Is Anxiety the New Normal?

Across the spectrum, people from every walk of life seem to be on familiar terms with anxiety. Anecdotally, more of us than ever are struggling to stay calm, relaxed, and happy. Perhaps it’s a holdover from a life-altering pandemic or just the accumulating stresses of living during fraught times, but it is real. And the medical community is acknowledging it.

Medical Expert’s Input On Anxiety Disorder

For the first time, a panel of US experts is urging those under 65 across the country to get screened for anxiety.

The draft recommendations come from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential group of medical experts, and were created to help physicians spot the signs of an anxiety disorder through questionnaires and other screening tools.

Anxiety disorders are often missed, and according to one study cited by the task force, the average time to obtain treatment for one was a jaw-dropping 23 years.

The World Health Organization reports that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25 percent during the first year of the pandemic, By the end of 2021, the WHO reported, “the situation had somewhat improved but today too many people remain unable to get the care and support they need for both pre-existing and newly developed mental health conditions.”

The guidance comes at a critical time. While there has been much attention given to the shocking impact of the pandemic on the nation’s mental health—especially for younger people—little has been done to address it.

Anxiety—accompanied by that gut-wrenching dread, sweaty palms, and a pounding heart, can present as a variety of separate illnesses, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and others..

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million adults in the United States experience one or more of these conditions annually, making them the most prevalent mental diseases in the country. Antidepressants or anxiety drugs, psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as different relaxation, mindfulness, and desensitization techniques are all possible forms of treatment, according to doctors.

Some doctors acknowledge the urgency of the anxiety crisis. Mahmooda Qureshi, an internal medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Washington Post that additional support for patients suffering from depression or anxiety will help. “After 2020, it’s the rare patient who is not anxious,” said Qureshi, who noted that she now routinely asks patients, “How’s your stress?” “We have found that when it comes to mental health, if we don’t ask, often we don’t know.”

Indeed – we are living in strange and stressful times. We emerged from long stretches of pandemic isolation to a world more fraught than ever with polarization, isolation, social and political tension, structural racism, and an economy that looks suspicious. Compounded by the surging rates of substance use and binge drinking, many people have been through the wringer. Rather than accepting these harrowing conditions as some kind of hellish “new normal” – tools like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness can help. Not only can they offer support and help patients make sense of trying, traumatic times, but they can also offer a framework to get through other stresses that may show up at work or in family life.

SLO Recovery Center developed our Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program to provide comprehensive, compassionate outpatient treatment to those with mental health diagnoses and co-occurring disorders. The program is available to all adults recovering from mental health or substance abuse issues who need a supportive, empathetic environment. The program encourages patients to build healthy coping and recovery skills while treating their underlying mental health concerns.

At SLO recovery, we offer lifesaving support and real solutions. Expect cutting-edge modalities and compassionate, seasoned staff here to with whatever you are going through. Get in touch today to see how we can support you or a loved one.