A story in the New York Times caught my eye recently. The author questions whether we really live in “the age of anxiety” as it is often said.
Earlier eras might have been even more jittery than ours. Fourteenth-century Europe, for example, experienced devastating famines, waves of pillaging mercenaries, peasant revolts, religious turmoil and a plague that wiped out as much as half the population in four years.
OK. Fair enough. But then he points to modern day statistics like these:
- 18% of American adults (40 million) are affected by anxiety disorders
- 46 million prescriptions for Xanax (an anti-anxiety medication) were written in 2010
He also linked to these statistics by the National Institute of Mental Health, which I found really really interesting.
Here’s one of the graphics:
Notice that women are 60% more likely to suffer an anxiety disorder than men, and the age group who are most likely to suffer anxiety are those between 30-44 years old. You know, the years when we are raising young kids and still slogging through our work-a-day lives.
Hello! Can you say Working Mom Syndrome?
Yes, I know. There are many ways to interpret this data, but it made me wonder: Would these statistics be higher for women with young kids, particularly the ones who work full time?
So here’s a poll. Please take it, and share it with everyone you know. Then leave a comment below about your answer.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I voted other b/c I don’t take anything for anxiety. I imbibe lots and lots of tequila (or vodka; I’m not choosy). Although no prescription is required, it is a druggish coping mechanism all its own. And I do believe I drink more now with a toddler, an 8 yr old and a tween (11). It’s all the toddler’s fault!
Totally the toddler’s fault. 🙂
I began taking medication for combined anxiety and depression 12 years ago, when I was 25, but probably should have been on something since I was in high school. However, being a working mother has made the anxiety more intense – especially since the arrival of my second child coincided with the economic meltdown and the loss of several large clients at my employer. Working more and earning less with little sense of security is a surefire recipe for rampant anxiety.
Yup. Makes sense. It’s the squeeze–working more, earning less, and family depending on you. “A recipe for rampant anxiety.”
There was a great op-ed in the nytimes recently–I’ll have to find the link–saying we need to think of social services (including things like paid maternity leave, subsidized child care) as part of our health care spending bc it has such a strong impact on physical and mental health. Of course, the US is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to this stuff.
When I get over-stressed it exacerbates my natural tendency toward depression, not anxiety. So I take psychopharmaceuticals, just not Xanax. Especially since I experience extreme stress most weeks, whether at work at home or both.
I get depression and anxiety and, although it was present before I had children, it was nothing like it was *after* I had them. That is when medication ceased to be a choice and became a matter of survival.
I tried to click “other” and type something in but it wouldn’t let me. I don’t take any drugs for psychological stuff, but I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. I would certainly consider myself tending in that direction.
So weird it wouldnt let you choose “other”. Try again?
Depending on what comes out of the comments, I might do a survey to get more of those nuances.
My husband started taking anxiety meds after the birth of our third child, and he’s still on them. (She’s 6 now.) I’m undergoing more stress now that I’m unemployed and money is tight. Luckily? I have the time to exercise, which is how I deal with stress. Of course when I find a job, I know I’ll be just as stressed and not sure how I’ll get to the gym.
My husband and I are lucky to have the luxury of working for ourselves. Because of that, we’ve chosen time (and sanity) over money, and keep our work hours low enough that we don’t go crazy. That said, this does create stress re. our lack of quality medical insurance, paid time off, retirement benefits, etc. So, while we’re not on Xanax, we’re not stress-free.
I had a massive anxiety episode when I was pregnant with our third. I took valium for a few days but opted to try and tough my way through until I had him. It was hell. afterward most of the severe anxiety went away just some residual episodes but I worked through those. Then I went back to work. 5 years later with the demands of my 16, 14, and 7 year old fulltime job husband home pets and extended family I started having some pretty bad moments. got a script for xanax but when it got worse I ended up on celexa. Much better now. Feel more normal now than I have in a long time. I hate having to take something but being in constant adrenaline mode its much worse.
Glad you found something that’s working for you, Tammy.
Just curious. Why do you think it got so bad in your third pregnancy?
I have not had to take anything for anxiety and have no anxiety disorders, thankfully, but like everyone else, it’s hard to see how else to feel with the general economy. My pay is frozen, inflation is going up and my daycare and healthcare expenses are going up more than inflation. So in essence I work each year for a pay cut. Sobering and depressing, all in one. I’ve been doing a lot more meditating — usually about how to squirrel more away for retirement…
When I get anxious/highly stressed it manifests itself physically not necessarily mentally. I have stomach/intestinal issues that no doctor has been able to diagnose (after many, many tests). I think it is stress related. of course the longer the physical issues last the more it becomes mentally challenging and draining.
After my third child I developed major anxiety disorder and I dont even work outside the home! I believe it had to do with hormones at first (although I have had a “better” anxiety in the past lol) but now I suffer from major anxiety. I take xanax but not everyday. I feel like my body cant handle alot of stress, even simple things give me anxiety… gah! I hope it comes to an end soon~
I picked other. I’m not on meds because I’m breastfeeding. That said I’m the primary breadwinner for a family with 2 children under the age of 3. The stress is there to certainly warrant them once I’m done (shooting for the full year).
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My children are older now and I have a different type of stress. I have been diagnosed with GAD among PTSD from my childhood. I took meds for depression in college but hated all the side effects, I have not taken medications since. Having children and worrying about online threats and protecting them from the emotional threats I wasn’t protected from are hard. My husband has gone back to school so I’m the bread winner and it seems he is the one who is recognized for doing such an amazing thing, not me the bread winner. Although I’ve always thought of myself as an equal opportunity feminist I am struggling with the added financial pressure and still being the person to stitch the families appointments and educational factors together
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