Anxiety and depression are very common issues in many people’s lives. The increase of high levels of academic and economic stress have led to increased rates of anxiety and depression among American young adults. This has resulted in decreased performance in academics, strained relationships, high levels of substance abuse and even suicide.
The analysis of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey finds that half of adults ages 18-24 reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023, compared to about a third of adults overall. The data also show that young adults are more likely than adults, or any other age group, to experience mental health symptoms. Many of the students have come of age since the pandemic shut down. The majority of people had to do remote work or online school which are all stressors of mental health.
Young adults are not alone in experiencing heightened mental health symptoms. Many adults are going through this as well.
The mental health concerns that were present during the COVID-19 crisis continue to affect many Americans, even as many people try to move beyond the pandemic, Census data show. Even with these concerns, some people don’t definitively know if they have anxiety so they walk around life unsure of what’s wrong.
There are symptoms that can be noticed, personally or by life’s outsiders. Some of the symptoms of anxiety are: rapid breathing or rapid heart beats, fatigue, headaches and insomnia. It can make one feel isolated, overwhelmed or stressed. Another way to experience the physical effects of anxiety is the churning of the stomach, or feeling light headed or feeling dizzy.
Many students across the world have struggled with anxiety, academics, giving presentations or even talking to other students about assignments.
Teachers have seen these problems; when students present to the class you can see the nervousness in their body language, the sweaty hands, the stuttering, rubbing of the hands or the playing with badges. These are all signs of anxiety.
But there are some ways to lower the levels of anxiety. Keeping active and exercising because it reduces stress, improves one’s mood, and overall maintains health. Other options are also deep breathing, meditation, reading and socializing to lower anxiety.
Another way to lower anxiety is to consistently make sleep a priority. Lack of sleep can increase the hormone cortisol, which can then increase anxiety. So, sleep. It will not only lower anxiety levels but it will bring about the feeling of being well rested.
It’s normal to be stressed over things. Sometimes they can’t be helped; sometimes it can’t be avoided but everyone needs to realize that there are ways to understand and lower anxiety levels.
If you don’t know if you have the symptoms that are listed above, you can always go to a local doctor, to check for anxiety.
Sources:
Anxiety disorders – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org › … › Diseases & Conditions
Countdown to take control of anxiety
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org › tips-to-help-ea…
The role of cortisol in the body – Healthdirect
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au › the-role-of-cortisol-in-…
