By 2020, according to the World Health Organization, depression is set to be the second most disabling condition in the world after heart disease. This widespread illness affects people regardless of their background, nationality, sex or wealth. Statistics suggest 3.1% of the U.S. population were diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 2015. However, the true number of anxiety sufferers is expected to be much higher.
This has not always been the case. Take yourself back in time 70 years. In 1942, ten times less people were diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
So why are we so much more likely to get depression and anxiety than our ancestors? Is it simply a case that our ancestors did suffer with these conditions, but were less likely to be diagnosed?