The mentorship journey: Gen Z anxiety & how to cope with it

Research on Gen Z mental health suggests that over 50% of Gen Z folks struggle with anxiety daily. Reason #1 cited is the fear of what the future holds. Another major trigger is hidden in social interactions.

Over a month ago Yolita Dzhurova and I embarked on our shared Mentor the Young - Bulgaria Season 6 journey. While attending networking events, I saw and felt a lot of anxiety among my peers - the statistic above gradually materialised.

Anxiety naturally leads to a decrease in one’s capacity to communicate with others. It doesn’t even have to be a pattern - sometimes, it just happens.

Still, those who are not affected often underestimate or fail to register this problem at all.

But what can you do as a mentor or buddy?

Recognize the Symptoms:?

John Hopkins University concludes some of the most common physical anxiety symptoms include lightheadedness, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, and getting easily fatigued. Out of those, you can notice at most 3 in another person (still, it's worth trying).?

As an empath, I have seen how the following 5 behaviours often indicate that someone (especially Gen Z) is experiencing anxiety:

• Demonstrating changes in speech patterns - talking very quickly, stuttering, talking slower than usual, or having difficulty expressing one’s thoughts;
• Self-soothing - engaging in repetitive physical actions (touching their ears, neck, playing with an accessory like a bracelet or necklace);
• Avoiding eye contact;
• Playing around with their phone (especially Gen Z) - doing nothing in particular, scrolling or checking notifications while they are having a talk;
• Avoiding feared situations - like meeting/ talking to people (they will likely stay silent in a group of people they just met) or completing a challenging goal;?

Act:

1. Provide validation: Acknowledge and affirm your mentee’s feelings as real and understandable. Avoid dismissing or trivialising their feelings (the ‘’It’s not a big deal” talk doesn’t work).
2. Demonstrate empathy: Show understanding and compassion towards your mentee’s struggles (no matter how insignificant they seem). This helps them feel heard and supported, which can alleviate some of their anxiety.
3. Relate: Share similar experiences or feelings but only if you've been through something similar. This can help the person feel less alone and more understood.
4. Understand the root cause: Try to identify the underlying reasons behind their anxiety. Try asking them to describe how they feel and why that might be and listen actively to what they have to say.
5. Try to relate with your experience: If you've dealt with anxiety yourself, share how you coped with it or sought support. Your own experiences can help you connect and encourage your mentee.
6. Change the environment: Sometimes changing the atmosphere for a couple of mins really helps. If you are at an event, take them outside the event space during the break.

Anxiety is a widely-spread bug that can pose challenges to any relationship. And while therapy might be the best way for one to tackle it individually, our job as a community is to help alleviate stress by learning to observe and listen.?

If you intend to mentor a young person, please, research the matter and equip yourself with some techniques (and patience).

Disclaimer: As we discuss the signs of anxiety, it's crucial to recognize that mental health is a complex and deeply personal matter. While this post aims to raise awareness and provide insight, it's essential to remember that everyone's experience with anxiety is unique. These signs may vary in intensity and manifestation from person to person.