An Entire Generation Affected by Anxiety: Why Gen-Z Can't Avoid It
Maybe you’re a Gen-Z young adult and are struggling with feelings of anxiety.
Maybe you're raising a Gen-Z young adult, and you’re concerned about their mental health. Or perhaps your child seems content and stable. Yet with all of the headlines about Gen-Z’s struggles, you can’t help but worry about their future.
Every generation has faced different obstacles, from economic uncertainty to tragic events that changed the course of history. Despite this, anxiety rates are skyrocketing for Gen-Z. Many young people are having difficulty finding their footing. As they move toward adulthood, they feel unprepared for everything that comes next.
What makes Gen-Z so uniquely susceptible to anxiety? Here are a few factors that are fostering anxiety amongst Gen-Z.
Technology Is Ever-Present
Young adults today are constantly connected to technology. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other screens are ever-present in their lives. While technology can serve useful purposes and open up exciting new opportunities, many young adults are suffering the detrimental effects of excessive screen time.
They might reach for their smartphone the moment they wake up and spend nearly all of their free time on screens. Seeing the “highlight reels” of everyone else’s lives on social media can make young people feel as though something is wrong with them. Holding oneself to unrealistic expectations set by social media can contribute to anxiety.
Rising Cost of Living
Today, practically everyone is feeling the financial pinch brought on by rising costs of living. In many areas, housing costs have increased dramatically. Young adults in their twenties might feel frustrated because they cannot afford to move out of their parents’ homes. It’s easy to question if working hard is worth it when the same paycheck buys so much less than it did just a few years ago. As a result, lots of young people are anxious about their finances, and they find it hard to picture a future in which they’re genuinely self-sufficient.
Academic and Professional Pressures
With such high price tags attached to basic needs, it’s no wonder that young adults feel intense pressure to succeed academically so that they can go on to lucrative careers. Young people might be anxious about earning top grades, securing scholarships to avoid student loans, and gaining acceptance to universities that will prepare them for stable careers. One poor grade in a class can set off an anxiety spiral. They might also be nervous about choosing the “wrong” career and feel as though they have to have the rest of their life mapped out as a teenager.
Shifting Generational Expectations
Young adults often feel like they can’t follow the same paths as their parents. Sometimes, this is because it’s not economically feasible. Their parents may have chosen careers and bought homes in areas that have changed dramatically. At other times, it’s simply a matter of different callings. Not every young adult wants the same things as their parents. However, young adults who choose different lifestyles might feel like they are on their own, and they don’t have anyone to look to for guidance.
Social Isolation
Today, lots of young adults struggle to make friends. Spending long hours online each day can have a negative impact on one’s social skills. They might find it harder to socialize in person when they’re more comfortable interacting with people behind a screen.
Furthermore, Gen-Z experienced the pandemic during some of their most formative years. They may have been separated from their friends for months to years. As a result, they're struggling to rebuild their social circles.
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If you're part of the Gen-Z generation and have found yourself identifying with some of these points, or if you’re the parent of a Gen-Z child who is struggling with anxiety, we invite you to reach out to learn more about our anxiety therapy services for teens and young adults.