Anxiety as an illness – the number of young people suffering from it has doubled within three years. The cause is clearly identified by child and adolescent psychologists: the lack of social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to these anxiety disorders. However, it would be a mistake to simply refer to this as “anxiety.” To provide effective help, it is crucial to determine which specific phobia or type of anxiety the young patient is experiencing.
What Types of Anxiety Do Psychologists Identify?
Medicine distinguishes between three types of phobias:
- Agoraphobia: A distressing feeling of being unable to “escape” from enclosed spaces or large crowds.
- Social Phobia: The fear of being the center of attention in a group or embarrassing oneself in public.
- Specific Phobias: These include fears of specific things, such as visiting the dentist, encountering dogs, or developing certain illnesses.
The first two types of anxiety are closely linked to the isolation experienced during the pandemic. On one hand, some individuals lost their ability to be comfortable in larger groups. On the other hand, being confined and prohibited from interacting with others led to feelings of distress.
The lack of social contact also diminished people’s ease in interacting with others. A mishap that could have been laughed off with self-irony before the pandemic might now trigger a crisis for those affected.
Why Have Anxiety Disorders Increased So Drastically Among Young People?
The exact reasons can only be speculated upon. It is likely that older generations are more psychologically resilient. For example, 18-year-olds are often still searching for their place in life and react more sensitively to stressful situations. In contrast, 40-year-olds have typically “seen more” and have greater experience dealing with unusual situations.
On a positive note, phobias are generally very treatable, according to a study by KKH Niedersachsen (source: ndr.de). However, the question remains: what are the long-term effects if an entire generation has an above-average number of members struggling with mental health issues?
Phobias Have Become a European Challenge
A 2016 EU survey revealed that one in six people suffered from a phobia. By 2023, this figure had risen to 50% of respondents (source: European Council).
The German government has since acknowledged significant errors in its handling of COVID-19, particularly concerning children and adolescents. Given that these mistakes have led to an above-average increase in anxiety disorders, Germany’s statutory pension system may already need to set aside additional reserves for the expected rise in disability pensions. In 2022, 42.3% of new disability pension claims were due to psychological and psychosomatic causes (source: de.statista.com). In 2000, this figure was just 24.2%.
