Bloomberg is reporting that a national survey of anxiety finds a statistically significant increase for the first time since it was launched in 2007. Some of the findings are:

  • Stress is caused by three primary factors—money, work, and the economy.
  • Respondents with incomes below $50,000 reported higher stress levels than those with higher incomes.
  • Although stress in American life has been decreasing over the past 10 years, the election caused a spike among both Republicans and Democrats.
  • 57 percent said the current political climate was a very or somewhat significant source of stress.
  • 70% of blacks report election stress whereas 40% of whites do.
  • Two-thirds of respondents to the survey said they are stressed out about the nation’s future.
  • Millennials reported more stress than their parents or grandparents.
  • The more educated are more stressed than the less educated.

If you’re among the fretting, here are a couple of books I recommend:

There is also the short booklet:

If you are looking for some verses to calm your nerves, Amy Simpson and Ed Welch suggest the following passages:

  • Psalm 20:7-8
  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 27
  • Psalm 46
  • Psalm 56
  • Psalm 62:5-8
  • Psalm 118:6
  • Proverbs 29:25
  • Isaiah 7:4, 9
  • Isaiah 26:3-6
  • Isaiah 40:28-31
  • Job 38:4-7
  • Matthew 6
  • Mark 4:38-40
  • Luke 12:22-31
  • John 14:1, 27
  • Romans 8
  • Philippians 4:6-8
  • Philippians 4:18-19
  • Colossians 3:15
  • 2 Timothy 1:7
  • Hebrews 13:6
  • 1 Peter 5:7
  • Revelation 21:1-4