Is Too Much Information Fueling Your Anxiety?

"The flood of information that we can now get from technology is problematic. A study found a significant increase in anxiety disorders when comparing anxiety prevalence rates during the period of 2007-2009 to that of 2019-2022."

"Technology has eroded our ability to tolerate uncertainty, which is often seen as a hallmark characteristic of most, if not all, of the anxiety disorders."

"Michael, a middle-aged man with generalized anxiety disorder, constantly worries about his finances and checks his bank accounts multiple times a day to give himself reassurance that everything is OK."

"Kaia, a new mother with OCD symptoms, finds that she is not sleeping much because she is glued to her video baby monitor to make sure her baby is still breathing."

Anxiety disorders have risen over the past two decades, with technology contributing to this trend. The availability of excessive information leads to an inability to tolerate uncertainty, a key factor in anxiety disorders. A study indicated a notable increase in anxiety prevalence from 2007-2009 to 2019-2022, coinciding with the rise of smartphones. Factors such as distressing news alerts and the negative effects of social media, particularly on teenage girls, exacerbate anxiety. Individuals with anxiety often rely on technology for reassurance, further highlighting the connection between technology and anxiety.

Read at Psychology Today