It is no secret that anxiety is on the rise in the U.S. A pandemic that flips “normal” life on its head is the perfect breeding ground for an anxious mind. Everywhere you go, you’re reminded that life is different, uncertain even. News articles of people mourning loved ones lost to COVID-19. Mask signage everywhere. People literally going out of their way to skirt around each other, this six-foot bubble determining every move. And you know what? Chances are that your bubble bumps into a bubble of someone with anxiety.

There is no shortage of causes of anxiety even in “normal” times. Genes, difficult or traumatic experiences, and stressful life events, to name a few, can all cause anxiety that interrupts everyday functioning. So now enter social injustices, a divided country, and a pandemic. They only exacerbate the everyday stressors, so no wonder anxiety levels spike.

I don’t think any of us would find the sudden increase all too surprising given what we’ve gone through (and are still going through), but I think it doesn’t hurt to point it out. Because sometimes just knowing you are not alone in feeling overwhelmed and trapped by an anxious mind makes you feel better. Just a little bit. The same thing goes for those who watch their loved ones grapple with anxiety—take heart in knowing they don’t go at it alone…

According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 36% of U.S. adults reported symptoms of anxiety in late January 2021. This estimate was determined using a survey the NCHS and Census Bureau developed in 2020 to rapidly measure changes in mental health. The survey included two questions (adapted from the GAD-2) to measure anxiety:

(1) Over the last 7 days, how often have you been bothered by the following problems … Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge? Would you say not at all, several days, more than half the days, or nearly every day? Select only one answer.

(2) Over the last 7 days, how often have you been bothered by the following problems … Not being able to stop or control worrying? Would you say not at all, several days, more than half the days, or nearly every day? Select only one answer.

Now, my first instinct was to think this survey was too watered down. But, as I read more about the survey, the point of it was to gather data quickly so that the data users can address the issues in real-time. Makes sense, considering the circumstances we’re in. So, here I am, a data user, passing the information along to you. More than one in three people in the U.S. are currently experiencing anxiety. Since I think of fractions in terms of pie slices, that’s over a third of the pie. That’s a lot of pie. Too much pie. For reference, the estimate of adults with symptoms of anxiety, using the same two questions but over 14 days rather than seven, was 8.2% from January to June 2019 (National Center for Health Statistics, 2020). In one year, anxiety levels more than quadrupled. This is a public health problem.

I believe information is powerful, including information about one’s own health. If you or someone you know is experiencing anxiety, it might help to share that staggering statistic and trend. The point being hey, you’re not alone.

To help raise awareness of anxiety, here are some other common signs of anxiety, as denoted by the GAD-7 (where the two questions above came from):

• Worrying too much about different things
• Trouble relaxing
• Being so restless that it’s hard to sit still
• Becoming easily annoyed or irritable
• Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen

In someone with anxiety, these symptoms generally occur more than half the days or nearly every day over a two-week period. Note: Obviously I am not a doctor. It is best to speak with yours if you feel this applies to you. Nonetheless, I can speak from experience. Based on what I know of anxiety, it can really take you down. It’s exhausting. Sometimes frightening. Yet, as I’ve learned, there is a lot of help for it, especially now.

Knowing how common anxiety is these days, have a little more patience and empathy for the people you bubble-bump into while out and about or the people in your own home. You never know what’s going on inside their bubble, and the least we can do is acknowledge that.

References

National Center for Health Statistics. (2020, May). Early Release of Selected Mental Health Estimates Based on Data from the January–June 2019 National Health Interview Survey. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/ERmentalhealth-508.pdf

National Center for Health Statistics. (2021, February 10). Mental health – household pulse survey – covid-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm#:~:text=During%20January%2DJune%202019%2C%208.2,anxiety%20disorder%20or%20depressive%20disorder