20 struggles dating anxiety

Clutched in the hand of nearly every teen is a smartphone, buzzing and beeping and blinking with social media notifications. But is social media and the omnipresence of digital interactions really the cause of all this anxiety? Recent studies have noted a significant uptick in depression and suicidal thoughts over the past several years for teens, especially those who spend multiple hours a day using screens, and especially girls. But many of the pressures teenagers feel from social media are actually consistent with developmentally normal concerns around social standing and self-expression. Social media can certainly exacerbate these anxieties, but for parents to truly help their children cope, they should avoid making a blanket condemnation.

Dating after ending a long-term relationship can be a scary thing. Just the thought of jumping back into the dating pool after being out of the game for so long can stir up emotions and induce anxiety. It can also trigger uncertainty and doubt, leaving you with questions about yourself, your future and your love life. With the rules of the dating game having changed since you last played, where and how do you even begin? According to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada , the average length of marriage in Canada is about 14 years and the national divorce rate is 48 per cent. Perhaps among the most popular bit of information people want to know is how long it will take for them to get over a breakup, and when should they start dating again.

Not long after Nelly Spigner arrived at the University of Richmond in as a Division I soccer player and aspiring surgeon, college began to feel like a pressure cooker. Overwhelmed by her busy soccer schedule and heavy course load, she found herself fixating on how each grade would bring her closer to medical school. But she began to experience intense mood swings.

When I was 25, I spent a year dating a man 20 years older than me. The Older Man was also my editor, which added a power imbalance to the mix—a dynamic we all know can be equal parts problematic and irresistible. I wonder: What do we gain and lose from dating someone of a different generation? The Older Man was a peculiar person.