Why More Americans Are Feeling More Stress
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Version 0 of 1. Feeling stressed? Americans apparently are feeling it more and more. A new study shows 42% of Americans reported being more stressed in 2016 than in 2015 — an increase from 2015 when only 36% said they were being more stressed, according to a new Allianz Life study. This is despite being more optimistic about their financial futures. All that outside uncertainty has seeped into this new year, as it "has been a year of change - politically, economically and socially," said Jan Bruce, co-founder and CEO of meQuilibrium, a developer of a digital platform for dealing with stress. Dr. Drew Pate, a board-certified psychiatrist from Sheppard Pratt Health System, agreed we have seen much change and upheaval, and whether or not someone experienced the changes as positive or negative, change is stressful. "Changes in our day-to-day lives, such as a new relationship, a new job, or changes on the national scene such as a new president can make us feel out of balance or overwhelmed," Pate said. He added people can be optimistic while still being stressed. "Even when we are excited or optimistic about the change, the change disrupts our daily routines and challenges our automatic assumptions, and we must learn new routines and new ways of thinking," he said. "Changing patterns and routines is always difficult," Pate said. "The good news is that most of us are resilient and can accept and adjust to the change in our world, and with time the change will become the 'new normal' — at least until the next change comes along." |