October 29, 2019
In the New York Times Magazine, writer Benoit Denizet-Lewis posted an article on October 11, 2017. In “Why are more American teenagers than ever suffering from severe anxiety?”, Lewis interviews several teenagers, research psychologists, counselors, medical specialists, professors, authors, and several others about the extreme increase of teenagers with severe anxiety. In this essay, the professionals who are confronted about this issue all agree that high school and college students today are facing more anxiety than ever seen, due to several factors. Most professionals acknowledge that teens today are facing anxious thoughts more than ever, but the debate is about where these thoughts are coming from. Some of the professionals interviewed say that this anxiety stems from social media and the comparison of self to peers, others say that teens are taking the pressure form their parents and multiplying it by one hundred or more- creating false external pressure.
One point made by Lynn Lyons later on in the essay resonates with me as someone who has anxiety. Lyons talks about how teens are being taught that avoiding anxiety producing scenarios is totally acceptable, even when it means they end up not learning the skills to operate in the real world- outside of their “safe spaces” and bedrooms. Instead of allowing every anxious kid to leave the room for however long they want when feeling anxious, Lyons suggests that more kids should act out their anxiety and realize that their fear is irrational and unlikely to happen.
In Yo-Yo Ma’s Necessary Edges: Art, Empathy, and Education, he discusses how it’s essential to have STEAM education, not to have our sole focus on the sciences. Through his focus on the arts, he explains that art helps to build empathetic thought in students and allows school to be a place of self-expression instead of a requirement. Knowing that one form of anxiety management is art and music, if more opportunities are made for the arts in schools, kids with anxiety may find a comforting space instead of having to face their anxiety at all times during the school day.
I believe this essay is a trustworthy source because of the date it was published and the dates of the cited sources. This essay is two years old and uses information mostly from 2010 to present. This essay is relevant because it explains the rise of anxiety in teenagers from multiple perspectives, including those who suffer from anxiety and those who diagnose and treat people with anxiety. This essay is perfect for those who know a bit about anxiety or people who would like to know about current health issues. The author who wrote this essay is an assistant professor at Emerson College and a contributing writer for the New York Times. The author’s credentials also play into how accurate the information is. Because Lewis is an assistant professor and talked to multiple professionals in the field of mental health, the information is fully supported by evidence-based research. Each time a new source is referenced, the author explains who they are and where the quote comes from. The purpose of this essay is to inform the general public about the United States’ most pressing public health issues. I would think that the purpose is educational or informative, considering there is no bias related to Lewis’s writing.
Great choice! I recently read a book about the plastic brain and it suggested a similar scenario: STOP avoiding the things that make us anxious. When we avoid situations that give us anxiety, our brains strengthen the relationship between our fear and the avoided situation. However, we can rewire our brains and teach ourselves that the avoided situation might not be so bad.
You did a WONDERFUL job on this assignment. Keep up the amazing work!