Here's why you feel more stressed than ever

The American Psychological Association just released their annual "Stress in America" report for 2025.

They surveyed over 3,000 adults across the country. And the findings paint a picture that's hard to ignore.

We're not just stressed. We're disconnected.

Here's what they found:

62% of Americans say societal division is a significant source of stress in their lives.

More than half of adults report feeling isolated (54%), left out (50%), or lacking companionship (50%) at least some of the time.

And here's the part that hit me hardest: 69% of people said they needed more emotional support in the past year than they actually received.

That number was 65% last year.

The gap is widening.

This isn't just about feeling bad.

The survey found that people who are stressed by societal division are far more likely to feel isolated. 61% of them feel isolated regularly, compared to 43% of those who aren't as affected by the division.

And loneliness doesn't just hurt emotionally. It shows up in your body.

Among people reporting high levels of loneliness:

Loneliness isn't just an emotional state. It's a physical one.

The work stress connection:

Nearly 7 in 10 employed adults (69%) identified work as a significant source of stress.

And certain groups are bearing the weight more than others:

While the national average stress level stayed relatively steady at 5 out of 10, that average hides deep disparities.

Stress is not evenly distributed.

What we're stressed about:

When the APA asked people what America represents today, the answers were telling:

That mix of hope and fear? That's where we are right now.

75% of adults said they're more stressed about the country's future than they used to be.

And new stressors are emerging: 69% said the spread of misleading information stresses them out (up from 62% last year). 57% are stressed by the rise of AI (up from 49%).

But here's what matters most:

92% of people said relationships are a key source of meaning in their lives.

Family (77%), friendships (62%), romantic relationships (47%), and even pets (39%) topped the list.

And when asked about their goals for the future, the top three were:

We know what matters. We know what we need.

The problem isn't that we're struggling to value connection. It's that we're struggling to find it.

Here's what the science says:

Social support is one of the strongest predictors of well-being.

When you're connected to people who genuinely care about you, your body responds differently to stress. Your cortisol levels regulate better. Your immune system functions more effectively. You recover faster from setbacks.

But when you're disconnected, stress compounds.

You're not just dealing with the stress itself. You're dealing with it alone. And that makes everything harder.

What you can do:

This isn't about fixing society. You can't control division or national stress levels.

But you can control how you show up for the people in your life.

Reach out. Send the text. Make the call. Show up for coffee.

Show up. Be present when you're with people. Put the phone down. Listen.

Build community. Find small, consistent ways to connect. A weekly walk. A monthly dinner. A book club. A volunteer group.

Connection doesn't have to be grand. It just has to be real.

Ask for help when you need it. 69% of people needed more support than they got last year. You're not alone in needing help. And asking for it isn't weakness. It's survival.

The truth is, most of us are feeling this.

The isolation. The disconnection. The gap between what we need and what we're getting.

You're not imagining it. It's real. It's measurable. It's affecting your health.

But connection is still possible. Even in a divided, stressful, overwhelming world.

The people in your life matter. Your relationships matter. And showing up for them—even in small ways—matters more than you think.

84% of people in this survey said they still believe they can create a good life, even if it looks different from past generations.

That's not denial. That's resilience.

We're anxious. We're stressed. We're disconnected.

But we haven't given up.

Read the full APA report: Stress in America 2025: A Crisis of Connection

Read ‘Live Within’ past editions here

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