As a teenager, Alef Dener was already projecting what life would be like when he turned 25. He imagined that he would have his own house, a car in the garage and a formal contract. Now that he’s old enough, he finds himself living on rent, without a car in the garage and working as a PJ (legal entity). Amid the breaking of expectations, charges and uncertainties accumulate.
“There has never been a moment in my life when I was as anxious as I am now. As much as I know I’m doing my best, I have this internal demand of wanting something more, even without knowing what exactly”, he says. The 25 years also brought an extra load of anxiety.
“Because I live in a dorm and everyone is in that age group, I realize that I’m not the only one who’s sick.”
The increase in demand at this age was called the 25-year crisis, when young people report increased anxiety and uncertainty in their personal and professional lives.
According to a LinkedIn survey, 75% of people aged 25 to 33 have been through this crisis. Released in 2017, the study surveyed 6,014 people from India, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
For 61%, finding a job or career they are passionate about was the top cause of anxiety. Those who were uncertain about their next steps in their personal and professional lives were 59%.
Alef says he found himself more anxious about the future after graduating in 2020. “We find ourselves in a labyrinth not knowing how to get out of there,” says he, who studied journalism but works as a publicist. “We leave college somewhat helpless. You graduate and ask: ‘Okay, but now what? What am I going to do?'”
Author of the book “Crisis of 25”, Alexandra Robbins says that leaving college is often scary because students find themselves without a script to live. “Real life isn’t like college, which can be scary for even the most successful students, because doing well in college doesn’t necessarily make someone do well in life.”
Robbins explains that the so-called 25-year-old Crisis is a reaction to the transition from youth to adulthood, a phenomenon that can have a series of effects.
“They can range from a lack of confidence, which breeds depression, to something as subtle as looking at adulthood and asking, ‘Is this all there is?'” she says, referring to the feeling of frustration that can happen when you reach this stage.
Social media made the problem worse.
Robbins’ book was published in 2001, an indication that the crisis is not new. However, she says, what has changed is the intensity of the phenomenon. The reason? Comparisons provoked by social networks.
“The 25-year-old crisis ultimately boils down to comparing oneself with the other” explains the writer. “As posts on social media are filtered and glamorised, they can worsen people’s perceptions of their personal, professional and financial lives. With social media, it has become even harder for twentysomethings to feel they are the height.”
When she joins Linkedin, Nilséa Fernandes, 25, feels like she’s in a race in which she considers herself to be falling behind. Unemployed since March, the young woman started to use the network to apply for vacancies, but the platform ended up becoming fertile ground for comparisons.
“In this process, I end up seeing how people’s lives are going, and mine is not. I have a habit of comparing myself and I end up feeling inferior”, says the journalist, adding that the pressure increased after her birthday.
The young woman says that, for women, there is an additional pressure to marry and have children, something she already feels.
“As I’m looking for a job, every person I talk to says, ‘What’s up? What about marriage.’ I’m worried about my professional and financial life. But as a woman, what I’m asked is about home and family.”
Economy worries young people
According to a survey by the consulting firm Deloitte, 54% of young people from generation Z in Brazil (born between 1995 and 2003) feel stressed and anxious all or most of the time. The index is higher than the global average (46%).
The main reasons for concern are job prospects and the long-term financial future. The study was done last year and heard 800 people.
For photographer Hiago de Farias, 25, the economic situation in Brazil is really worrying. At the end of February, he had to move back in with his parents after living on his own for more than a year. The reason was the rise in prices. “Coming back now is weird. It feels frustrating. But I’m still grateful that I have a place to stay.”
He is also frustrated to see the country’s economic scenario after a period of economic growth. “We grew up in a world that seemed more prosperous and now we are dealing with a scenario that crushes us in a tense situation.”
Professor at the Institute of Psychology at USP (University of São Paulo), psychologist Leila Salomão Tardivo explains that younger generations are exposed to a greater number of stressors, which explains the increase in anxiety and stress in this group.
“The increase in pressure, this intense comparison that people make, the stimulation of competition and the young body are situations that often do not bring fulfillment”, he says.
According to the psychologist, the pandemic aggravated the anguish of this age group due to the increase in unemployment and misery. “For these 25-year-olds, the pandemic is an added burden of stress.”
To alleviate anxiety, the researcher suggests that these young people approach people and groups that generate positive feelings, and that favor personal growth. “But if the situation is very intense, people need to seek medical and psychological help”, recommends Tardivo.
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
