Why Gen Z Can’t Avoid Anxiety

You walk through life with your phone glued to your hand, constantly checking notifications and comparing yourself to others. Your grades, your looks, your relationships—it all gives you intense anxiety. You overthink every little thing and worry what others will think. Your mind races with fearful thoughts about an uncertain future. No wonder anxiety is skyrocketing among Gen-Z. With social media and endless pressure, anxiety has become a defining trait of your generation. 

Gen-Z faces anxiety like no other generation. Growing up with technology and social media, their lives are constantly on display. The pressure to get likes and shares takes a massive psychological toll. For Gen-Z, it’s never really “after hours.” They feel obligated to respond to messages and stay engaged with friends 24/7. This always-on mentality makes it difficult to disconnect and leads to burnout.

How Social Media and Technology Fuels Anxiety in Gen-Z

Social media and constant connectivity have reshaped how Gen-Z interacts with the world, often fueling anxiety and stress. When you’re always online, comparing yourself to curated posts of your peers’ glamorous lives is easy. But behind the scenes, they struggle with the same self-doubts and anxieties.

Gen-Z feels pressure to be constantly available and post on social media. If you don’t get enough likes or comments, it’s easy to feel like you’re somehow failing or being left out. But social media isn’t real life. Log off and connect with friends in person instead. Seeing friends and influencers doing exciting things on social media can trigger a fear of missing out and inadequacy. But their lives aren’t as picture-perfect as they seem. Focus on your own journey rather than comparing yourself to others.Not every eldest daughter in a family is going to deal with EDS. But, if your role as an older sibling became unhealthy and unrealistic expectations were placed on your shoulders, you might be dealing with the effects without even realizing it. 

Academic Pressures

Gen-Z is pressured to achieve high grades and attend top colleges. Many feel like they can never measure up due to advanced placement classes, extracurricular activities, and unrealistic expectations of parents and teachers.

The competition starts early, with some elementary schools weighing grades and ranking students. The desire to enter a prestigious college and earn scholarships and job opportunities fuels this competitive spirit. For some, less than an A is considered a failure. This constant drive for perfectionism and ideal outcomes takes a psychological toll. Some argue that healthy competition and motivation are good, but many feel the current school culture has gone too far. When self-worth and mental health become casualties of the race to the top, we must reevaluate how to empower students to be more balanced. One of the best things you can do to overcome EDS is to prioritize self-care. It isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. If you’re used to putting the needs of others in front of your own, you’re going to burn out quickly, and your mental health is likely to suffer. 

Hyper-Awareness

Exposure to the 24-hour news cycle and constant social media updates means you are ultra-aware of what’s happening in the world, even if it’s outside your control. While staying informed is important, being plugged in all the time can heighten feelings of anxiety and worry, especially for Gen-Z.

When tragic events are broadcast on an endless loop, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and distressed. Even positive news stories emphasizing the accomplishments and lavish lifestyles of others can make you feel inadequate in comparison. The images of perfection on social media do not reflect reality and should not be a measure of your self-worth.

Uncertain World Events

The 24-hour news cycle and constant access to information about world events leave Gen-Z anxious about the future. Politics at home and abroad seem increasingly polarized and chaotic. Policy decisions that could shape the world for decades feel out of their control but personally impactful. Gen-Z craves stability and direction. However, world leaders often appear reactionary, unpredictable, and self-interested rather than visionary or collaborative. Global threats like climate change pose existential risks, but collective action feels slow and ineffective.

The good news is that this generation also has more tools and awareness around mental health than any before. While social media and news cycles bombard you with stressors, you can also have your therapy sessions online. Book a consultation with us today.