The Rising Tide of Anxiety: What Every Practitioner Needs to Know

The prevalence of stress and anxiety among clients is reaching unprecedented levels, with statistics painting a concerning picture. According to a 2024 survey by CIPHR (1), 63% of people in the UK report feeling stressed weekly—a significant rise compared to six years ago.

Alarmingly, 96% of individuals under 45 feel stressed at least once a month, and nearly one-third of women report an increase in stress over the past five years. This trend is mirrored globally, with Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer survey (2) finding that 39% of Gen Z and 36% of Millennials experience daily stress and anxiety, compared to 29% of Gen X and 22% of Baby Boomers. These figures highlight a generational shift, with younger cohorts disproportionately affected by modern pressures.

The Driving Forces Behind Rising Stress Levels

To understand the surge in clients presenting with stress and anxiety, it’s essential to examine the multifaceted contributors:

• Environmental Toxins: Increased exposure to pollutants, chemicals, and endocrine disruptors places a significant burden on the body’s detoxification systems, often exacerbating stress responses (3).
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Diets high in ultra-processed foods lack essential nutrients needed to support nervous system function, leaving individuals more vulnerable to the effects of stress (4).
• Modern Lifestyles: Time-poor and overly busy lives contribute to chronic stress, with many individuals juggling demanding careers, caregiving responsibilities, and social obligations.
• Alcohol and Poor Sleep: Alcohol consumption, often used as a coping mechanism, disrupts sleep quality and further perpetuates stress. Poor sleep is both a cause and consequence of heightened stress levels (5).
• Technology Overload: Excessive screen time and exposure to blue light disrupt circadian rhythms, suppress melatonin production, and exacerbate stress-related sleep disturbances (6).

Understanding the Nervous System: HPA Axis, Gut Health, and the Vagus Nerve

Stress is deeply rooted in the biology of the nervous system, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When the brain perceives a threat, the HPA axis activates, releasing cortisol to help the body respond. While this response is critical for short-term survival, chronic activation can lead to HPA axis dysregulation, manifesting as fatigue, anxiety, or burnout.

The gut-brain axis further complicates the picture. Stress disrupts gut microbiota balance, impairing digestion and nutrient absorption. This creates a feedback loop where poor gut health exacerbates stress, and stress worsens gut health. The vagus nerve, a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system, plays a pivotal role in regulating this axis. Chronic stress diminishes vagal tone, reducing the body’s ability to return to a state of calm.

The Vicious Cycle of Stress and Sleep

The interconnected nature of stress and sleep forms a self-perpetuating cycle. Elevated cortisol levels suppress melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep initiation, leading to difficulty falling and staying asleep. Sleep deprivation, in turn, amplifies the body’s stress response, increasing cortisol levels further. This cycle disrupts vital biological processes such as hormone regulation, cellular repair, and immune function. Over time, the cumulative effects can impact every system in the body, leaving individuals more vulnerable to chronic conditions.

Integrating Nutrition and Practical Interventions

While lifestyle changes are fundamental to managing stress, integrating targeted supplementation and practical interventions can significantly enhance outcomes. Key strategies and nutrients include:

• Adaptogens and Calming Botanicals: Ashwagandha, rhodiola, purple passion flower extract, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and saffron support adrenal health, modulate cortisol levels, and promote relaxation and emotional balance.
• Essential Nutrients for Nervous System Support: Magnesium, often called “nature’s tranquilliser,” regulates cortisol and alleviates tension (7), while B vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12, and folic acid) are crucial for energy metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis (8). Vitamin C and zinc act as antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress and supporting immune function (9).
• Sleep-Supportive Nutrients: Vitamin D3 and Montmorency cherry help regulate circadian rhythms by enhancing melatonin production, improving both sleep quality and overall resilience (10) (11).

Holistic practitioners can help relieve anxiety in clients by combining these with practical approaches such as:

• Educating Clients on Nervous System Regulation: Introduce breathwork, mindfulness practices, and tools to support the nervous system and enhance vagal tone.
• Addressing Lifestyle Factors: Guide clients to adopt sustainable routines that prioritise sleep hygiene, balanced nutrition, and movement while minimising blue light exposure.
• Supporting Gut Health: Recommend dietary changes and probiotics to restore gut microbiota balance and improve resilience to stress.
• Reducing Environmental Exposures: Encourage clients to limit exposure to toxins through dietary and lifestyle adjustments.

Unifying Strategies for Better Support

The rise in stress and anxiety among clients is a complex issue rooted in modern lifestyles, environmental factors, and biological imbalances. By understanding the interconnected nature of the nervous system, gut health, and external stressors, practitioners are uniquely positioned to provide targeted, evidence-based interventions incorporating education, lifestyle guidance, and nutritional support.

Further Reading

Acupuncture and Acupressure to Alleviate Pain and Anxiety During Cancer Surgery

The Healing Paws, How Your Canine Helps Relieve Anxiety

References 

1. Jones, E.-L. (2024, August 29). Workplace stress statistics in the UK in 2024. Ciphr.com; Ciphr Ltd. https://www.ciphr.com/infographics/workplace-stress-statistics#causes-of-stress
2. Euromonitor. Global business and market intelligence. 
3. Encarnação, T., Pais, A. A., Campos, M. G., & Burrows, H. D. (2019). Endocrine disrupting chemicals: Impact on human health, wildlife and the environment. Science Progress, 102(1), 3–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0036850419826802
4. Martini, D., Godos, J., Bonaccio, M., Vitaglione, P., & Grosso, G. (2021). Ultra-Processed Foods and Nutritional Dietary Profile: A Meta-Analysis of Nationally Representative Samples. Nutrients, 13(10), 3390. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103390
5. CHUEH, K.-H., GUILLEMINAULT, C., & LIN, C.-M. (2019). Alcohol Consumption as a Moderator of Anxiety and Sleep Quality. Journal of Nursing Research, 27(3), e23. https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000300
6. Choi, K., Shin, C., Kim, T., Chung, H. J., & Suk, H.-J. (2019). Awakening effects of blue-enriched morning light exposure on university students’ physiological and subjective responses. Scientific Reports, 9(345). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36791-5
7. Schutten, J. C., Joris, P. J., Minović, I., Post, A., van Beek, A. P., de Borst, M. H., Mensink, R. P., & Bakker, S. J. L. (2021). Long‐term magnesium supplementation improves glucocorticoid metabolism: A post‐hoc analysis of an intervention trial. Clinical Endocrinology, 94(2), 150–157. https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.14350
8. Calderón‐Ospina, C. A., & Nava‐Mesa, M. O. (2019). B Vitamins in the nervous system: Current knowledge of the biochemical modes of action and synergies of thiamine, pyridoxine, and cobalamin. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 26(1), 5–13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6930825/
9. Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211
10. Richard Friedrich Radlberger, & Kunz, A. (2023). Vitamin D deficiency promoting non-24 h sleep–wake disorder: a case report. Frontiers in Neurology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1141835
11. Howatson, G., Bell, P. G., Tallent, J., Middleton, B., McHugh, M. P., & Ellis, J. (2011). Effect of tart cherry juice (Prunus cerasus) on melatonin levels and enhanced sleep quality. European Journal of Nutrition, 51(8), 909–916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0263-7