- Different generations love to complain about each other, but therapists say we all struggle.
- Younger generations are grappling with identity, friendships, and carving their own path.
- Older generations face the challenge of balancing childcare and responsibilities.
The baby boomers inherited a prosperous economy, and the rest of us ruined it.Millennials are anxious avocado eaters and never intend to own property, while Gen Z A depressed snowflake whose work robs her of freedom. Few people about Generation X even remember they exist.
It’s too early to know how Gen Alpha will be judged, but since they were born watching TikTok from the womb and are already using anti-aging skin care products, things don’t seem to be looking much better. is.
Or so the stereotype goes.
So in the spirit of finding common ground among all the mudslinging, BI asked six therapists what their clients of various generations often talk about in therapy. Topics include feeling inadequate, relationships, and the difficulty of navigating life’s transitions.
It turns out Gen Z isn’t the only group struggling with mental health. In 2022, nearly a quarter of U.S. adults visited a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist. Gallup poll found. This is a 10% increase since 2004.
The reasons aren’t all dark. A Gallup survey found that, especially among young people, there is less stigma around seeking treatment and the importance of mental health is being emphasized more than in previous years. But women, young people and people with lower household incomes were the least likely to rate their mental health positively, the poll said, likely due to the stress of the pandemic.
No matter how old we are, we are all dealing with something, whether individually or collectively. International relations are strained, and it feels like we’re always on the brink of going into recession or losing our jobs to AI, not to mention the text bombs we send each other.
“Each generation is really struggling to find meaning in what their lives should look like at this point in time,” says the New York-based psychotherapist. “Every age group looks different.” says Israa Nasir, a scholar and author of a forthcoming book.toxic positive” he told Business Insider.
But each generation goes through the same stages of life necessary to become a fully formed human being, she said.
So while headlines and online trends might lead you to believe that Gen Z is from Venus and Boomers are from Mars, we’re probably more alike than different.
alpha generation
Members of Generation Alpha were born around 2010 or later. My oldest is turning 14 this year, so he’s still a child.
by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five children has a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, with ADHD and anxiety being the most prevalent, yet only 20% of them receive mental health treatment . CDC data is based on children ages 3 to 17.
According to the CDC, the number of children diagnosed with ADHD has skyrocketed since 2003, and anxiety has also increased over time. Between 2016 and 2019, more than 9% of children in the United States were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Georgina Starmer, a UK-based counselor registered with the British Association of Counseling and Psychotherapy, told BI that this age group is “hitting the perfect storm”. The coronavirus pandemic has plunged the world into chaos and uncertainty, separating them from their contemporaries, she said.
More generally, children under 13 are often most stressed about what’s going on in their immediate environment — “often what’s going on that day or week.” Amanda McDonald, a BACP registered therapist based in the UK, told BI.
Parents usually play a big role in a child’s life at this age, and there is a push and pull between what is allowed, how things are done, and the child’s desire to be more independent. Yes, she said. Generation Alpha also develops friendships outside of the family, independent of parents and caregivers, and this is reflected in their children’s concerns.
Ty Alonso, a New Jersey-based clinical psychologist, told BI that conflict with parents is the most common concern among children entering late elementary and middle school. Parents’ expectations for how their children should behave and handle their emotions can cause conflict, she says.
Alonso said she receives many referrals for children struggling with behavioral issues such as emotional regulation, anger and ADHD, even among the Alpha generation of preschoolers who are too young to receive one-on-one therapy.
generation z
Gen Z is typically between the ages of 14 and 26. Therapists say issues of identity, body image and friendships are common in this age group, and they often suffer from anxiety and low mood.
Young Gen Zers in high school and college are concerned about social hierarchies and power dynamics, such as who is “cool” and who is not, which can lead to anxiety and feelings of not being good enough. says clinical psychologist Jill Owen. Britain told BI. Clients often compare themselves to their co-workers, especially regarding how “popular” or attractive they are. She believes that the rise of social media over the past decade has made the situation even worse.
“Young Gen Zers are developing their own sense of identity, which is essentially about what it means to be ‘them’, including how they dress, how they talk, and how they spend their time,” Owen said. Told. “With this sense of independence comes anxieties about adulthood and an awareness of broader issues such as climate change and global injustice.”
Diana Garcia, a therapist in Florida, works primarily with older Gen Zers, ages 18 to 26. “At this stage in their lives, they’re starting to explore what’s important to them and whether they have the same values as their family or different values.”Origins,” she said. . They are thinking about their career and the beginning of their journey, which can cause feelings of anxiety, she said.
millennial generation
Like Gen Z, Owen said, millennials, who are in their late 20s to early 40s, feel insecure when they compare their lives to the “perfect lives” they see on social media.
Many people are becoming parents for the first time or thinking about having children, and they may be feeling a variety of emotions.
Past generations were less aware of how much parenting style can impact a child’s mental health. Social media has made this information mainstream, and Millennials are becoming more aware of how their upbringing has affected them emotionally and how they can avoid harming their children. Israa Nasir said it made him think.
“I observed a lot of motivations for people to look inward and try to unravel their childhood traumas in order to protect their children,” Alonso said.
Nasir saw it too. “In fact, people come to therapy straight up saying, ‘I think I had a lot of emotional problems with my parents when I was younger,’ or ‘I need to deal with some issues with my parents,'” Nasir says. he says.
Many Millennials are also hitting traditional milestones like buying real estate, getting married, and later having children. People who don’t live up to these societal expectations, or who simply choose a different path, may come to therapy to discuss those pressures, Starmer said.
Generation X
Generation X is between the ages of 44 and 59.
Although they have higher incomes than Millennials, many still have college debt to pay off or are paying it off on behalf of their children. They are also expected to care for aging parents, have larger families than millennials, and “step up” as community leaders. gallup analysis found. “It’s a perfect storm of financial, emotional and time stress,” Gallup said.
Starmer, who works primarily with women, said all these pressures, along with dealing with the emotional impact of menopause, take a psychological toll.
Many of my Gen X clients are also trying to help their children deal with mental health issues.
She said: “I see tired, overwhelmed, stressed parents trying their best to get their children access to mental health services while dealing with everything going on in their lives. “I’m working on it,” he said.
boomer generation
Baby boomers are in their 60s and 70s. BI previously reported that baby boomers control half of the wealth in the United States, but it is not evenly distributed among them. Many in this generation are considered financially unstable and do not have enough savings for retirement or long-term care.
They are adjusting to later stages of life, and some worry that they may start to lose their identity or lose direction as they grow older.
“Retirement can involve a loss of identity, confidence and a sense of purpose. Burglary situations can have a similar impact,” Mr Owen said.
As people’s children grow up and start their own families, it can cause difficult emotions. “If we always understand our roles in terms of our work and home lives, it’s no surprise that this leaves us struggling to understand who we are.” says Starmer.
“We often hear jokes about how lucky boomers are, with things like free college education and soaring home prices, but this has led to the stereotypical image of a debt-free couple heading into retirement. But this is not necessarily the reality,” she says. .
