Anxiety of Today

Amy Wilson
November 28, 2025

Anxiety. It is a word we seem to be hearing in many places today and used in a variety of contexts. However, what is anxiety? According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, anxiety is “A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.” Another explanation from this source states that anxiety is “A state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a realistic or fantasized threatening event or situation, often impairing physical and psychological functioning.” As taught through our CCTI courses, we know trauma (and the anxiety it produces) can cause a flight, fight, or freeze response. So, is the true anxiety our men feel about performing causing them to freeze rather than move forward? Is the anxiety our women are feeling causing them to burn out more quickly as they try to step up and take it all on themselves?

Technology is adding to the increase in anxiety in many ways. One that is recently being explored is how AI (artificial intelligence) may impede critical thinking and problem-solving skills¹. We already know that Generation Z is less likely to ask for help because of how this may be perceived as a sign of incapability, even though social media makes everyone look fully capable. When this fear-to-perform feels real and overwhelming to a youth or young adult, they may be more willing to have AI help them write in order to be more successful. However, recent studies show that reliance upon this “tool” is exhibiting weaker brain activity. This is actually leading to this generation being less resilient and willing to take risks, taking on that freeze mentality due to their perceived anxiety of what may happen if they actually write a piece themselves.

There is also more of a tendency for this generation to numb their struggles with medications and/or drugs. They have bought into the lie that they should not have to feel anxious about anything, so therefore, there is medicine to help with that. Unfortunately, a lot of not-well intended medical professionals are seeing how lucrative it is to help this generation numb their pain, provide medicines to help them focus, etc. They are not being encouraged to first work through their human struggle and to see how God may be growing them in their walk through this issue. Are we taking young people to the Bible first, to show them, “That there is a God in heaven who loves (them). He knows (them) to the depths because He formed (them) in the womb. He binds up broken hearts. He offers hope and a future, giving meaning to temporary sufferings. He forgives sins so that (they) can start again with a clean conscience. He proffers trustworthy rules for living, that we may escape our moribund, self-sabotaging ways.”²

We hear this generation talk so much about the isolation they are feeling and the need to do everything themselves without any help. I know how much technology helps us perform our daily functions so much more easily and quickly (I am, after all, typing this article on a laptop instead of a first-draft hand-written copy like I was first taught to write.) But we must start encouraging our youth to use technology, especially our phones, as a tool and not a companion. Thankfully, research is starting to sound the alarm! “…the emerging data from neuroscience suggests that, at best, we don’t actually know what digital is doing to our brains over the long-term. And at worst, we’d better start making some new public service announcements that declare: This is your brain on digital.”³ Most recent studies have shown how much dopamine, the feel-good chemical one’s body produces, is increased by all the fun-filled reels, seeing the number of ‘likes’ one has received, and/or playing that latest game. The brain is receiving constant feel-good “hits” from these activities, and it craves more and\ more. It is no wonder that living everyday life does not seem as exciting and purpose-filled when we don’t receive the same intensity of dopamine as quickly as we do from these activities on our phones! However, what are the long-term effects, and is this helping us face reality and real-world living and relationships?

Yes, our youth and young adults face a great deal in today’s world. However, if we want to help them with their anxiety, we must first admit our own problems we may have with any of the above issues discussed. We must then encourage them to meet the challenges head-on, to rely on God, and to be involved in the community He designed us all to live in as followers of His. Then, we have to help this generation live in reality, and focus their time and attention on this world and not one the world is trying to draw them to. Our future may truly depend on it!

1. “Study Finds AI May Impede Critical-Thinking Skills.” The Stand, vol. 49, no. 9. Oct. 2025, p. 10. ↩︎
2. Peterson, Andree Sue, “Stay in the Crucible.” , vol. 40, no. 8, Aug. 2025, p. 111. ↩︎
3. Felicia Wu Song. “RESTLESS DEVICES: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age.” S.L., Intervarsity Press, 2021. ↩︎