Anxiety is on the rise in the United States and other areas around the world.
Millions upon millions of people are affected by severe anxiety every day around the globe; it has become something of an epidemic. If it doesn’t directly affect you personally, chances are it affects someone you know.
Throughout my travels and business ventures, I have met people of all ages and from all walks of life who suffer from severe anxiety.
In addition, the conversations I have had with people have been an eye-opener for me because I realized I wasn’t alone in my own struggles. Therefore, these conversations created a space in which I could relate to others.
ANXIETY IS PERSONAL TO ME
I have dealt with bouts of severe anxiety most of my adult life. One of the reasons I launched Upplifter was to share my experiences traversing through the roller coaster ride of anxiety. The amount of worry, suffering, frustration, and outright obsessiveness that anxiety has been causing me throughout my life is astounding. Because of that, I have spent many countless days worrying, overthinking, and missing out on the most crucial moment in life – the present moment.
Living in constant fear and worry has robbed me of the present moment too many times in my life.
But I have fought back.
I have dug in and performed the dirty work to overcome my battles. I have taken steps to get better and to start healing myself from the wounds anxiety has inflicted on me. Researching causes, treatments, and new developments in the world of mental health have been a substantial part of my life for years.
Through my research, there are many compelling and noteworthy statistics that I run across. I want to share some of the more interesting statistics below.
TWELVE EYE-OPENING ANXIETY FACTS
1. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States.
2. People who suffer from an anxiety disorder are six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders.
3. Data in 2018 showed that 40% of Americans are more anxious than they were the previous year.
4. Over 40 million adults in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder.
5. Approximately 7% of children between the ages of 3-17 suffer from issues related to anxiety.
6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 6.8 million adults, over 3% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% of those 6.8 million are receiving treatment.
7. Approximately 15 million Americans suffer from social anxiety disorder. Both Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are closely related to anxiety disorders.
8. OCD affects 2.2 million adults or around 1.0% of the U.S. population. OCD is equally common among both men and women. Data shows that the average age of onset for OCD is 19, with 25% of cases occurring by the age of 14. One-third of adults who suffer from OCD first experienced symptoms in childhood.
9. PTSD affects 7.7 million adults or around 3.5% of the U.S. population. Women are more likely to be affected by PTSD than men. Rape is the most likely cause of PTSD, with many victims of rape experiencing PTSD. Sexual abuse during childhood is a good predictor of lifetime likelihood for developing PTSD.
10. Many people who suffer from an anxiety disorder also have a co-occurring disorder or physical illness, which can make their anxiety symptoms worse and their recovery more difficult.
11. Anxiety is as common among older adults as it is among young adults.
12. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder among older adults. Anxiety disorders in the older population are frequently associated with traumatic events such as a sudden fall or acute illness.
IN REVIEW
- Anxiety affects millions of Americans, young and old
- Anxiety disorders are on the rise in America
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common of all anxiety disorders
If you have any questions or would like a free anxiety coaching consultation – contact me at brad@upplifter.com!
Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in the medical and health area for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any medical or health-related decisions. For your health-related questions, please seek the advice of a licensed physician or any other qualified health care provider immediately.
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