Amid the recession, pandemic stress, political tensions, and global unrest, Americans are experiencing record levels of stress. Many of us know this intuitively, but it has also been confirmed according to a recent poll by the American Psychological Association.
Unsurprisingly, studies also show record levels of anxiety disorders in the United States. The mental health industry can barely keep up with the demand. Many therapists are booked to the maximum, and prescriptions for antidepressants (often used for anxiety as well as depression) are at an all-time high.
As a clinical psychologist, I’m glad people are getting the care they need, but I’m also a bit concerned that my field may be medicalizing (and thereby monetizing) what’s actually a normal part of the human experience and potentially shunting public interest away from more constructive ways to approach certain forms of anxiety….