Depression and Anxiety: An American Epidemic?

According to a recent survey of medical diagnoses in the United States, the prevalence of mental health issues is exceedingly high. Of those surveyed, depression and anxiety make up two of the top five of all medical diagnoses in the United States. These numbers suggest that an incredibly high number of people struggle with depression and/or anxiety.

Put another way, approximately one in five who were surveyed have been diagnosed with depression, and one in six have been diagnosed with anxiety.

About Depression and Anxiety

While everyone occasionally feels sad or down, depression lasts for two weeks or longer. Common symptoms of depression include loss of interest and pleasure in activities that you once found enjoyable, trouble sleeping, weight loss or gain, being tired and lacking energy with no apparent cause, and trouble making decisions. Sometimes those symptoms are accompanied by thoughts of suicide.

Anxiety disorders differ from simply being nervous about things like standing up in front of a crowd, interviewing for a new job, or going on a first date. Anxiety comes in many forms, such as Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, to name a few. Generally speaking, people struggling with anxiety disorders feel highly stressed, have racing thoughts, are persistently worried, and feel physically restless.

Digging into Patterns of Depression and Anxiety

As told by the recent survey data, there are several notable differences in the rate of depression and anxiety based on age, gender, and race/ethnicity. For example, young adults are particularly susceptible, with anxiety and/or depression affecting one in four in this age group. Women, too, experience a high incidence of anxiety and/or depression, with one in five being diagnosed with at least one of these conditions. One in four people of Latin origin are diagnosed with anxiety, and one in three are diagnosed with depression.

When you see the data laid out visually, the patterns are readily apparent.

We Help People With Depression and Anxiety at The Therapy Group of DC

Given these survey results, it’s almost a certainty that you know someone who is struggling with anxiety and/or depression. Maybe that person is you, or maybe it’s someone close to you.

If you or a loved one is in need of help, we invite you to see how, together, your biggest challenges can be overcome. We invite you to learn more about how to find a therapist in DC. Our DC therapists offer a broad range of counseling services, including individual therapy, couples/marriage counseling, LGBT-affirming therapy, and, of course, therapy for anxiety and depression.

Contact us for more information about therapy in Washington DC and/or to schedule an appointment.