Anxiety on the rise among the younger generation: Doctor reveals how it triggers urological issues

Anxiety isn’t new. But the way it’s showing up in young people today feels different, more constant, more layered, and often harder to talk about. According to the World Health Organization, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions globally, and recent estimates suggest a sharp rise in symptoms. A Lancet reportalso flagged worsening mental health trends in young populations, especially after the pandemic. And while numbers help, they don’t fully capture what this feels like day to day: restlessness that doesn’t switch off, overthinking that disrupts sleep, a constant sense of being “on edge.”“The modern world has a high level of performance pressure. The constant comparison and self-doubt are caused by competitive exams, work expectations, and financial expectations and unrealistic expectations dragged to social media. This psychological pressure becomes physical in the course of time,” Dr. Mangesh Patil, Urologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai told TOI Health. He then discusses how anxiety affects the health of young men and women.Anxiety can worsen bladder sensitivity, frequent urinary issues and dysfunction of the pelvic floor in young women. Stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline place the body in a permanent fight or flight position that influences the bladder control and sexual health.The most common manifestation of performance anxiety in young men in the form of erectile dysfunction or early ejaculation despite the absence of any underlying physical disease. The stress of not doing well causes a series of stress which disrupts the normal physiological reactions. Equally, chronic stress may aggravate urinary symptoms like frequent urination, urgency or pain in the pelvis.Kidney health: Gurugram-based doctor shares 5 daily habits that quietly damage your kidneys“Positively, anxiety-related urological issues can be treated. The initial one is awareness, knowing that these symptoms are normal and can be treated,” he added.But here’s the catch. Even with rising numbers, awareness hasn’t kept pace. Part of the problem is how anxiety looks. It doesn’t always appear dramatic. It can show up as irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, or even physical symptoms like headaches and gut issues. So it’s often brushed off as stress, personality, or just a “phase.”There’s also stigma. Young people might recognise something feels wrong but hesitate to label it. Conversations around mental health have opened up, yes, but not evenly. In many homes and schools, anxiety is still seen as something to “push through,” not understand.And that’s where the real risk lies. Untreated anxiety doesn’t just stay in the mind. Studies have linked chronic anxiety to sleep disorders, weakened immunity, and even long-term cardiovascular issues. It affects how young people learn, work, and build relationships.So understanding anxiety isn’t about overdiagnosing. It’s about noticing patterns early, taking them seriously, and creating space where young people don’t have to explain away what they’re feeling. Because when something is silent, it doesn’t mean it’s harmless."Anxiety can be greatly lowered by exercises, sleep, mindfulness, and limiting excessive screen time. Most significantly, youths need to realize that they do not need to be perfect and that perfection is impossible to achieve," suggests Dr. Mangesh Patil. "Lack of disease is not health but a harmony of mind and body. Handling anxiety at an earlier stage will help to block the physical and emotional consequences over time and ensure a healthier and more assured generation," he explains. Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Mangesh Patil, Urologist, Saifee Hospital, MumbaiInputs were used to explain how anxiety and urological issues are interlinked though they seem not to be connected even remotely.