Gen Z and Mental Health

I am Gen Z and I’m stressed out.

It’s a fact that older generations tend to lump anyone younger than them as millennials. But I’m here to tell you that this is wrong. Gen Z is totally different than millennials, and the sooner that everyone gets on board about this, maybe the sooner people in my generation can begin digging themselves from under the stress blanket we seem to live in.

For those of you who don’t know, Gen Z is the group born from 1997 and on. Being a part of this generation means to know only a world that is connected online. Maybe this is why some call us the iGeneration or iGen. I absolutely cannot imagine the internet not existing, nor can I imagine there not being smartphones or selfies, but I know that there was a time when people were a lot less connected, and I can’t help but wonder, did the people who grew up in that world have as much stress as I do?

I’m in my second year of college, and I’m surrounded by peers who prize individuality and authenticity and who spend a lot of time online trying to “connect” with others. I am no exception. In my observation and in my own experience, I think that because we spend so much time focused on things like social media and trying to be different but also be our true selves that we’ve become a very lonely generation. And ultimately, this loneliness is a contributing factor to our seemingly never-ending stress.

In talking with friends and peers, I’ve learned that most are dealing with some kind of mental health issue, whether it’s a mild or hard case. Some are depressed, some have bouts of sadness for no apparent reason, some have eating disorders, some have anxiety, and some are just so stressed out that they’ve begun to feel out of control which is leading to addictions to things like alcohol and drugs. What might be truly tragic about these facts is that everyone I spoke to joked around about their feelings. Even I’m guilty of doing this.

So, what else is causing our stress? Well, let’s start with gun violence. Nobody is immune from gun violence, and it’s becoming a horrible fact that our nation is becoming desensitized to mass shootings. Though we might be young, we are very aware of this growing problem, and it scares us. Are we safe sitting in our college classrooms? Our dorms? It’s unknown. But what I do know is that many of us are getting involved in social and political activism. We want to make a change, but even getting involved causes a level of stress.

Speaking of the political climate, this brings me to the issue of constantly monitoring the news. I’m always reading the news, but maybe this is because I’m always on social media and the current issues of our nation are peppered throughout social media so I can’t help but read it. Whether it’s news about politics, climate change, natural disasters, the economy, or assaults, I read about it, and yes, it causes me stress. My older sister is in the Generation X category, and I remember her telling me that when she was my age that she never read or watched the news and that the only things she was stressed about were her grades and getting a decent job after graduation. Thinking back to that conversation, I’m very jealous. I wish I only worried about my grades.

There is some good news. Many Gen Zers are open about their mental health issues, and many are seeking help. Acknowledging that they are struggling is a good thing because it’s a great first step to getting help. If we don’t get help, I’m fearful that suicide rates will continue to increase. But what does “getting help” mean? Well, of course, there’s getting professional help. However, we can also help ourselves by making some changes in our lives. If you’re feeling stressed, consider these tips:

• Get a good night’s sleep. Yes, this could be a challenge, but there’s a few things you can do to help yourself relax naturally, such as spray a light lavender scent on your pillow (lavender has been known to be a natural relaxant), taking a warm bath (don’t take your phone with you), drinking some warm tea, or reading a fictional story that allows your mind to fall into the story with no stress.
• Eat a healthy diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are so good for your body, thus are good for your mind. Don’t indulge in high-fat or high-calorie options for every meal or snack. That’s just going to weigh you down both physically and metaphorically.
• Get daily exercise. It’s been shown again and again that exercise improves mood and decreases feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress because of an increase in the hormone serotonin and endorphins, which help to produce positive feelings. Whether it’s low or high-level exercise, any kind can be beneficial. Get out and take a walk or go for a run, or meet friends to play tennis, or head to the gym to lift weights, or just stay in and do some cardio in your room (YouTube has limitless, free workout videos that you can do at home). Getting in some daily exercise can really make a difference in your stress level.
• Spend time with family or friends without your phone. Instead of making social media connections, make real interpersonal connections. Laugh and have fun without relying on your phone. I promise it is possible! Recently, a few of my friends and I spent an evening playing some of the classic games, like Scrabble, Pictionary, and Monopoly. We ended up putting our own twist to them, such as with Scrabble, we only allowed words from movie titles. It was a lot of fun and all without the use of our phones!
• Practice being mindful. I won’t lie; this has been difficult for me. Being mindful means to really pay attention to the moment – the real moment, not a moment in looking at something online. I struggled with this. For example, if I were out doing something like at a park, concert, or even just hanging out with a friend and binging on Netflix, I would be constantly live streaming it on Instagram or Snapchat and then checking every few seconds to see if somebody liked it or made a comment. This was not being mindful. So now, I make a conscious effort to be present in the moment, to really look at and feel my surroundings. Yes, I might take a picture to post online, but I now try to do so after the moment has passed, not while it’s occurring. Just take small steps in your journey to be mindful. It really will make a difference in your life.
  
  Stress is a part of everyone’s life in some way or another. For my generation, it just seems to be more rampant. But this doesn’t mean we can’t overcome it. We are smart. We are resourceful. We know what we want. And I think we know ourselves better at a younger age than any of our older generations. We can make these advantages work in our favor, and I know we can make our future bright. We have the power to make a change, so let’s support each other and get to it!