Older gen z here, I definitely fall into that category. Many factors have contributed to it.
If the majority of an entire generation has an anxiety disorder, it came from one of only a few places. If Millennials don’t have similar anxiety rates, the most likely culprit of rampant Gen Z specific anxiety is going to be caused by the Gen X parenting style.
I do have to wonder how these figures compare to older generations and to what extent underreporting due to stigmas around mental health could be corrected for between generations.
(I hope this already comes across, but I absolutely don’t mean to diminish the severity of the mental health problems faced by Gen Z or anyone else.)
I, for one, did not take your comment in a bad light. I’m in my late 40s, and most of my peers that I’m comfortable with have anxiety or some other mental health issue, myself included. I’m not sure what generation classification I fall into, but it really doesn’t matter; it’s not a generation specific problem. I guess I don’t really have a point here. Maybe that it’s a problem of the times rather than DOB. Or I’d guess 15% of people don’t report.
Yeah, both my boomer parents 100% have anxiety with periods of uncontrollable panic attacks, but they refuse to acknowledge this is the case. There is definitely a stigma when talking about mental health for their generation.
but I absolutely don’t mean to diminish the severity of the mental health problems faced by Gen Z
I, for one, do
Half of y’all are just saying you have mental issues because you’re in the “it’s not a phase, mom” tween phase.
Don’t get me wrong, 30% is still a staggering number, but 60% is just ridiculous. You’re fine. Chill tf out.
You know a substantial number of Zoomers are not teenagers and haven’t been for many years yeah?
I’m not sure why it has to be a controversial take that the first generation to grow up with unfettered internet access and subsequently the most awareness of any and every global crisis, has a disproportionately large number of people with anxiety disorders. It’s not like it’s all or nothing either, you can have mild-moderate anxiety and still have a diagnosable disorder
the first generation
How old exactly do you think millenials are?
Younger folks in there late 20s older ones early 40s?
Meaning that the older half of the generation didn’t have internet access at all hours of the day during their childhood since home computers were a rarity until the mid nineties and those were generally shared with the whole family. Vs. Personal devices with internet access (first smartphones, Gen 1 Ipods, cheaper and more common home computers) which Gen Z children en mass have had since the early 2000s, which is when the oldest Gen Z’ers were 5-6.
There is Grey area in the few years where the generations changed and it’s basically indistinguishable but don’t even try to make the argument that someone born in 1986 had the same childhood as someone born in 2000
Fine. Whatever. Let’s just say 90s kids then.
Point still stands. Gen z is not the first generation to grow up with computers.
Article is bullshit anyway.
Their source doesn’t say 61% of Gen Z.
It only surveyed people who already have anxiety.
So it’s 61% of gen z with anxiety have a official anxiety diagnosis from a medical professional.
If more than half of a population has it, is it really a disorder? The disordered thing is clearly our society, but rather than fix that we medicate all the people having a hard time living in such a world.
Edit: looks like this headline isn’t true.
GenX
I mean we grew up with boomer parents. Of course we are all anxious and what not, we just had a few decades to cope with it.
And it’s been proven that medication doesn’t necessarily work. Over the years, medication has honestly messed me up more than it’s ever helped me, in permanent ways.
Article headline is bullshit.
Their source doesn’t say 61% of Gen Z.
It only surveyed people who already have anxiety.
So it’s 61% of gen z with anxiety have a official anxiety diagnosis from a medical professional.
Thank you, I’ll update my comment!
Good thing we semi-legalized cannabis
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we surveyed 997 Gen Z who deal with anxiety and asked them how it impacts their lives.
we surveyed 997 Gen Z who deal with anxiety
who deal with anxiety
No, I’m sure it’s representative.
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I’m actually surprised that 40% are do not have an anxiety amongst those growing up in an environment of constant marketing pressure and social pressure to compare themselves against carefully selected images of other (i.e. real me vs facebook others) all the while slowly realising they’re not going to have access to the same opportunities as they’re parents, will inherit a World shafted in many many different ways and in some countries are pretty much starting their adult lifes in debt slavery.
Maybe those 40% are a mix of those who can’t afford to seek health and those too mentally simple to realize any of this (if you’re so dumb that you “see” very little beyond your little bubble and everything that happens to you is a surprise, you’re not going to be anxious about the future).
“Alright, time for you to get your own place and move out” while looking at unobtainable housing and jobs that don’t cover rent/mortgages.
“Just stop wasting money on avocado toast”
/s (for avoidance of doubt)
They are wise beyond their years.
lol who tf are these people without anxiety?
Adults.
The key word is “disorder” though.
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, just like everyone has minor bouts of depression or invasive compulsions. Some non-disordered might even still experience them often.
Not everyone experiences these feelings pervasively to a degree it prevents them from socioeconomic success (making friends, going outside, finding and keeping a job, etc).
Not everyone experiences these feelings pervasively to a degree it prevents them from socioeconomic success (making friends, going outside, finding and keeping a job, etc).
I know, who tf are these people?! They’re like aliens to me lol
Could not put it in a better way although it doesn’t have to prevent success, it could also hamper it strongly making it way harder than it should be.
You interpreted the word “prevent” more strictly than I meant it I think, but you’re not wrong.
Quite possible, yeah
If the majority of people have it, wouldn’t that make it the order of things and not a disorder?
If everyone has the same affliction then that’s just the norm. Better questions would be centered on what is it about society that is engendering these new social norms?
But that would take real discussions, dive into politics and economics and necessitate actual actions instead of just more NeoLiberal busybody posturing. Keep kicking that can down the road boomers, it is after all, all you’ve ever fucking done, besides let the country devolve into dilapidation and disrepair under your watch. Institutionalized neglect, smh
If we know somewhat what a healthy human should behave like or think like, not discounting individual’s uniqueness, then any deviation that causes difficulty in life would be a disorder. Simply to ruin the whole species it doesn’t make it orderly.
I was only discussing the definition of a disorder. But if you want to get into sophistry and impotent political venting, sure. If 60% of people can’t make connections with others or hold down a job because of their mental health, I question anyone who would call that anything but a disordered society, and that includes you saying it’s “the order of things.”
That said, this is an informal self-reported poll with a possibly exaggerated headline. It’s entirely possible the actual disorder most of GenZ has is self-diagnosis and identity culture, in which if one doesn’t have a disorder or three, one becomes the weirdo in a group.
I found this line from the article especially telling:
The survey also showed that 2 out of 5 go to therapy and 53 percent have gotten professional help for mental health at some point.
Notice how 53% is less than 60? And we’d have to assume each and every one of the 53% was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder on those “at some point” visits to come close to supporting the headline’s claim.
I think if measurable socioeconomic markers supported the 60% number, it would be bigger news. Are they more anxious, sure. But again… anxiety does not imply anxiety disorder. As it stands, publishing inaccurate headlines like this makes people take the real issues – and there ARE a lot of big, pervasive societal issues at play – less seriously.
(And because I know y’all need to hear it: if you, dear reader, have a professional diagnosis, none of this is talking about you.)
I don’t think it’s quite fair to unload on genZ about self diagnosis when access to medical care is restricted and understaffed as it is here in America. Another way to see it is at least genZ is concerned with their mental health and concerned enough about other people’s that theyve set to normalizing it.
I’m sure if therapy were blanket covered by insurance than 9 out of 10 people wouldve gone by now. All those numbers are only indicative of how many people could afford, what’s often considered elective, medical care.
And then how many received a diagnosis just so the doctor knew they’d get paid? $$$ in medicine fucks up all our stats, which fucks up all the conclusions we draw from them.
It’s really not my problem that you viewed me pointing out 53 < 60 as “unloading.”
And “normalizing” having a serious disorder is dangerous. This is not behavior that should be applauded. It dilutes the experience of those who do have it and saps the available resources. Again, not “unloading,” just facts that can be verified with any professional in the field. None of this is coming from emotion.
Going to therapy is good. Absolutely, yes, 90% should go. At no point did I shame therapy, I just pointed out the numbers don’t line up and it proves there is definitely self-diagnosis going on.
I’m not lambasting you or even arguing with your first two paragraphs here. I agree with you, to be clear. I dont even see the point in chiming in on the mental disorder “collectors”, it just feels exactly like boomers telling me “I ruined everything” as a millennial. genZ doing stupid shit as teenagers, let it go, they were teenagers. We got lucky that Tom was a true homie and wiped Myspace on his way out the door. Let the kids have tictok while they still know everything. They’ll come to terms with reality when they have to, just like we did. I don’t see the point in holding this kind of thing over their heads.
And if you feel you aren’t, great. But enough people do and you’re just adding to the chorus. Just be aware of the company youre keeping, all I’m saying.
In the 50s-70s kids identified with car culture. In the 80s-90s kids identified and differentiated thru music. I can’t even tell you what kids do now, I’m not at an age, or profession, to be interested in that knowledge. Teens rebel. They’re smart enough to start shouldering some responsibility but society keeps them from utilizing their agency. Social media gives them some of that agency back, even if it is for dumb shit like eating tidepods. Some kids HAVE to touch the stove. Some kids learn by jumping in the deep end (right here, I did that). Theyre in the process of discovery. There’s always been clicks, it’s part of how we figure out who and what we are.
Beyond that, going to, or worse, NEEDING (GASP!) therapy IS shamed, even if you aren’t doing it.
Not just shamed for some, but detrimental, to most men’s careers.
Any high stress job, surgeon, police, law, there goes your chances of advancement.
Because for some reason accepting the fact that people don’t have all the necessary tools to process every situation in life is seen as some kind of failing, even tho entire fields of study are dedicated to it.
Getting therapy should be seen as nothing more than going to an expert, because you are smart enough to know you aren’t. Which makes it the smarter, more rational decision. People are complicated and obtuse. And language, while pretty amazing at some stuff really falls flat for most everything internal. It takes specialization. People dedicate their lives to JUST that. That entire train of thought needs normalization, universal promotion, and access commodified, as well as made mandatory for said, and unsaid, high stress professions.
It’s entirely possible the actual disorder most of GenZ has is self-diagnosis and identity culture, in which if one doesn’t have a disorder or three, one becomes the weirdo in a group.
Oh, not this bullshit again…
Going to therapy doesn’t mean you have a disorder.
I’m aware. That was the point of me pointing out that you’d have to assume all 53% had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. It’s incredibly unrealistic. And yet 60% have a disorder? There is absolutely self-diagnosis happening.
Raises hand
It’s not because I suffer less, or because I’m stronger or Gen Z is weaker or some other bullshit excuse.
It’s because I’ve just had enough. All the things we’re freaking out about are manmade, and we could literally stop it at anytime but we won’t because the left half of the human intelligence bell curve is given equal reverence to expert opinions and data, when espousing about complex topics that they fundamentally don’t understand.
Bingpot!
It’s not that I don’t care about what is happening in the world, it is that I know that for 99.999% of everything that happens and is reported in the media, nothing I can do will have any effect.
Call it what you will, but living in the local present is the key to happiness.
“billionaire”
Is it really a disorder if it’s just a normal response to circumstances?
Death in service of [insert country] is it’s own reward! Life in failure of [insert country] is it’s own damnation. /s
Common and normal and valid response doesn’t mean healthy
Body temperature increase is a normal reaction to a viral infection, doesn’t mean you won’t die if the temperature keeps rising until you’re cooked through like a ham though
I’m Gen X, not Gen Z, but I think it’s definitely a normal response to circumstances. Retirement has gone from “something I’m going to do someday” to “suddenly on the horizon.” However, my finances aren’t lining up with how much I need to have to retire. (I’m not alone. I saw an article recently that said under 20% of Gen X-ers have enough saved to retire.)
I’m definitely feeling anxious about this. I don’t want to be 80 and working a full time job so that I can pay my monthly bills because my bank account ran dry and the Boomers wiped out Social Security.
It’s going to take everyone going to the streets and demanding social security reform. Americans need to stop being so complacent
Good luck, the time to do that was when you were 18. At this point you’ll be fighting against the people who won’t benefit and the people who probably would benefit but certainly don’t want to pay for it.
If someone is so addicted to social media that it caused intense mental harm then they get what they deserve.
These dopamine addicted cocaine-rats who can’t stop scrolling do not have my sympathy.
Before you have a meltdown, we often hold religious followers accountable for their religion’s fuckery but we never hold social media addicts for their own behavior. Dumb.
It’s a disorder if it gets in the way of your making profits for your masters.
don’t worry, pfizer has something for you. something recently patented. it’s the best thing ever. just ask your doctor. they love when people do that. if you weren’t paddleboarding with a golden retriever against a golden sunset already, you will be soon. at least in your own mind.
young people these days are so motivated to diagnose themselves. did you ever stop to think, maybe if you actually did go paddleboarding with your dog more, your wouldn’t need anxiety medications?
Let us know when you complete that medical degree instead of just farting into the void.
already completed it long ago, and yea its the real/official one.
Yea its probably not all the growth hormone and steroids and antibiotics in the meat, the plastic in the air and water, and the pesticides everywhere else.
The most common cause of their anxiety — the future.
Completely reasonable. I’m a Millenial and I also have a lot of anxiety about the future. Previous generations screwed us all really hard.
Anxiety about the future is not an anxiety disorder. If almost 2 out of 3 Gen z has anxious intrusive thoughts so bad that they cannot go to school, work, have any kind of healthy interpersonal relationships, etc then the article would have a point, but I don’t think that’s the case. I have more faith in the next generation than that.
I know things are bad and folks are rightly apprehensive about the future, but that is not an anxiety disorder. Anxious thoughts doesn’t mean you have a disorder, it means you are alive and aware of your surroundings.
Some of this next generation will turn their distress about the future into eustress that motivates them to fix it (as long as they don’t give in to defeatest takes like in this article).
Kind of a weird statement from the article. Isn’t anxiety always about the future, be it climate change or something as basic as what someone might say about your shirt when going to the store? It’s hard to worry about something from the past, since the outcome is already known… that’s what regret and depression is for.
I have serious anxiety about getting up, leaving the house, and other ‘now’ things.
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Depression is just time travelling anxiety
The most common cause of their anxiety — the future.
Rejoice in the fact that you’re living a higher quality of life than the vast majority of people ever to walk the earth.
For now.
Juuust gonna drop this here again
@ClimateAnxietySupport https://kbin.social/m/ClimateAnxietySupport
Not to mention all the shit we went through already.
I can tell you (professionally) that the people who saw less anxiety during the pandemic were people with severe anxiety. Statistically.
I can tell you personally it was because we could say, “Something catastrophic finally happened and I’ve been preparing for this my whole life.”
GenXer here. What drives me nuts is that climate change was taught to me as scientific fact in year 9, back in the early 80s.
The science was clear but collectively every government said “well, I’ll be dead by then so why should we care now”.
Millennial checking in. School system pivoted to Acid Rain and deforestation as the main environmental we would face. Oh, and El Nino, seems like that was happening every year of my life as a kid.
Back then I remember it being all about the ozone layer. Then all the governments got together, did some stuff, and seemed to fix the problem there. Then people kind of stopped talking about it. There was Captain Planet and various things like that, but after the ozone layer panic passed, people stopped caring.
Governments got off their collective assess and did something about the ozone layer and acid rain to the point that the problem has largely been corrected. Unfortunately, although climate change and now micro plastics get a lot of media attention, governments have since stopped trying to actually do something about it.
There is a big difference between the ozone layer, acid rain and climate change.
Ozone: Required the move to different refrigerant gasses and implement measures to stop old cfc’s being accidentally released.
acid rain: Required the use of low sulfur fuels.
While both were costly they were minor in comparison to climate change emissions.
The problems were incidental to the industries involved and not a something that had to happen for the industry to function.
And the big one, they industries that were required to change could profit from the change.
The complete opposite for co2 emissions.
There is no way to burn coal or oil without producing co2. So there was zero incentive from the companies and countries that profit from these industries to even look at solutions . Let alone implement them.
The difference was that Ronald Reagan had had skin cancer so he actually took it seriously and listened to the scientists.
Conservatives never believe anything until it effects them. Sonder is a foreign concept to them, along with empathy. Out of sight; out of mind.
I recently read a study about micro plastics that fairly well substantiates tires as their most of prolific source.
Think the media is gonna run with that? What would be seen as an attack on car culture itself, fuck the science or concerns of health effects. Micro plastics in the clouds, in the Arctic, in the placenta…
I’m not holding my breath.
There is an easy fix for quite some amount (60%) of the microplastics generated from tires: install a vacuum sucking the stuff in.
I hope you’re joking and just bad at jokes.
We’re beginning to feel same way for anyone over age 60.
Source: Below 35 y/o
Well this might be the content of my anxiety (what I worry about) but it sure isn’t the cause (my lifestyle).
To be fair, we have a much better understanding of mental disorders now. Back when I was little, people basically fell under four categories (and these terms aren’t my choosing, just what it was back in the early 80’s): gifted, normal, slow or retarded. That was the extent of our understanding. At least based on my personal experience in an american public school system. I’m sure for older generations things were even more misunderstood.
Okay but I’m unhappy with my ability to function through my life and so is a huge percentage of people my age, and we’re here now.
Shit, I’m right there with you.
<3
It’s also important note that people have always had mental disorders. We just didn’t know it was a mental disorder. The main difference is that we know what to look for and we can diagnose the disorder and assign treatment.
This is the same reason people get the ignorant idea of “vaccines cause autism” and then point to the number of people with autism…not realizing all of these new terms aren’t 100 years old. Same with cancer…must be the clean water that keeps our teeth healthy past our 30s…
And some always want to attribute the increase in gun violence to an increase in mental health issues, even though most of those issues have always been there. It’s never the increase in availability of weapons in society.
Because it’s not like you weren’t able to literally order actual machine guns out of the back of a magazine back in the 60s…
So, you think the US is just that much more mentally ill than every other developed country in the world? Of course not. The difference that stands out about the awful gun violence in the US is easy access to weapons.
What is removed?
It’s the r-slur
For those that can’t see the post. The word was not used in a way intended to be hurtful. Just explaining how there was a time when it was in use, along with a lack of understanding about mental illness.
You’re on an instance which censors some words, use another instance to see it
I didn’t know there were instances that censor posts like that. Thanks for the explaination.
lol fuck that what instance doesn’t do that so I can go there?
I know Lemmy.ml does censor things, most others should be uncensored
*according to self diagnosis
It says medically diagnosed in the article though?
According to the study “More than two in five have a diagnosed mental health condition”.
I couldn’t find anything cited in the references that supports the article’s claims. And it’s just obnoxious to use phrases like “more than two in five”. Just say 40% for crying out loud.
I blame the fact that Gen Z is still very much entangled in the education system, which at present basically purpose built to stoke existential dread about future life prospects.
“If you don’t do good enough now you’re going to miss out on college which means you’ll miss out on jobs which means you’ll miss out on being able to afford a not shit standard of living which means you’ll miss out on good healthcare which means…”
And then the folks getting into the professional sphere right now being told absolutely none of that was relevant to what they’re expected to learn to do well professionally.
No wonder young folks have an existential dread problem, they’re constantly told that their future well being relies on them performing a song and dance number perfectly for an audience who couldn’t care less about anything they actually have to learn for that song and dance.
Not just that, but they’ll probably do that song and dance until they’re too old to go on anymore. Pretty bleak
