Anxiety is all around us. It is triggered by fear of the future, fear of what others might think of you, fear of being disliked, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, etc. Anxiety is something really common. In the United States, 40 million individuals are affected by anxiety. 18.1% of adults have been diagnosed with anxiety, but only 36.9% get treated for it. Anxiety is often described as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454#types). Everyone is so worried about what others think, of meeting these societal expectations and avoiding failure, that it begins to affect their mental health and physical well-being.
The issue of anxiety is so significant that “People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders”. This is a very serious issue that continues to affect millions of people around the world. Societal expectations and pressure don’t make this issue any easier to deal with. Hopefully with time, our way of living will start prioritizing mental health and well being where more people are aware and treated for this anxiety.
Sources:
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454#types
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