In recent years, I’ve noticed more and more people sharing their experiences with anxiety, whether it’s celebrities opening up in interviews or friends chatting over drinks. This got me thinking. Are more people experiencing anxiety these days, or are they just more willing to talk about it?
This apparent increase seems to be seen in studies on the prevalence of anxiety, but when you dig into the details, the picture is not so clear. As for what’s behind this potential increase, the COVID-19 pandemic is the obvious culprit, but it’s not the only one; economic and political factors may also be at play.
First, let’s look at the pandemic. “This was a phenomenon that none of us had ever experienced before, and it was a global problem that understandably caused a lot of stress,” he says. David Smithson at the charity Anxiety UK. “Who isn’t worried?”
growing anxiety
As the pandemic began, anxiety levels increased and the World Health Organization reported: Anxiety disorders increased by 25.6% In 2020, lockdowns and other restrictions were introduced and people faced an unknown virus and its impact on their lives. However, this increase was not sustained, according to a review of 177 studies targeting people in high-income countries. Levels decline as pandemic continues.
This is consistent with Smithson’s experience. “We have seen an increase in demand for our support services for about two years since the start of the pandemic,” he says. “Over the past 12 months or so, we have seen a drop in demand…
Source: www.newscientist.com
