Anxiety disorders are more common in the people around us more than ever before. According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older.
With the ongoing rise of social media, our society is evolving to be a competition for online status. Scrolling every day through posts that show only the happy moments of people with their friends and family is often the source of loneliness and disconnectedness that is shared among many individuals. Although anxiety along with depression and mental health in general are gradually becoming more normalized on social media platforms through the power of millennials and gen z, we must still be aware of how prevalent anxiety is and how it may play a role in the lives of the people that are closest to you. It is more the case that people who need help look a lot like people who don’t need help. However, through awareness, we can work on our ability to tell that someone is off or experiencing a wave of anxiety. Below are little cards that I came across on instagram that lists signs that someone’s anxiety is settling in and I think this could be really helpful to be mindful of. When someone’s anxiety kicks in, offering help without being overwhelming or overbearing is essential. Asking a question such as, “What have you been thinking about?” can elicit the person to open up and feel comforted and not alone.
Click here for a list of anxiety resources. Learning about anxiety is such a monumental step towards understanding what the people around you may be going through.
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