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Gen Z's Anxiety: Maya Hawke's Take on a Restless Generation
24 Nov
Summary
- Maya Hawke calls anxiety the defining emotion of our time.
- Gen Z experiences anxiety due to global uncertainty and pressures.
- Social media is both a trigger and a source of community for anxiety.
A Gen Z writer describes experiencing daily anxiety fueled by environmental concerns, information overload, and a sense of a shifting world. Actor Maya Hawke, in a recent podcast, identified anxiety as potentially the defining emotion of the current generation, sharing her personal journey of understanding and calming her own anxiety by acknowledging it.
Recent data from India reveals a high prevalence of anxiety among young people, with studies and consultation analyses showing it as a major mental health challenge. Young professionals aged 20-40 commonly report anxiety-related issues. This generation grapples with intense pressure to excel in careers, relationships, and self-care, feeling an exhaustion from constantly trying to meet escalating expectations.
Experts note that while Gen Z is more vocal about emotions, their anxieties are heightened by economic volatility, environmental crises, and rapid technological advancements. Social media plays a complex role, acting as both a trigger for insecurity and a platform for finding community. Reframing anxiety as a signal rather than an enemy, and finding agency through creative and mindful practices, are emerging coping strategies.
