Americans are so stressed that we have become desensitized to it
Nov 9, 2026, 5:44 PM
Being stressed has become our new normal.
I can’t remember the last time I asked someone how they were doing and they didn’t mention being tired, busy or stressed.
Somewhere along the way, “I’m just trying to get through the week” started sounding normal. But should it?
The American Psychological Association’s new 2026 Stress in America report suggests many of us are getting accustomed to ongoing stress. Money, the economy, the nation’s future and misleading information are weighing on people. 55% said stress hurt their motivation, and 59% said it affected their optimism about the future. The report also describes people adjusting their expectations—learning to live with uncertainty instead of expecting stability. Some are turning to AI for emotional support, with one in ten AI users relying on it more than friends and family for advice. (American Psychological Association, October 2026)
The future part really gets me. I don’t want us to stop making plans because we’ve gotten used to feeling worried. We deserve something to look forward to—not just another Friday where we’re too exhausted to enjoy it.
And while talking to AI might help you put your feelings into words, it isn’t a friend who knows your history. It isn’t a licensed therapist, either. I worry about what we miss when that becomes our only conversation.
So here’s a little challenge I’d like to try myself: After an AI conversation about your feelings, reach out to a human, too.
Call the friend you keep meaning to call. Ask someone to walk with you. Put coffee on the calendar.
It won’t fix the grocery bill or everything happening in the world. But we don’t have to wait until life gets easier to make room for each other.
Read all about the new report here.
