Anxiety among students is a rising and common issue which leads to many different problems; although, many people are left wondering why it has increased over the years and is now such a pervasive issue.
Sophomore Aiden Russell said, “Anxiety affects the way I learn in school by distracting me from my lessons because I would worry about other things instead of paying attention to my lessons.”
Anxiety has indeed increased over the years, 51%, from 1990 to 2021 according to recent studies by the National Library of Medicine. Unfortunately, there isn’t really one true answer to why anxiety has increased so much in recent years. But there are many factors that do contribute to it including social media, poor sleeping habits, lowered stigma, and more.
Junior Valentina Valverde said, “In school there is always a constant pressure to maintain good grades. This causes me to stress about exams, completing assignments on time and my gpa. Anxiety has affected my focus, sleep and my life also outside of school, which has had a major impact on my mental and physical health. It can be difficult for me to enjoy my time outside of school when I’m constantly stressed about school.”
Many people blame social media and overall the rise of the internet which can make people feel lots of negative emotions, not to mention that social media is also very addictive because it produces dopamine. This increases horrible sleeping habits. To self medicate anxiety, many students may lead themselves to unhealthy life choices that only decrease their well being and keep them in the same anxious loop as before.
“As a teenager in high school, anxiety plays a large part in how I handle events and deadlines. It motivates me to study and get things done. My anxiety usually isn’t overpowering, and I manage it through prescribed medication,” said junior Amelia Fruend.
There are healthy ways to treat this ongoing issue, including practicing relaxation techniques, a consistent sleep schedule, and medication recommended by a professional.
