“The mind that is anxious about the future is miserable.”
– Lucius Annaeus Seneca
How anxious have you been about your health over the last year? What about your finances or safety?
The APA Poll
This is what the American Psychiatric Association (APA) set out to find in a poll conducted in March, this year. And based on what they found, Americans are indeed anxious.
The truth is, “anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States.” And “an estimated 40 million adults in the U.S. (18%) have an anxiety disorder.” So, it wouldn’t be surprising to find high levels of anxiety. The main insight of the survey is the sharp increase, since last year.
According to the findings, American adults (18 and up) measure 5 points higher than they did last year, which is quite significant.
In particular, participants of the survey were more anxious about their health, safety and finances. Two other measures – relationships and politics, didn’t seems to worry them as much.1
Anxious Boomers
The survey split the participants into 3 categories: baby boomers, Gen Xers and millennials. And guess where the highest increase in anxiety was?
… The baby boomers. The boomers were actually 7 points higher on the anxiety measure than a year ago.
Dealing with Anxiety
Anxiety is more than a lousy mood. It can affect mental health and families, says APA President Anita Everett, M.D. According to the Wellness Center of New Jersey, “stress can have a number of different outcomes from individual to individual.” But, anxiety also isn’t a sentence. There’s plenty you can do to help yourself. Everett, for example, suggests “regular exercise, relaxation, healthy eating, and time with friends and family.”
As you probably know, this prescription isn’t just good for being less anxious; it promotes a healthy lifestyle in general. So, anxious or not, you may gain a lot by following her advice.
How do you handle being anxious?
Please share in the comments below.
Disclaimer, or Use At Your Own Risk
The information and advice in this post are for entertainment and informational purposes and should not be viewed as professional opinions. We do not take any responsibility for its content and any action you take based on the information of this post is strictly at your own risk. You should always speak to your doctor regarding medical information and your health.
1 https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/americans-say-they-are-more-anxious-than-a-year-ago-baby-boomers-report-greatest-increase-in-anxiety