each passing year these numbers are increasing.

These stats remain more or less the same around the globe, making it a matter of concern for everyone in the world.

Yellow Flags: Think What Is Wrong

Why are Stress and Anxiety So Common

These stats are truly alarming and concerning! But what are the factors that are contributing to these rising numbers? Why is stress so common? Why is anxiety so common nowadays?

Well, there is no one answer to these questions and there is no one factor that contributes to it. In fact, certain attributes are found to be linked with stress and anxiety being so common these days. This includes attribute like:

• Our poor sleeping habits.
• Constantly dwelling in the past and regretting what has been done.
• Frequently swinging in the future and being apprehensive about it.
• Not being vocal about feeling stressed or anxious.
• Not seeking help from mental health professionals to deal with stress and anxiety. According to stats in the U.S., only 40% of people seek treatment for anxiety. These numbers are even less for other parts of the globe.
• Social media and technology have also contributed to this rise in stress and anxiety. Social media has even given rise to many new sources of stress and anxiety-like FOMO, doom scrolling, feeling of loneliness, and more. No wonder why millennials are more stressed and anxious.
• Overuse of gadgets and overconsumption of caffeine or other forms of addictive drugs is also responsible for stress and anxiety.
• The over-demanding work-life leaves little or no time for self.
• A sedentary lifestyle which gives little or no opportunity to be physically active.

To put it in a nutshell, for each individual these factors work in different combinations and result in an increased chance of experiencing stress and anxiety.

Green Flags: Start Taking The Right Steps

What Can Be Done Right To Stop The Rising Numbers of Stress and Anxiety

If there is a problem, there has to be a solution for the same! The same applies to our problem, here that is, stress and anxiety being so common today. While there is a pool of options to choose from, I am suggesting to you the three best ways to combat this new age problem: Why are stress and anxiety so common today! This includes:

Acknowledging Your Feelings: The first step is to acknowledge how you are feeling. Keep asking yourself the same and acknowledge the same. Don’t hide your feelings under the carpet, be vocal about it. If you are feeling stressed, express it and accept it. The same goes for every time you feel anxious. Acknowledging is the first step towards recovery.

Lifestyle Changes: By looking at the list of reasons contributing to making stress and anxiety so common these days, one thing is clear! Our lifestyle is what we need to work on. Therefore, we recommend you to follow healthy habits like having a healthy sleeping routine, celebrate JOMO, ignore gadgets and caffeine at least 30 minutes prior to going to bed, set healthy boundaries, and start reading self-help books. These little changes will definitely help you a long way!

Seeking Help From Professionals: Don’t let the myths around online and offline therapy hold you back from seeking help. If you think lifestyle changes are not helping much, go out and seek help from professionals.

Answering an Important Question: What is more common Stress and Anxiety

Almost everyone experiences stress in day-to-day life as a response to any disturbing or demanding life event, it is experienced by more people. But, if we look at mental health conditions, anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed one. So depending on whether we are referring to the most common emotional response or mental health condition, the answer will differ. For the former part stress is the answer and for the later one it is anxiety.

We hope this write-up will ring a bell for you! If you are too practicing the unhealthy habits that might contribute to these rising numbers of stress and anxiety, time to reframe your lifestyle!

Need extra support to sail in the right direction? Connect with us at info@calmsage.com we are always here to help you.

P.S. It is never too late to start new things! So take that step and preserve your mental health.