Why Anxiety Is Increasing Among Young Indians (2025 Guide)

Anxiety and depression are growing more rapidly than ever before, and an alarming pattern is emerging among Gen-Z. Everyone, from students to recent graduates, fresh professionals, and today’s youth, is dealing with intense academic pressure, job-related stress, emotional burnout, and a growing fear about the future. Although anxiety, depression, and stress are not new, they have always existed for generations, but the scale and intensity with which young Indians experience anxiety today are completely different. This raises an important question: What has changed?

Why do present-time youth feel more overwhelmed than previous generations? In this article, I am exploring major cultural, social, economic, and psychological factors that have contributed to the rising anxiety epidemic among India’s youth and why it has become such a widespread concern today.

1. Academic Pressure & Extreme Competition

Unfortunately, even in today’s highly competitive world, the Indian education system remains largely outdated, and this fuels relentless competition among students. Young learners are burdened with excessively long study hours, intense academic pressure, unrealistic parental expectations, and limited opportunities for holistic growth. Together, these factors create an environment where stress becomes unavoidable.

PRIMARY REASONS BEHIND ANXIETY AMONG THE YOUTH

• Pressure from parents to perform well and score high marks
• Fear of failure is the mother of all kinds
• Fear of failing in board or entrance exams
• Not enough seats in top colleges
• Coaching-culture stress
• Not enough freedom in creative culture

Many students think they must be perfect, which contributes to long-lasting academic anxiety.

2. Job Insecurity & Career Confusion

Lack of opportunity and high competition are the reasons for job insecurity and career confusion among Gen-Z in India. Many young people struggle to find stable, well-paying jobs, which becomes the primary reason for long-term stress and insecurity.

Career-related Triggers include:

• High unemployment rate
• Pressure to earn early
• Fear of “not being successful”
• Unsure career paths
• Gig economy instability
• Instability in the gig and freelance economy

3. Social Media: The Comparison Trap

Seeing is not believing. This line perfectly suits today’s social media platforms, where most of what we see is entirely exaggerated, curated, and unrealistic. What is shown on this platform, from photos, achievements, lifestyles, and relationships displayed online, often has little or no relation to real life. It is entirely unrealistic, fake, and just a show-off, and they create unrealistic standards of beauty, success, relationships, and lifestyle.

How it increases anxiety:

• Unrealistic comparison with your life and others
• Fear of missing out (FOMO)
• Extra Burden to look perfect
• Looking for validation through likes and comments
• Exaggeration to negativity

This round-the-clock virtual pressure is killing self-esteem and disturbing mental health.

4. Urban Lifestyle Stress

Apart from offering unlimited opportunities and the promise of a better life, urban cities also bring intense stress. Many young people live alone, far away from family support and emotional security, which often contributes to rising levels of anxiety and depression. Over time, several urban lifestyle factors silently elevate stress and impact mental well-being.

Urban lifestyle factors:

• Traffic, noise, and pollution
• Long working hours
• High rent and expenses
• Lack of community bonding
• Poor work-life balance 

5. Relationship Struggles & Emotional Burnout

Presently, the majority of young Indians are dealing with highly pseudo as well as complicated relationship patterns, including breakups, trust issues, online dating pressure, and emotional instability that contribute to anxiety and depression. The following factors are emotional triggers:

• Toxic relationships
• Fear of abandonment
• Overthinking
• Loneliness
• Communication gaps
• Lack of emotional support

6. Unawareness About Mental Health

Due to a lack of awareness about mental health and wellness, many young people fail to recognise the early symptoms of anxiety. This delays proper identification and treatment, ultimately worsening the situation. Below are some of the most common misconceptions:

•  Just overthinking
• Go away on its own
• Talking about mental health is a weakness
• Due to stigma, many choose to suffer in silence instead of seeking help.

7. Family Expectations & Cultural Pressure

Because of strong religious values, customs, and traditions, many Indian families expect young people to follow a traditional path, good values, a stable job, early marriage, and starting a family. These often create stress and become another significant source of anxiety for the youth. The following traditional and cultural factors further contribute to rising stress levels:

• Interests don’t match family expectations.
• A career path feels forced.
• Marriage pressure increases
• Comparison with relatives continues.
• Youth feel torn between their own dreams and societal expectations.

8. Poor Lifestyle Habits

It is a universal fact that lifestyle plays a vital role in mental health. Today’s youth often follow unhealthy daily routines that negatively impact their performance, energy, and emotional stability. Over time, these habits contribute significantly to stress and anxiety. Some of the most common lifestyle-related triggers include:

• Late-night screen time
• Lower sleep quality
• Lack of exercise and meditation Consumption
• Consumption of Junk food
• Excessive Use of caffeine or nicotine
• Deskbound routines

These habits directly contribute to anxiety and low energy levels.

9. Overthinking & Fear of the Future

Rising living costs, intense competition, and constant uncertainty make many young Indians deeply anxious about their future.

Common fears:

• Will I get a good job?
• What if I fail?
• Will I be financially stable?
• Am I good enough?
• What will people think?

Final Thought

Anxiety among young Indians is not just a specific struggle—it is a reproduction of modern society, rising expectations, rapid digital change, and emotional pressures.

But the hopeful truth is:

Anxiety is controllable, curable, and reversible.

With adequate knowledge, healthy habits, emotive support, and open communication, young Indians can break free from the cycle of stress and reclaim mental well-being.