Look up "The Medicalization of Society" by Peter Conrad. I studied this book in college and met the author. It's very interesting. I think that the U.S. has evolved into a society that believes that everything can be treated with a pill. While medication can be effective, it isn't the only answer.

The mental health field didnt really start growing until the late 90's and after. My psychologist told me that. I think that no body really knew what to call things back in the 70's and 80's and things were more hush hush then they are now. The term "mental illness" is more acceptable now too so more people are coming out saying they have issues. I think that is really what it is. Also, there is a huge focus on success which can cause a lot of anxiety!

I agree with babymonkey. Its a lot more acceptable now so more people are willing to talk about it. Also with the computer and websites made for people with anxiety its obviously going to look like there is an "epidemic"

I agree in the information age that we are in more is public than it was in the 70's. Google has made everything easy to look up and share with your friends, family, the public.

I also agree that TV has had a strong impact on fear and negative thinking.

I am 45. I had anxiety when I was a child. I just did not know what it was until now. I see anxiety in children all the time. I try to help them through their feelings. I am an early childhood teacher so I have made a "safe place" in my classroom to relax and practice breathing and doing things to promote calm in themselves. I hope that helping them learn self regulation skills will help them as adults. Only time will tell.

I agree that there IS more pressure these days....to succeed, to survive, everythingbseems to be a competition, who's better than who and who has more? It's pretty sad that we as Americans have lost so much insight as to what is most important. We need to slow down, focus and not forget about good old fashioned traditions, beliefs.

Anxiety and depression probably existed at a high rate even in the 1960s . We just worried about different things..like the Russians blowing up the planet . We have come a long way in diagnosis. My
mother who died in 1984 was depressed for the last 10 years of her
life and the doctors treated her with Valium , which is great for anxiety
but can actually make depression worse. Mental illness existed , ..we just didnt
know what to call it or how to treat it.

iTo me seeing the world today, poverty, all the natural disaster,s, fires. wars in those middle eastern countries, the crulety to animals, house for closures, leaving people no place to go, And all the unemployment, no jobs all our jobs sent to china, korea mexico, all the illigal,s in this county America. all the mass shooting the last one 20 children killed 8 adults. why??? some nut with these dangerous guns. Assult rifeles, who needs those???? I could go on and on. People today are scared. no health insurance or dental. People are stressed to the max, no job security anymore even for college grads. tThen the old peopl and disabled, all the service men coming home with no arms or legs laying up in these poorly , over crowed hospitals. wars with these Middle Eastern countries , what for they hate our guts. they have been fighting for years and and years. No democracy in those countries. run by dicktators, that is all those people know. I,am getting tired just writting about it all the pediphille priest that gags me. But anyway yes to day we are a medication society. alcohol, people living on the streets our own vietnam vets served their country, come home to people spitting on them. half have mental and drug and alcohol problems. yES my friends we are all scared, burnt out society.ON SOME KIND OF MEDICATION TO HELP US GET THRU A DAY TO WORK , TO EARN THAT PAYCHECK AND STRETCH IT AS FAR AS WE CAN, ALL THOSE SLEEPLESS NIGHT,S. WE NEED SLEEP AIDS, ALL THAT STRESS WE NEED ANXIETY MEDICATION, OH AND THAT DEPRESSION THROW IN SOME ANTIDEPRESANTS. AND HOPE YOU CAN FIND A NICE SHRINK THAT WILL GIVE OUT THESE CONTROLED SUBSTANCE,S. BUT LETS FACE IT IF WE DON,T TAKE THE MEDS HOW CAN WE GET UP GO TO WORK, EARN A CHECK LIVE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE. WE COULD,NT DEPRESSION CAN PUT YOU FLAT ON YOUR BACK YOU JUST CAN,T MOVE. IT IS HORRIBLE MENTAL ILLNESS, SO THANK GOD WE HAVE MEDICATION TO HELP US. TO BE FUNTIONING HUMAN BEING,S. AND COUNT YOUR BLESSING IF YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE TO GET TO THE SHRINK AND PAY FOR THE MEDICATIONS YOU NEED TO FUNTION.

Definitely! I know so many people who suffer from anxiety and depression. I think it's the fast pace and stressful lives we live. I also think the foods we eat play a HUGE role in it.
There is a documentary called "Supersized America" real eye opener! Another one called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead", also a good one. They talk about how the foods we eat pollute our bodies, mentally and physically.
Although, I do think these disorders have been around for a long time, there is definitely a rise in today's society.

It's horrible. Growing up, I didnt hear of anxiety very much. But as I started going to college I started hearing more. Now that I am working I feel that EVERYONE is on some sort of medication for it.

I think that its because of everyday struggle. People trying to make ends meet, divorces, people that you work with making your day a living hell sometimes, then you leave work scared praying and hoping that you dont lose your job.

AUGH!

Kacc.... I love that you have a relaxing little safe place in your class room. It probably sounds silly but I think it would be great to offer some sort of stress/relaxation/meditation class for all students k-12. I realize everyone doesn't have anxiety disorders but with our fast paced world such a class couldn't hurt. I have had anxiety my entire 41 years and when I was younger I always felt like a weirdo....I am happy for the children today that it is so easily discussed. It doesn't carry the stigma that it used to.

Amen Brother!
I quit watching TV in '83 because I felt bugs bunny was too violent HAHA~~~What you are concerned with is true!
If you do not look exactly a certain way you must be ugly in some way.
' Dont do certain things you are underprivliged...
Gee whiz I have all the reasons in the world to feel sorry for myself...whahhhh. ~~~Its time to take inventory of ourselves and see the beauty we posses inside. Growing up I was F#@!ing proud to be an American and now not so much. Our nations leaders have lowered the standard to the level of pathetic. Americans have always stood proud for what we stood for...HELLO!!! What do we stand for now? One nation under God? The communist asian countries have higher self esteem than we do. It is high timethat we as a nation get our act together. :)