Why are our 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s so stressful?

It’s not just your imagination, early adulthood is a uniquely difficult stage of life…

…with young adults experiencing the highest rates of mental illness and the greatest increase in concerns over the past 10 years of any age group (Twenge et al., 2019). Things are so bad, if the mental health of millenials is not improved, this generation will face a 40% increased mortality rate when compared to Gen X’ers of the same age due solely to “deaths of despair.” Think about that. 40%.

There’s no one reason why this is the case. Instead, it is the confluence of predictable life stressors (e.g. separating from our primary family, forming new partnerships), the emergence of symptoms owing to biological predisposition (especially in the case of schizophrenia-spectrum and bipolar disorders), and environmental factors (e.g. increases in substance use, “political stress”), all of which are exacerbated by adverse events experienced in childhood and adolescence.

Beyond these factors, for today’s early adults, many hypothesize a strong link with the extent to which our social and working lives are mediated by electronic devices. A necessary and sometimes inescapable aspect of survival in the modern era, problematic use of social media and electronic communication is associated with inadequate sleep, emergence of behavioral addictions (e.g. internet gaming disorders, pornography use) and decreases in social belonging. Other factors include increased rates of opioid use disorders, deaths of which have increased nearly 1400% just between 2010 and 2017.

Working adults (especially ages 18-25) are also the least likely to seek treatment. Issues of trying to “handle it on my own without treatment”, in addition to barriers such as lack of time, affordability, and not knowing where to go, are particularly pronounced (SAMHSA, 2018, pg. 56). This is unfortunate given that early intervention can prevent the emergence of more serious concerns in later adulthood.

I am very passionate about helping early adults find meaning, connection, and balance in their lives. As a fellow 30-something, I recognize the difficulty of establishing a core sense of self against the competing demands of work, love, play, and familial/social expectations. If you are struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, behavioral addiction, work stress, or relational concerns, please know that you are not alone and don’t hesitate to get help. Know that counseling is effective, and what matters most is not this or that treatment but finding a provider you trust and will partner with you in your optimal mental health.