Benoit Denizet-Lewis, “Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?” (NYT, 2018, 7800 Words)

Benoit Denizet-Lewis, “Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety?” (NYT, 2018, 7800 Words)

This profile piece on teen anxiety by Benoit Denizet Lewis highlights the increase in programs and facilities for anxiety. Anxiety is such a generalized but personal topic at the same time. It helps us avoid dangerous situations and people, especially when people might not live in safe environments. Teens are currently living in the most self conscious time period to date where everything from social media to getting into colleges makes them feel like their actions are under a microscope. When we internalize our anxieties about news stories in the world, family life, and everything in between it builds up pressure. I’m glad the article discussed the contrast between how we talk about teens raised in affluent families versus those in disadvantaged communities as those “kids who have it all might be hurting” from anxiety as well. There will always be disdain when debating about people receiving medical help for anxiety in programs like Mountain Valley that cost 910 a day, a resource that is nearly impossible to provide for all suffers of debilitating anxiety.  Getting people to realize that they can overcome their issues through practice and facing their fears in controlled settings is much better than being overprotective of their circumstances.