More and more people in Germany are feeling stressed. This is shown by a forsa survey commissioned by KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse among around 2,000 citizens aged 16 to 70. Currently, the vast majority of respondents (82 percent) report feeling exposed to major tension and strain at least occasionally, with half of them (41 percent) experiencing high pressure frequently or even very frequently. Concerningly, overall every second respondent (49 percent) states that their stress has increased over the past one to two years. Among those who frequently feel under pressure, more than three quarters (77 percent) have observed this increase.
Dr. Aileen Könitz, an expert on psychiatric issues at KKH, views this development with concern: “Chronic stress can have serious consequences for our health, as it often leaves behind a persistent feeling of being overwhelmed or even helpless. This, in turn, can lead to chronic exhaustion and subsequently to depression and anxiety disorders or can exacerbate existing mental illnesses. Chronic stress also has physical effects. Many people do not even realize that our system raises the alarm at an early stage – through sleep problems, high blood pressure, or frequent infections.”
Does stress cause loneliness, or does loneliness cause stress?
According to the survey, the most frequently cited stress-related symptoms and complaints among those who are often stressed range from restlessness, nervousness, and irritability (83 percent) to fatigue and sleep disorders, as well as feeling burned out (78 percent each). Particularly alarming for Aileen Könitz is that 43 percent of those who are frequently stressed report depressed mood or depression when they are under pressure. Almost as many (40 percent) say they neglect social contacts or feel lonely. Twenty-nine percent of frequently stressed respondents experience despair under high pressure, and one in four suffers from anxiety (25 percent).
“Severe strain can lead people to perceive maintaining contacts as exhausting, to distance themselves more and more from friends and family, and to avoid social activities. But anyone who behaves this way runs the risk of entering a stress spiral. Because: loneliness in turn can promote chronic stress and subsequently mental illness,” explains the expert. Building up and maintaining social networks is therefore essential to reduce stress, alleviate feelings of anxiety, and improve quality of life. To prevent or overcome loneliness, voluntary work, taking part in sports or other group courses, and joining clubs can help. “Everything that brings us closer together works against loneliness,” emphasizes Könitz.
Stress trap: fear of the future?
But what do Germans actually perceive as stressful? Topping the list are current social and political issues such as climate change: half of all respondents (50 percent) find this particularly stressful. Thirty-nine percent each feel under pressure due to Germany’s economic situation and due to their education or job. One in four (26 percent) considers financial worries to be particularly stressful.
Whether war, climate change, or rising prices: many people suffer from anxiety about the future in times of crisis. Constant exposure to negative news across all channels and the feeling of being unable to do anything about it put the brain under permanent stress. In Germany, there is generally a strong need for security and a low willingness to take risks. The current economic situation and upcoming structural changes undermine this desire for security and control. “We would prefer to have a guarantee, so to speak an all-inclusive package that insures us against all conceivable losses. We can only successfully counter the related fears by strengthening our resilience, that is, our psychological resilience. Only then can we cope with crises and grow from them. And this is where social contacts come into play again, because a first step toward strengthening resilience is to talk about crisis situations, for example with family and friends,” advises Aileen Könitz. Even if many developments are neither predictable nor controllable, it is important not to remain passive but to become active. “In this way, we ourselves can already do a great deal for our resilience by making decisions, whether that means seeking help for psychological problems, becoming involved in climate protection, or changing jobs to improve our financial situation,” says the expert.
