15+ Statistics about Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is no joke.
The mental health situation is not ideal, to say the least. You see, about one in four Americans suffer from some type of condition that is diagnosable each year.
These disorders don’t care about race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identifiable indicators. Anxiety will affect anyone. Mental health can and will affect adults, children, the elderly, and teenagers alike.
The situation in the United States keeps getting worse and worse. It has gotten to the point where artificial intelligence works with therapists around the clock to help with the increasing demand for psychological help.
Here are 17 shocking statistics about the various types of anxiety disorders that plague the modern world.
ANXIETY DISORDERS ARE HIGHLY TREATABLE, YET ONLY 36.9% OF THOSE SUFFERING RECEIVE TREATMENT.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
There is a good chance that the statistic above is true due to cultural norms in the United States. Adults are basically expected to be so busy that they can’t take the time to cook a meal! Therefore, it is understandable that anxiety is often perceived as normal and people do not seek treatment for these feelings.
42 MILLION AMERICAN ADULTS LIVE WITH ANXIETY DISORDERS.
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Over 331.45 million people are living in the United States. About 258.3 million of them are above the age of 18, meaning that they are legal adults. If you factor in that 42 million of them suffer from a variety of anxiety disorders, that means an astounding 16.2% of the population has an anxiety disorder.
ANXIETY DISORDERS AFFECT 40 MILLION ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES AGE 18 AND OLDER.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
This means that anxiety is more prevalent in the population compared to depression. Indeed, the two disorders are often diagnosed together, but due to social norms in the United States, persistent feelings of anxiety seem normal.
36% OF PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER REPORT EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS FOR 10 OR MORE YEARS BEFORE SEEKING HELP.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Many people who suffer from this type of disorder think that these feelings are completely normal. They often soothe these uncomfortable feelings by isolating and avoiding gatherings.
NEARLY 50% OF THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION ARE ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER.
(DoSomething.org)
This is often due to the way chemical imbalances affect thought and behavior. If dopamine, serotonin, and/or oxytocin are not in balance, it can affect someone's ability to process emotions.
ANXIETY DISORDERS AFFECT 18.1% OF ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Anxiety can affect people in many ways. People may be afraid of socializing or even going out of the house. People might have panic attacks at the sheer thought of driving or flying. Clinical anxiety disorders are serious diseases. Anyone who experiences symptoms of this type of disorder should seek treatment with the help of professionals.
WOMEN WHO HAVE GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER ARE AT INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPING DEPRESSION.
(National Institute of Mental Health)
People, in general, are at risk of developing the other disease if they already have one. Women are just at a more severe risk compared to men.
PEOPLE WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER ARE THREE TO FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS THAN THOSE WHO DO NOT SUFFER FROM ANXIETY DISORDERS.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
This is often because of how the brain produces different chemicals that affect mood and rational thoughts. People who do not produce the right chemicals, such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, or endorphins, may need to seek professional diagnoses and treatments.
SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER AFFECTS 15 MILLION ADULTS OR 6.8% OF THE POPULATION.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
This disorder tends to occur in people who are introverts or who seem to act introverted. That doesn't mean all introverts feel anxiety when spending time with a group of people. It also doesn’t mean that people with social anxiety are anti-social. Anti-social people don’t necessarily have an anxiety disorder. These are all separate phenomena.
CHRONIC ANXIETY INCREASES YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES, AND GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS INFLAMMATORY BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS).
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Anxiety takes a toll on the body, often literally. Anxiety can manifest itself into physical conditions in several ways.
PEOPLE WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS THAN THOSE WHO DO NOT SUFFER FROM ANXIETY DISORDERS.
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Anxiety can influence the ability to make good decisions and can lead people to the hospital for many reasons. Perhaps someone was driving while having a panic attack and got into an accident. Maybe that person tried to self-harm and needs a professional to monitor them for their safety. No matter the reason, sometimes the hospital is the best place to be. If something feels off, say something.
APPROXIMATELY 8% OF AMERICAN TEENAGERS HAVE AN ANXIETY DISORDER.
(National Institute of Mental Health)
That means if a high school has 1,000 students, 80 of them have an anxiety disorder. That is why promoting discussions and awareness about mental health and different disorders is crucial. Being open about mental health in high school can make a difference for the students.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER AFFECTS 6.8 MILLION ADULTS OR 3.1% OF THE U.S. POPULATION, YET ONLY 43.2% ARE RECEIVING TREATMENT
(Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
That means less than half of people with a generalized anxiety disorder receive treatment! How could this be true? Some people can’t afford the treatment. Some people don’t want treatment. Others might not know anything is even wrong, to begin with.
