"A search for “anxiety relief” on Google pulls up links for supplements in the form of pills, patches, gummies and mouth sprays. There are vibrating devices that hang around your neck and “tone your vagus nerve,” weighted stuffed animals, bead-filled stress balls and coloring books that claim to bring calm. Ads for online talk therapy apps pop up on social-media sites.

Americans are anxious—and a flurry of old-line companies, upstarts and opportunistic entrepreneurs aim to fill the demand for relief.

Anxiety has come into focus across the country in part due to the stress of the pandemic, increased awareness about mental health and more screening in schools and at doctors’ offices. In a recent federal survey, 27% of respondents reported they had symptoms of an anxiety disorder. That’s up from 8% in 2019, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Americans looking for help have found that the supply of available and qualified therapists hasn’t kept up with demand. Some can’t afford the fees. That has left a growing industry geared toward anxiety outside the medical and traditional mental-health professions, including supplements, products and mental-health coaches.

The science behind much of the industry is unclear and in some cases questioned by scientists and researchers. The antianxiety claims of most products have no federal or regulatory oversight. The role of the Food and Drug Administration is to ensure that supplements meet safety standards, are well manufactured and accurately labeled, but the agency doesn’t need to approve supplements before they can be sold or marketed. Supplements might interact with other medications.

Wearable devices aren’t regulated if they are intended for general wellness. Some scientists say there haven’t been enough large-scale, peer-reviewed studies to determine whether such products, which can cost hundreds of dollars, work. There’s also limited research on mental-health coaching, and clinicians warn that adequate training is needed to identify people in crisis and direct them to appropriate treatment.

Some in the industry say the science will catch up, and their goal is to fill the gap in a shortage of options for treatment."

https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/anxiety-mental-health-treatment-supplements-ca4a7fc?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1

The problem is not a wrench in the people's mental gear.
But sands are seeping into the gear. Anxiety is the first sign.

On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 5:25:13 AM UTC-7, ltlee1 wrote:
> "A search for “anxiety relief” on Google pulls up links for supplements in the form of pills, patches, gummies and mouth sprays. There are vibrating devices that hang around your neck and “tone your vagus nerve,” weighted stuffed animals, bead-filled stress balls and coloring books that claim to bring calm. Ads for online talk therapy apps pop up on social-media sites.
>
> Americans are anxious—and a flurry of old-line companies, upstarts and opportunistic entrepreneurs aim to fill the demand for relief.
>
> Anxiety has come into focus across the country in part due to the stress of the pandemic, increased awareness about mental health and more screening in schools and at doctors’ offices. In a recent federal survey, 27% of respondents reported they had symptoms of an anxiety disorder. That’s up from 8% in 2019, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
>
> Americans looking for help have found that the supply of available and qualified therapists hasn’t kept up with demand. Some can’t afford the fees. That has left a growing industry geared toward anxiety outside the medical and traditional mental-health professions, including supplements, products and mental-health coaches.
>
> The science behind much of the industry is unclear and in some cases questioned by scientists and researchers. The antianxiety claims of most products have no federal or regulatory oversight. The role of the Food and Drug Administration is to ensure that supplements meet safety standards, are well manufactured and accurately labeled, but the agency doesn’t need to approve supplements before they can be sold or marketed. Supplements might interact with other medications.
>
> Wearable devices aren’t regulated if they are intended for general wellness. Some scientists say there haven’t been enough large-scale, peer-reviewed studies to determine whether such products, which can cost hundreds of dollars, work. There’s also limited research on mental-health coaching, and clinicians warn that adequate training is needed to identify people in crisis and direct them to appropriate treatment.
>
> Some in the industry say the science will catch up, and their goal is to fill the gap in a shortage of options for treatment."
>
> https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/anxiety-mental-health-treatment-supplements-ca4a7fc?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1
>
> The problem is not a wrench in the people's mental gear.
> But sands are seeping into the gear. Anxiety is the first sign.

Why are you so anxious about American anxiety?

On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 8:25:13 AM UTC-4, ltlee1 wrote:
> "A search for “anxiety relief” on Google pulls up links for supplements in the form of pills, patches, gummies and mouth sprays. There are vibrating devices that hang around your neck and “tone your vagus nerve,” weighted stuffed animals, bead-filled stress balls and coloring books that claim to bring calm. Ads for online talk therapy apps pop up on social-media sites.
>
> Americans are anxious—and a flurry of old-line companies, upstarts and opportunistic entrepreneurs aim to fill the demand for relief.
>
> Anxiety has come into focus across the country in part due to the stress of the pandemic, increased awareness about mental health and more screening in schools and at doctors’ offices. In a recent federal survey, 27% of respondents reported they had symptoms of an anxiety disorder. That’s up from 8% in 2019, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
>
> Americans looking for help have found that the supply of available and qualified therapists hasn’t kept up with demand. Some can’t afford the fees. That has left a growing industry geared toward anxiety outside the medical and traditional mental-health professions, including supplements, products and mental-health coaches.
>
> The science behind much of the industry is unclear and in some cases questioned by scientists and researchers. The antianxiety claims of most products have no federal or regulatory oversight. The role of the Food and Drug Administration is to ensure that supplements meet safety standards, are well manufactured and accurately labeled, but the agency doesn’t need to approve supplements before they can be sold or marketed. Supplements might interact with other medications.
>
> Wearable devices aren’t regulated if they are intended for general wellness. Some scientists say there haven’t been enough large-scale, peer-reviewed studies to determine whether such products, which can cost hundreds of dollars, work. There’s also limited research on mental-health coaching, and clinicians warn that adequate training is needed to identify people in crisis and direct them to appropriate treatment.
>
> Some in the industry say the science will catch up, and their goal is to fill the gap in a shortage of options for treatment."
>
> https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/anxiety-mental-health-treatment-supplements-ca4a7fc?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1

The WSJ article, however, did not include the most popular source: Marijuana

------------------------------------------------------------------
https://fortune.com/2022/04/11/legal-marijuana-sales-33-billion-2022/
"Legal marijuana sales in the U.S. expected to hit $33 billion this year

Pot is popular.
Legal sales of marijuana are expected to top $33 billion by the end of 2022,
according to a new study by MJBiz, a leading B2B cannabis industry resource..
That’s a 32% increase over 2021’s total of $25 billion.

And by 2026, the group estimates, annual sales will exceed $52 billion."
------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The problem is not a wrench in the people's mental gear.
> But sands are seeping into the gear. Anxiety is the first sign.

On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 1:07:18 PM UTC-4, ltlee1 wrote:
> On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 8:25:13 AM UTC-4, ltlee1 wrote:
> > "A search for “anxiety relief” on Google pulls up links for supplements in the form of pills, patches, gummies and mouth sprays. There are vibrating devices that hang around your neck and “tone your vagus nerve,” weighted stuffed animals, bead-filled stress balls and coloring books that claim to bring calm. Ads for online talk therapy apps pop up on social-media sites.
> >
> > Americans are anxious—and a flurry of old-line companies, upstarts and opportunistic entrepreneurs aim to fill the demand for relief.
> >
> > Anxiety has come into focus across the country in part due to the stress of the pandemic, increased awareness about mental health and more screening in schools and at doctors’ offices. In a recent federal survey, 27% of respondents reported they had symptoms of an anxiety disorder. That’s up from 8% in 2019, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
> >
> > Americans looking for help have found that the supply of available and qualified therapists hasn’t kept up with demand. Some can’t afford the fees. That has left a growing industry geared toward anxiety outside the medical and traditional mental-health professions, including supplements, products and mental-health coaches.
> >
> > The science behind much of the industry is unclear and in some cases questioned by scientists and researchers. The antianxiety claims of most products have no federal or regulatory oversight. The role of the Food and Drug Administration is to ensure that supplements meet safety standards, are well manufactured and accurately labeled, but the agency doesn’t need to approve supplements before they can be sold or marketed. Supplements might interact with other medications.
> >
> > Wearable devices aren’t regulated if they are intended for general wellness. Some scientists say there haven’t been enough large-scale, peer-reviewed studies to determine whether such products, which can cost hundreds of dollars, work. There’s also limited research on mental-health coaching, and clinicians warn that adequate training is needed to identify people in crisis and direct them to appropriate treatment.
> >
> > Some in the industry say the science will catch up, and their goal is to fill the gap in a shortage of options for treatment."
> >
> > https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/anxiety-mental-health-treatment-supplements-ca4a7fc?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1
> The WSJ article, however, did not include the most popular source: Marijuana
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> https://fortune.com/2022/04/11/legal-marijuana-sales-33-billion-2022/
> "Legal marijuana sales in the U.S. expected to hit $33 billion this year
>
> Pot is popular.
> Legal sales of marijuana are expected to top $33 billion by the end of 2022,
> according to a new study by MJBiz, a leading B2B cannabis industry resource.
> That’s a 32% increase over 2021’s total of $25 billion.
>
> And by 2026, the group estimates, annual sales will exceed $52 billion."

Blooming sales. But whether Marijuana as a medicine could reduce anxiety and stress is still unknown.

"Whether it’s logical to use alcohol or THC products for stress relief, instead of exercising or meditating
or taking a walk or doing yoga or talking to a friend or therapist, is a different question from why some
individuals do it. People often report anxiety as a primary motivation for using THC products, and it isn’t
hard to find someone who will swear by the substance as a tranquil godsend without which life would
be far less exciting and considerably more fraught.
....
Cannabis use proponents claim it is a medicine and treatment for anxiety, stress, pain, and also the
opioid crisis. It is easier to make claims of safety and efficacy than to prove them. A formal study may
determine safety and effectiveness, but in the meantime, cannabis has many advocates who argue that
it is as good as any medication or therapy for anxiety and stress.
....
The risks of marijuana smoking and THC vaping are mostly unknown, but no news is not necessarily
good news. "

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7723145/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > The problem is not a wrench in the people's mental gear.
> > But sands are seeping into the gear. Anxiety is the first sign.