Anxiety is a normal part of life, but when it becomes persistent or overwhelming, support is available. Learn about the different forms anxiety can take, who is affected, and what you can do to cope.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety refers to a normal and often necessary response to stress or perceived threats, characterized by feelings of apprehension, worry, or unease. While occasional anxiety is a common part of life, excessive or prolonged anxiety that interferes with daily functioning may indicate an anxiety disorder.
Approximately 1 in 4 people in Canada will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the country, affecting people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances.
Remember: Feeling anxious from time to time is a normal human experience. It is only when anxiety becomes persistent, intense, or gets in the way of everyday life that additional support may be helpful.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders can take many forms. Some of the most common include:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Persistent, excessive worry about a wide range of everyday situations, often without a clear cause.
Panic Disorder – Recurring, unexpected panic attacks accompanied by intense physical symptoms and fear of future attacks.
Social Anxiety Disorder – Intense fear of social situations and being judged, criticized, or embarrassed by others. Social anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders in Canada.
Specific Phobias – Significant fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation, such as heights, flying, or certain animals.
Eco-Anxiety – Chronic fear or distress related to environmental change and climate threats. See the section below for more details.
Political Anxiety – Distress and worry stemming from political events, social change, and uncertainty about the future.
The Age of Anxiety
Young people in Canada today are struggling more than ever with anxiety and related mental health conditions. Research consistently shows that youth aged 15 to 24 report some of the highest levels of anxiety of any age group. By age 25, approximately 1 in 5 people in Canada are diagnosed with a mental illness, and the majority, about 70%, experience symptoms before age 18.
A range of factors contribute to rising anxiety levels across the population, including economic uncertainty, social media pressures, global instability, and concerns about the environment and the future. These pressures do not affect everyone equally; people facing social, economic, or structural barriers often carry a heavier burden.
What helps: Building social connections, maintaining routines, limiting news and social media consumption, and seeking professional support when needed are all evidence-informed ways to manage anxiety in challenging times.
Political Anxiety
An Emerging Topic
Political anxiety refers to distress, worry, and emotional exhaustion that can arise in response to political events, social upheaval, and rapid societal change. Many people in Canada are experiencing symptoms ranging from sleep loss to emotional exhaustion as they struggle to process an increasingly complex and polarized world.
Some mental health experts are exploring whether “political anxiety disorder” should be recognized as its own distinct diagnosis, separate from other forms of anxiety. Whether or not it reaches that threshold, the impact on people’s well-being is real.
Signs of Political Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Obsessive thoughts about political events or news
- Feeling helpless, angry, or overwhelmed
- Avoiding social interactions due to political disagreements
- Physical symptoms such as headaches or muscle tension
What Can Help
- Set intentional limits on news and social media consumption
- Stay connected with people who support you
- Focus on what is within your control
- Engage in meaningful activities and community involvement
- Speak with a mental health professional if symptoms persist
Eco-Anxiety and Climate Distress
Eco-anxiety is the chronic fear or distress related to environmental change and the impacts of climate change. This fear can stem from direct experience of extreme weather events — such as wildfires, floods, droughts, or extreme heat — or from ongoing concerns about the planet’s future.
Climate concern is widespread in Canada. A 2026 national survey of 4,232 people in Canada found that 75% are somewhat or very concerned about climate change. Recent Canadian research also suggests that climate-related distress is becoming more severe for some individuals, with more than one million people in Canada reporting clinically relevant symptoms of climate-change anxiety.
Eco-anxiety can be a normal response. Feeling worried, sad, frustrated, or concerned about climate change is not necessarily a mental health problem. Many experts view these emotions as a reasonable and healthy response to a changing environment. In some cases, these feelings can motivate people to learn more, prepare for climate-related events, connect with others, and take meaningful action. However, when distress becomes persistent, overwhelming, or interferes with daily life, additional support may be helpful.
Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change
Recent Canadian evidence has linked both gradual environmental change and extreme weather events to a range of mental health outcomes, including:
- Emotional distress
- Eco-anxiety and climate anxiety
- Depression
- Worsening of existing mental health conditions
- Increased stress following climate-related disasters and disruptions
These impacts may result from direct experiences (such as wildfires, floods, droughts, or extreme heat) or from concerns about future environmental change.
Who May Be Most Affected?
Eco-anxiety and climate-related distress may disproportionately affect:
- First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities
- Young people
- Older adults
- Women
- People with pre-existing mental health conditions
- People living in areas heavily affected by extreme weather events
- Communities facing social, economic, or structural barriers that reduce their ability to respond to climate impacts
Coping with Eco-Anxiety
Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognize that your emotional response to climate change is valid. Naming your feelings — worry, grief, anger — can help you process them rather than push them away.
Limit Doomscrolling: Set intentional limits on how much climate-related news you consume. Staying informed is important, but constant exposure to distressing content can worsen anxiety.
Take Meaningful Action: Channelling concern into action — whether through community involvement, advocacy, or personal choices — can reduce feelings of helplessness and restore a sense of agency.
Connect with Others: Sharing your concerns with trusted friends, family, or community groups can reduce isolation and build resilience.
Prepare for climate-related events. Taking practical steps to prepare for extreme weather can help reduce feelings of helplessness and improve your sense of control. Consider:
- Creating an emergency plan for your household
- Preparing an emergency kit
- Learning about local risks such as heat waves, floods, or wildfires
- Checking in with family members, neighbours, and community supports during emergencies
Take Care During Extreme Heat
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat events across Canada. During periods of extreme heat:
- Stay hydrated
- Limit outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day
- Check on family members, neighbours, and vulnerable community members
- Follow local public health guidance
Taking steps to protect your physical health can also support your mental well-being.
Anxiety in Children and Youth
Children and young people are not immune to anxiety — in fact, many anxiety disorders first appear in childhood or adolescence. Young people may express anxiety differently than adults, and it can sometimes look like irritability, physical complaints, avoidance of school or activities, or difficulty sleeping.
Children are also increasingly aware of climate change and environmental threats. Research confirms that children experience a range of emotional responses to climate change, including worry, fear, anger, grief, despair, and guilt. At least 56% of young people in Canada report feeling afraid, sad, anxious, or powerless about climate change.
How to Help a Child Cope with Eco-Anxiety
- Listen openly and validate their feelings without minimizing or dismissing them
- Provide age-appropriate, honest information about climate change
- Focus on what your family and community are doing to help
- Encourage connection with nature and outdoor activities
- Involve children in meaningful, hopeful actions — such as planting a garden or participating in community clean-ups
- Limit exposure to distressing news and imagery
- Seek professional support if anxiety is significantly affecting their daily life
Coping and Self-Care
Many evidence-informed strategies can help reduce anxiety and build resilience over time. These are not a substitute for professional care when it is needed, but they can be a meaningful part of everyday mental health maintenance.
Deep Breathing
Slow, deep breathing activates the body’s relaxation response. Try breathing in for 4 counts, holding for 4, and exhaling for 6.
Grounding Techniques
The 5-4-3-2-1 technique — noticing 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste — can help bring you back to the present moment.
Regular Physical Activity
Exercise is one of the most effective natural anxiety reducers. Even a 20-minute walk can make a meaningful difference.
Sleep Hygiene
Anxiety and poor sleep often reinforce each other. Consistent sleep schedules, limiting screens before bed, and a calming bedtime routine can all help.
Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
Both substances can worsen anxiety symptoms, even if they seem to help in the short term.
Stay Connected
Social connection is a powerful buffer against anxiety. Reach out to someone you trust, even when anxiety makes you want to withdraw.
Treatment and Support
Anxiety disorders are among the most treatable mental health conditions. If anxiety is significantly affecting your daily life, speaking with a health care provider is a good first step. Effective treatments include:
- Psychotherapy:Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-researched approaches for anxiety disorders. Other effective therapies include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches.
- Medication:Various medications, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, can be effective when prescribed and monitored by a physician or psychiatrist.
- Lifestyle changes:Regular exercise, improved sleep, reduced substance use, and stress management techniques can all support recovery.
- Peer support:Connecting with others who have lived experience of anxiety can reduce isolation and provide practical coping strategies.
- Self-help resources:Guided workbooks, apps, and online programs can complement professional care.
You do not need to be in crisis to seek support. Speaking with your family doctor, a counsellor, or a mental health professional is a sign of strength, not weakness.
If You Are in Crisis Make this section stand out
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate emotional support, help is available any time of day or night.
9-8-8
Call or text 9-8-8 to reach Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English and French.
Resources and Further Reading
The following resources from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and other trusted organizations offer additional information and support:
Ten practical tips to reduce anxiety and start feeling better today, including immediate and longer-term strategies.
An exploration of why young people in Canada are struggling more than ever with anxiety, and what can be done to help.
A comprehensive resource on eco-anxiety, its symptoms, who is most affected, and strategies for coping with climate-related distress.
Practical guidance for parents and caregivers supporting children and youth who are worried about climate change.
An examination of how political events and social change are affecting mental health in Canada, and what you can do about it.
A leading Canadian resource offering evidence-based information, self-help tools, and support for people living with anxiety.