What Causes Anxiety Nowadays

If you polled a small group of people in any era, at least a few would probably say they felt some anxiety occasionally. You might even have one or two who would say they felt anxious often. However, that’s nothing compared to the numbers medical professionals see today.

It’s true that at any time, you might have a couple of factors in your life that make you anxious. Maybe you look at a certain stat and it bothers you. Medical mistakes cause about 251,000 yearly American deaths. That’s enough to make you a little wary if you go to the doctor for a routine procedure. 

Maybe you feel anxious for some other reason. Why do so many individuals report feeling this way as we progress rapidly toward 2025? It’s a complex question, but one that does have an answer.

Social Media’s Proliferation

While someone who sees a therapist and reports feeling anxious might have just about any reason for their condition, certain universalities or commonalities seem particularly notable in the current era. Many people, especially younger individuals, report that social media makes them feel anxious. This is closely linked to smartphone mental health, highlighting the significant impact technology has on our well-being.

Social media includes platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others. At its best, you can interact with friends on social media. You might talk about the new movie trailer that just dropped or a makeup tutorial you just watched.

That probably won’t make you feel anxious. However, you also have the dark side of social media. At its worst, it’s a place where negativity lurks. You might post a picture of yourself and have individuals you don’t even know tear apart your physical appearance.

That can cause anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. If someone doesn’t like what’s happening on social media, they might get off the platforms and delete their profiles.

For younger people, though, that seems like a near impossibility. That’s why, even if they say

social media makes them anxious and does more harm than good, they still frequently continue to use it. 

The Panic News Cycle

Then, there’s the news cycle. Decades ago, someone in the news world said “if it bleeds, it leads.” That means if a story contains graphic or pervasive elements, it goes on page one.

Human interest stories like lost dogs finding their way home don’t merit the same level of scrutiny, even though they’re a lot more heartwarming.

The news often leads with disasters and then turns to more uplifting stories later, or not at all. If you watch the news all the time, like many older individuals do, it’s enough to make you think the world is coming to an end at any moment. 

The 24-hour news cycle and virtually limitless sources of it mean that someone who likes the news can now watch it literally at any time. Often, that causes anxiety. If the news makes the world seem like a dangerous place, it’s easy to start feeling so worried that you don’t even want to step outside your door. 

Political Strife

Many individuals point to political strife as a source of ongoing anxiety. We just went through a particularly contentious presidential election cycle in the US. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on or political beliefs you have, the acrimony in this country from that could easily cause anxiety.

Many people of any age report that they’re fighting with their families more because of different political beliefs. They might end friendships over differences of political opinion. Others might cut off contact with family members. 

While there’s not another presidential election for another four years, the infighting in Washington and the very real impact policies have on the populace makes some people anxious or even terrified.    

The Environment

Some individuals worry about the environment. Most scientists agree that climate change continues unabated. Efforts to curb harmful emissions seem to have a limited impact. 

In light of that, it’s hard to ignore changing weather patterns. Some parts of the country and of the world see more drought or rainfall than ever before. Ocean levels continue to rise. The polar icecaps keep melting. Tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes seem more prevalent. 

That’s something that many individuals worry about. Some people scoff and feel there’s no cause for concern, but climate scientists keep sounding an alarm that’s hard for others to ignore. 

Economic Instability

Economic instability is another factor causing anxiety. More people can’t afford to pay rent these days, while others want to buy a house but don’t feel they can ever realistically afford one. Many American families live check to check.

Some can’t afford health insurance. They know that if they develop a serious medical condition, they may not have the money to pay for it. They will need to go into debt to get a necessary surgery or to afford lifesaving medication. 

Others can’t afford food and rely on charitable handouts, even while some government officials try to cut back on the budget for them. There’s a housing crisis and more homelessness than ever. Clearly, any of that will cause anxiety. 

For many, anxiety comes from not one thing, but many. If you’re looking at a combination of all of these factors, it’s easy to feel like there is no hope.

For some, it becomes challenging to get out of bed in the morning. Therapy can help for those who can afford it, as can prescribed medication in some instances.

Others meditate to calm themselves. They may repeat a mantra in their heads if they feel anxious when they are out in the world. Some try to get jobs working remotely if they feel too anxious while working outside the home. If you need ideas to calm yourself down, check these mental health tips.

Many turn to friends and family for help and comfort. Having a strong support network of individuals who love and care about you can help.

These mental health struggles require managing, and for many, it is an ongoing process. Those most in need of help must try to find it.