Why High School Feels So Much Harder Now: The Rise of Anxiety

It feels like anxiety is everywhere right now.

And honestly? It kind of is.

If you’re in high school, you probably know what I mean.

The pressure to keep up.
The endless notifications.
The fear of missing out.
The comparison.
The grades.
The future.

For a lot of teens, life feels like a constant state of “go,” and your nervous system rarely gets a break.

So if you’ve been wondering, Why does everyone feel so anxious?
You’re not imagining it.

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explores how modern adolescence has shifted dramatically, especially with the rise of smartphones, social media, and less real-world independence.

And it helps explain why so many teens feel overwhelmed.

Your brain was not built for this much input

Think about it.

Your brain is trying to manage:

texts
Snapchat
Instagram
school
sports
family expectations
friend drama
college pressure
world news
comparison
dating
identity questions

All at once.

That’s a lot.

Your nervous system was designed to respond to real, immediate stress, not a hundred tiny stressors all day long.

But now?

Your brain can stay “on” 24/7.

That constant activation can create:

racing thoughts
overthinking
panic
trouble sleeping
irritability
shutting down

That’s not weakness.

That’s overload.

Social media changed the game

One of the biggest ideas in the bookThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt is that teens are spending less time in real-world play and connection, and more time online.

That matters.

Because online life often increases:

comparison
fear of exclusion
body image struggles
pressure to perform
social anxiety

When your worth starts to feel tied to likes, replies, streaks, or how people perceive you, anxiety grows fast.

And the hard part?

It can make you feel like everyone else is doing better than you.

Even when they’re struggling too.

Anxiety is often protection

This part is important.

Anxiety is not random.

Your brain is usually trying to protect you.

Sometimes from rejection.
Sometimes from failure.
Sometimes from pain you’ve already experienced.

For teens who’ve been through trauma, bullying, family conflict, or hard relationships, anxiety can become a way of staying prepared.

Always scanning.
Always anticipating.

Like a wall between you and the world.

That wall may have helped you survive.

But over time, it can start to feel exhausting.

So what actually helps?

Not just “calming down.”

Not just trying harder.

Real support.

That can look like:

taking breaks from social media
building safe relationships
getting outside
sleeping more consistently
learning nervous system regulation
talking honestly about what’s going on

And sometimes, therapy.

Therapy can help you understand why your anxiety feels so loud, what it may be protecting, and how to feel safer in yourself.

Because everyone is the way they are for a reason.

And if you feel anxious right now, it doesn’t mean you’re broken.

It might just mean you’re carrying more than your system was built to hold alone.

Begin Healing With Selah Counseling and Trauma Therapy

I specialize in trauma-informed, compassionate care for people ages 13-30. I offer:

Online therapy across Maine
A gentle, attuned approach at your pace
Tools to build safety, connection, and self-trust

If you’re ready to get started, visit our therapy for teens or therapy for young adults page to learn more detailed information about our approach, or contact us to set up an appointment.

Reference

Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Press.