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Americans Normalize High Stress Levels
23 Oct
Summary
- Many Americans view stress as an unavoidable part of life.
- Cost of living and national future are top stress concerns.
- Some Americans turn to AI for support when overwhelmed.
A new survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) indicates that many Americans have come to accept high stress levels as a normal, albeit unmanageable, aspect of modern life. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) agree that stress is simply something to live with, and similar numbers report being desensitized to bad news and accustomed to uncertainty.
The primary sources of this pervasive stress are identified as the escalating cost of living, affecting three-quarters of those polled, and anxieties about the nation's future, cited by 74% of respondents. These pressures lead many to feel they are falling behind despite their best efforts and to scale back their life expectations.
In response to feeling overwhelmed, nearly half of adults have reduced social engagement over the past year. Concurrently, a notable portion of AI users have engaged with chatbots for companionship or as a substitute for mental health support, though experts emphasize these tools do not replace professional care or human relationships.
To build resilience, the APA recommends prioritizing meaningful connections, maintaining physical and emotional well-being through exercise and mindfulness, practicing healthy thinking to keep challenges in perspective, and setting realistic, achievable goals. The survey involved 3,132 adults and was conducted between July 29 and Aug. 24, 2026.
