Mental Health
121 The Transition of Anxiety
Madisyn Miller and Farrah El Kachbendi
Introduction
Anxiety is a widespread, complicated emotional state that is typified by worry, fear, and uncertainty. The word anxiety originated from the Latin word ‘anxieta’ which means trouble in the mind about an uncertain event. It is also partly derived from the Greek root ‘andr’ meaning to squeeze or press tight. Although it is a normal reaction to stress, danger, or uncertainty, it can have a major negative influence on a person’s everyday life and wellbeing when it persists or becomes excessive. It is crucial to comprehend the several facets of adult and adolescent anxiety in order to identify, treat, and seek assistance for this mental health issue. Therefore, the transition of anxiety from adolescence to adulthood impacts science and society through initial diagnosis, growth, and external factors.
The time during one’s transition from adolescence into young adulthood can spark many new changes. During this time period, it is common for the human body to struggle when navigating newfound independence and a fresh social environment (Spielberg et al., 2019). While the transition of anxiety can impact science and society, the same can be stated vice versa. Science, technology, and society (STS) can all have direct and indirect influences on the development of anxiety during one of life’s biggest transitions.
Connection to STS
Anxiety can affect people and societies in a variety of ways, and it can have both direct and indirect effects on science and society. It’s crucial to remember that there are individual differences and a complex relationship between anxiety and its effects. Anxiety in research might hinder the innovative and creative cognitive processes that are necessary for breakthroughs and new discoveries. Scientific research may become less collaborative as nervous people struggle with communication, which makes it more difficult for them to operate in a team. Furthermore, anxiety has a widespread influence on society structures outside of lab settings. Decisions can be distorted by public fears, which create an environment where decisions are made based more on fear and uncertainty than on logic and evidence. Research priorities, financial allotments, and individual career choices are all affected, which has a cascading impact that modifies both the scientific environment and society dynamics. In order to foster a resilient, creative, and cohesive community, anxiety must be addressed in both scientific and sociological contexts.
The science of the human body is a key contributor to anxiety presentation during young adulthood. Neuroscience, the study of the brain, studies the balance of neurotransmitters and their impact on mood elevation, depression, and overall regulation. Neuroscience is a large component of the study of anxiety, and it can help answer why anxiety presents itself and how it can attempt to dwindle. Within the past few generations,