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Why Anxiety and Depression are on the Rise (And What We Can Do)
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The more I research and write about connection and belonging, the more I’m convinced that it should be one of the biggest concerns of our time.
Let me scare you with a few facts:
- 46% of adults in the United States report sometimes or always feeling lonely
- This percent has doubled in only a few decades
- Feelings of loneliness are much more prevalent amongst younger generations.
- Almost 1 in 3 of all adolescents age 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder
- The rate of reporting symptoms of depression has increased by nearly 50% in adolescents over the past decade
- Anxiety disorder is the most common mental illness, affecting nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States
Why are anxiety and depression on the rise?
There are a lot of factors being theorized out there. Smartphones, helicopter parents, higher academic expectations, social media, and the impending death of our environment are all things I’ve heard come up in discussions.
However, the more I read, the more I find an underlying thread throughout most, if not all, proposed factors.
We are a population that is disconnected from each other.
The need to feel a sense of belonging is proven to have enormous health consequences for us. Not only does it affect us emotionally, but it affects us physically as well. (Like, a lot. Connectedness literally increases our life expectancy).
If science proves connection is so important, why aren’t we prioritizing it in our lives?
While I’m not going to claim years of research, I do have four ideas for you to consider that are contributing to this disconnection and putting anxiety and depression on the rise:
1. Our smartphones make us feel like we’re connected constantly.
We’re always one text message away from our family. We can see what our friends are up to on social media. We can work and email from, almost literally, everywhere. However, these feelings of connectedness are tricking us into feeling connected when we’re not. Real connection requires face-to-face interactions, genuine conversations, and higher value.
2. We live in a world of junk values.
Every day, we’re inundated with messages about “what will make us happy” – more purchases, new stuff, better things. It is materialism at its finest, and researchers have proven that materialism correlates to greater unhappiness. A culture of materialism distracts us from what is important: our relationships.
3. Our society emphasizes individualism.
Our country was founded on the idea of being independent and self-sufficient. This puts the onus on the individual; it’s perpetuated by those in privilege who claim to “have made it on their own.” Not only does this overlook oodles of marginalization, but it creates a false standard that success is achieved alone. As a result, it creates competition rather than collaboration, further hindering our connections with others.
4. We have a fear of vulnerability.
Vulnerability is misinterpreted and discouraged, particularly for males. From a young age, we are taught behavioral expectations that prevent us from opening up to others or relying on others for help. Real connection requires a great deal of vulnerability, and yet very little in our society encourages us to do so.
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Do these four reasons explain everything about the disconnection we’re experiencing and why anxiety and depression are on the rise? Absolutely not. But I think we must consider what is preventing connection in our population, and how to fix it.
If you want to learn more about our human need for belonging, check out my Find Connection series.
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