Stress and the City

New York City is a heck of a place to live—just ask the 8.6 million people who live here! New York City is where the action is. It’s a fast-moving place that is full of opportunities for everyone from investment bankers to artists, and there’s truly no other place like it on Earth.

But, when you’re caught up in the daily wild ride that is life in New York City, you’re giving your mind a lot to deal with. New York City can feel crowded and claustrophobic, cruel and anonymizing. It can really put you through the emotional wringer. And then there’s the constant, constant stress.

New York City is a stressful place.

Stress levels in New York City are higher than the national average, and it’s not hard to see why. Stand on any street in New York City for a few minutes, and you’re sure to see people in business suits hustling by while shouting into cell phones; people trying to flag down cabs (and beat each other to them) on busy streets; and other signs of rushing, competition, and stress. New York City offers us a lot, but it demands a lot in return. It’s hard to turn off, tune out, and relax in New York City—and easy to feel like we’re “always on.”

That’s not good. Stress harms. Stress isn’t just bad for us mentally and emotionally—it can actually affect our physical health, too. The physical symptoms of stress include high blood pressure, quick and shallow breathing, and other uncomfortable and upsetting things that can contribute to larger mental and physical health problems.

Stress can trigger anxiety issues, and feed into depression. It can lead to burnout at work or at school. It can cost you sleep and even result in physical aches and pains, including headaches. Stress can shorten your lifespan.

That’s why it’s so important to do something about the stress that New York City can cause.

Tips for Fighting Stress in New York City

Getting help for your stress issues, anxiety issues, depression, and other related mental health issues, requires a lot more than just taking a break and heading to Central Park. The only effective way to protect and improve your mental health is to work with a trained and licensed professional.

Fortunately, New York City has elite mental health services to offer. NYC therapists are among the best in the world. You should turn to a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or other mental health professionals to get care that is tailored to your specific situation.

You don’t need to have a formal diagnosis of depression or anxiety to head to a therapist. General stress, including work-related and school-related stress, is a great reason to get some help. The strategies that you learn in therapy can help you at work, in school, in your relationships, and how compassionately you treat yourself when you make mistakes.. Understanding what and how you are thinking and feeling can make a huge difference to everything from your mood, and overall life satisfaction, to your productivity and performance at work.

New York City is a big, chaotic place. But you don’t have to deal with it all alone—in fact, you shouldn’t. Like a MetroCard or a favorite pizza place, a therapist is a must-have for anyone living in New York City. Once you’ve made the choice to invest in your own mental health, you’ll start to see just how good life can be here in the center of the world.