Okay, okay, before you jump all over me, know that I am not here to harp on people who have anxiety. I'm actually one of them.

Lately I have been seriously wondering why anxiety has become so much more prevalent in recent years. Are we truly fearing for our futures? Are we more anxious now than before because we have been taught to be more vocal about our feelings or is it a sign of the deteriorating state of the world?

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

These ideas first came about when I half-considered asking my professor if there was anything we could work out to help my anxious mind better navigate his rigorous course. I didn't, and I ended up with an A in the class, but I never went and talked to him because I was afraid. I was afraid he would say that anxiety was "whining" as I have often heard it called. I was afraid he would think less of me if I admitted I was "just another college student with anxiety". Now I can say I really do have anxiety - my doctor tested me and where the baseline for generalized anxiety was at a score of 25, I scored a 41. Before taking it, I was given a lecture about not over-exaggerating my symptoms just to get medication and blah blah blah. I actually under-exaggerated a couple of my symptoms and still scored that high.

While I don't see medication as a crutch or a disability, I am pretty happy to say I've been un-medicated for several months now (I was diagnosed about 3 years ago).

But what about everyone else? Just how many college students are claiming they have anxiety when they might not? And how many actually do and are not seeking help?

Do some people think they'll get special treatment because they claim to have anxiety? Do these people know the true struggle of having anxiety? Like I said, I don't get defensive if someone claims to have anxiety, just like I am not offended by sweaters that say "I Have Anxiety" and are marketed as though people who have anxiety only wear sweaters and hide in their rooms.

So, back to the real question here. Why is anxiety so much more prevalent now than a few decades ago? Is it a combination of global warming, a lack of job security, and the economy? Or are we just more comfortable voicing the inner workings of our minds nowadays? I know there are a million different debates out there right now, but I think its important to start this one.

Leave your opinion in the comments below! Remember to be kind and proofread!