The silent epidemic of the modern age: "Anxiety"

İrem Beril Şen, a specialist clinical psychologist at BHT CLINIC Istanbul Tema Hospital, noted that today's rapidly changing social and economic dynamics are tiring the human psyche like never before. Şen noted that many people are unknowingly struggling with anxiety, this "silent epidemic" brought on by the modern age. She explained that anxiety is not an enemy but a signaling mechanism.

Anxiety is detected in 2 out of every 5 young people in Türkiye.

Expert Psychologist Şen emphasized that anxiety disorder, which occurs when the feeling of anxiety becomes constant, seriously reduces the individual's quality of life, and shared the striking statistics as follows:

According to a study conducted by Turkey Clinics, 48.4 percent of young people aged 18-24 were diagnosed with moderate or severe anxiety. This rate has reportedly increased, particularly in the post-pandemic period. General epidemiological studies indicate that approximately 17 percent of the Turkish population experiences mental health problems, with anxiety being among the top issues.

Global increase raises alarm: 1 in 8 of the world's population is at risk

Expert Psychologist Şen demonstrated with scientific data that the increase is not specific to Türkiye but has become a global problem: "According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) data, approximately 301 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety disorders. A 25 percent increase in this rate was observed in the post-pandemic period.

According to research by Harvard University (2022), approximately 1 in 8 adults in the world's population experiences clinical levels of anxiety at least once in their lifetime.

Main factors that trigger anxiety

Şen stated that many factors play a role in the emergence of anxiety and listed the most important reasons as follows: "Intense working conditions and pressure for success

Economic difficulties and a sense of uncertainty,

The digital world and social media: It has been stated that the feeling of constant comparison and the pressure to be visible increases 'anxiety about the future' and 'feelings of inadequacy', especially in young people.

Physical symptoms should be taken into consideration

Şen, who stated that anxiety manifests itself not only with mental but also physical symptoms, warned, "When symptoms such as heart palpitations, tremors, stomach discomfort, difficulty breathing, sweating and sleep problems continue for a long time, a person's functionality can be seriously impaired."

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective method

Şen stated that the most effective approach to treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and that there are case studies in which anxiety scores decreased from 17 to 7 with the online CBT application.

Expert Psychologist İrem Beril Şen emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes as well as professional support, offering the following advice: "Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, reducing stimulants such as caffeine, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices play an important role in alleviating anxiety symptoms."

Don't dismiss it as "just stress"

Şen emphasized that anxiety is not just an individual problem but a societal one, adding: "Mental health centers need to be expanded in workplaces and educational institutions, digital awareness training needs to be prioritized, and access to psychological support services needs to be facilitated. Anxiety is one of the most common yet least talked about problems of our age. Learning to manage it with early awareness, not dismissing it as 'just stress,' will allow us to regain control of our lives."

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Reporter: News Center