The Emotional Toll of Living in the U.S. Right Now

Nearly two-thirds of Americans report higher stress than a year ago as rising costs, safety concerns, and uncertainty reshape daily life.

For generations, Americans built their dreams on a simple promise: work hard, and life would get better. Today, that promise is harder to believe. Rising living costs, political tension, and the rapid adoption of AI have left Americans feeling stretched thin financially, emotionally, and mentally.

To better understand how these pressures are affecting everyday life, BasePoint BreakThrough surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about their stress levels, financial stability, safety concerns, and trust in institutions. The results reveal a country grappling with rising strain and declining optimism, where systemic changes are reshaping how Americans sleep, work, socialize, and think about their future.

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Key Takeaways

62% report higher stress than a year ago, including 38% who say stress is somewhat higher and 24% who say it is much higher.
86% say rising living costs have reduced their optimism about the future — 34% say their income isn’t keeping up, 29% are one unexpected expense from financial difficulty.
Nearly half report financial instability, and two-thirds report behavioral or emotional strain linked to financial pressure.
73% say the rising cost of living contributes somewhat or a lot to their stress, while 62% say housing affordability and 57% say access to affordable healthcare contribute to their stress.
One-third avoid large public events or nightlife due to safety concerns, with 33% avoiding concerts or sporting events and 33% avoiding bars or clubs.
56% say their trust in the federal government has decreased over the past year, while 60% report declining trust in ICE and 48% say the same about artificial intelligence.
49% say living in the United States negatively affects their well-being or leaves them conflicted about staying, including 19% who would prefer to live somewhere else.
47% of Americans say they’ve felt guilt, embarrassment, or emotional discomfort about being American.

How Americans Feel About Living in the U.S. Right Now

We’ve been living in strange and unprecedented times since the pandemic, and Americans are still feeling the aftershocks. Amid political turmoil, the rapid expansion of the AI bubble, and the cost-of-living crisis, our freedom feels a little less free. Here’s how current events have changed the way Americans feel about their country.

Americans are split on how they feel about the U.S. right now. While 30% say that living in America is good for their mental health, 32% said it’s only okay, indicating that most people have a level of at least mild dissatisfaction. An additional 32% say living in the U.S. is detrimental to their mental health, including 19% who are so unhappy that they may leave the country altogether.

Despite how common these negative feelings are, people aren’t always comfortable sharing them. While one-quarter (23%) of respondents feel comfortable sharing their opinions both online and in person, 13% actively hold back their opinions online, 13% hold back in person, and 12% have stopped expressing their opinions both online and in real life. An additional 8% are actively worried that their posts could be used against them by an employer or authorities, pointing to heightened online surveillance in the modern age.

This dissatisfaction affects more than just the decision to stay in the country; it changes how people feel about their identities. Nearly half (48%) of respondents feel guilty or embarrassed about being an American at least sometimes, with 21% feeling this way often. Only 27% said they never feel embarrassed about their home country, which dipped to 20% among Gen Z.

In fact, Zoomers reported the highest rates of shame, with 53% of the generation feeling embarrassed at least sometimes. Millennials followed very closely behind with 52% of the generation reporting embarrassment, compared to 46% of baby boomers and 39% of Gen X. Being aware of how the rest of the world views the country is a weight many Americans were not ready to bear.

Why So Many Americans Feel More Stressed Right Now

For many, these levels of stress and unhappiness are new. In the last year, Americans have dealt with losses of benefits, increased prices due to tariffs, and the possibility of all-out global war. In a short amount of time, citizens have had to adjust to a new version of the country they love, and it’s no longer one they feel safe in.

Emotional stress has also increased for many Americans over the past year. The majority (62%) of respondents reported higher emotional stress than a year ago, with 38% saying their stress is somewhat higher and 24% saying it’s much higher. Meanwhile, 27% said their stress levels are about the same as last year, and only 9% said their stress has decreased.

Even among those who feel they are coping well, stress is a consistent part of daily life. Over one-third (36%) said they experience occasional stress. Another 26% reported feeling stressed or anxious several days a week, though they are still able to function normally. A share of respondents reported deeper emotional fatigue: 12% said they feel emotionally drained or exhausted most days, while 10% said they feel overwhelmed or on edge nearly every day.

Stress levels also differ significantly across demographics. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of women reported experiencing higher stress than they did a year ago, compared to 58% of men. This could be related to the systematic removal of reproductive rights on federal and state levels, or due to increased caregiving demands. No matter the reason, women are shouldering more stress.

Across both genders, however, there is a fear that a normal event can turn into a tragedy. Here’s what’s making Americans more anxious than usual when they’re out of the house:

Heavy police presence (44%);
Seeing someone openly carrying a firearm (41%);
Loud political arguments in public (41%);
Political protests (36%).

Considering the rising incidents of gun violence in the United States, it’s no wonder citizens feel they have to look over their shoulder for fear of being another casualty. Charged moments can turn into a violent event in the blink of an eye.

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How Rising Costs Are Affecting Americans’ Financial Stability

With how rapidly the economy has been fluctuating, many people who were financially stable a few years ago are now struggling to make ends meet. As the middle class continues to shrink, more and more Americans are redrawing their budgets due to financial necessity.

Financial stability is tenuous for many Americans. About 31% said they can cover their expenses but struggle to save money, while 29% reported that they are getting by, but one unexpected expense would create financial difficulty. Another 20% said they struggle to cover basic expenses at all. Only 18% of respondents, less than 1 in 5, said they can comfortably cover their expenses and still save money.

Women are struggling more than men. The majority (57%) of women fall into financially vulnerable categories, including 22% struggling to pay basic expenses and 30% who are one emergency away from losing their stability. In contrast, 47% of men qualify as financially vulnerable, with 16% struggling to pay for essentials and 3% living on credit or assistance. Between the persisting wage gap and the fact that they’re less likely to be promoted than men, women are being priced out of the American Dream.

This affects how people view their futures: 86% of respondents said they feel less optimistic about the U.S. due to the rising cost of living. The American economy is a primary stressor for most citizens as well. When asked what contributes most to their day-to-day stress, here’s what respondents listed:

Rising cost of living (73%);
Lack of affordable housing (62%);
Lack of affordable healthcare (57%);
Gun violence (55%);
Actions of the Federal Government (48%);
Discrimination (46%);
Unregulated AI adoption (45%);
Immigration enforcement (38%);
Police presence (37%).

These stressors paint a dim picture. Americans can’t afford to relax in their homes but are scared to leave them. Companies are building data centers in people’s backyards, causing local communities to foot the electricity bill. It’s a tense time to be an American, and patriotism is rightly at an all-time low.

How Financial Stress Is Affecting Health, Sleep, and Daily Life

Stress is more than just an emotion; it can change the way Americans live their daily lives. A considerable number of people are experiencing stress so overwhelming that it leads to physical symptoms and tension in their personal lives. We asked our respondents how stress disrupts their daily lives, and here’s what they said.

The stress of being American is showing up as physical and emotional symptoms. Nearly 7 in 10 respondents (69%) reported difficulty sleeping, while 66% said they feel emotionally withdrawn or disconnected. Another 62% said they avoid responsibilities or procrastinate because of stress, and 61% reported increased irritability or anger. Stress is also affecting relationships and financial behavior: half of the respondents (50%) said they are arguing more with a partner or family members. In comparison, 39% said they sometimes or often spend beyond their means.

This is spreading to people’s work lives as well. About 61% said they are overworked or experiencing burnout, suggesting that many are trying to compensate for financial insecurity by working longer hours. Over half (53%) said they avoid medical or mental health care because of cost, meaning financial pressure is preventing Americans from seeking necessary medical care.

Women reported higher rates of nearly every physical and emotional stress symptom than men, with differential gaps reaching 10 percentage points or more in some cases. While 73% of women reported increased sleep disturbances, 63% of men said the same. Though 57% of men feel more angry or irritable, 65% of women are experiencing the same thing. Burnout was also more common among women: two-thirds (66%) said they were experiencing burnout, compared to 56% of men.

For some, coping mechanisms include substance use: 30% reported an increase in alcohol consumption sometimes or often, and 31% reported an increase in cannabis use. Men were more likely to turn to the bottle: while 37% of men reported an increase in alcohol intake, only 23% of women did the same. The same held for cannabis use, with 37% of men and 25% of women getting high to cope. Stress is pushing Americans toward unhealthy coping behaviors, even if they weren’t likely to do so a few years ago.

How Safety Concerns Are Changing Where Americans Go

In 2024, then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis. Since then, gun violence has continued, and political violence is on the rise. Americans are worried about being targeted, harmed, or even detained if they leave their house, and it’s changing how they live their lives.

Concerns about public violence are changing where Americans go, if they choose to go out at all. One-third (33%) said they avoid large public events, and the same share (33%) said they avoid nightlife areas like bars or entertainment districts. Another 27% reported avoiding shopping malls or retail centers, while 27% have started to avoid downtown or urban city centers.

Even traditionally casual or everyday locations are affected. Nearly one-quarter of respondents (23%) said they avoid public parks or outdoor spaces, and another 23% reported avoiding public transportation. One in 5 (21%) said they avoid residential neighborhoods after dark, and 16% reported avoiding schools or school-related events. Still, not everyone is changing their behavior. About 32% of respondents said they have not avoided any places due to safety concerns.

Gen Z reported the highest levels of avoidance. Over a third (37%) of Zoomers avoid large public events, and a similar percentage (36%) purposely avoids bars and nightclubs. Another 36% of the generation avoids shopping malls and instead choose to shop online. This is in direct contrast to Gen X, who were the least likely to change their habits – 43% of Gen Xers said they didn’t avoid any places due to safety concerns. Gen Z may be an overly cautious generation, or they may be fundamentally affected by the violence they’ve grown up with.

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Why Trust in Institutions Is Falling Across the U.S.

When everything is more expensive, and the economy is getting more K-shaped by the day, who can Americans blame? Many are turning to the institutions that caused these conditions in the first place. Public trust is disappearing as the government turns its back on its own citizens.

Most Americans have lost trust in major institutions over the past year. Almost two-thirds (60%) said they have less trust in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), while 56% reported less trust in the federal government. Trust in mainstream news media has also fallen, with 54% saying they trust it less than they did a year ago. Half of respondents (50%) said their trust in the U.S. healthcare system has declined, and 46% reported less trust in local government. All the systems that were meant to protect Americans have been co-opted for profit, and people are noticing.

Women reported even greater declines in trust toward federal leadership. Over 3 in 5 (61%) women said they trust the federal government less than they did a year ago, compared to half (51%) of men. This could reflect the fact that there has been a systematic effort to roll back women’s rights in the past year.

On a less institutional level, Americans feel that the everyday conditions of life have deteriorated compared to last year. Nearly two-thirds (63%) said groceries and everyday essentials are more expensive than they were a year ago, while 60% said utility rates have gotten worse. Over half (54%) say that housing is harder to afford than it was last year, proving that a concerning number of Americans are barely getting by. As the cost of basic necessities rises, Americans are losing confidence in the institutions responsible for their future.

Finding Stability in Uncertain Times

Financial strain, safety concerns, declining trust in institutions, and rapid social change have overlapped in ways that change how Americans experience everyday life. Groceries, housing, and healthcare are harder to afford at the same time that people are losing confidence in the systems meant to support them, and it’s making stress a permanent condition.

What makes this moment particularly challenging is how these pressures reinforce each other. Financial instability can lead to longer work hours, which contribute to burnout and sleep disruption. Safety concerns can limit social activity and public engagement, increasing feelings of isolation. The result is a cycle where economic, social, and emotional stressors build on one another rather than easing over time.

Despite these pressures, many Americans are still doing what they can to maintain stability in their lives. People continue showing up for work, caring for their families, and managing their budgets while trying to navigate this new era of the United States. In a moment when many Americans feel stretched thin, building stronger systems of support and healthier ways to cope may be more important than ever.

Methodology

This study surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults in 2026, examining emotional stress, financial pressure, safety concerns, and trust in institutions. Respondents answered questions about their financial stability, emotional well-being, behavioral changes, and perceptions of societal conditions. The sample was stratified and segmented by age and gender to ensure balanced representation. Data was analyzed to identify patterns in how Americans are experiencing and coping with current social and economic pressures. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

About BasePoint BreakThrough

BasePoint BreakThrough provides mental health and behavioral treatment services designed to help 18 to 35-year-olds and their families manage emotional challenges and build long-term resilience. Through evidence-based care and compassionate support, the organization works to address issues such as stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being, helping people navigate the pressures of modern life with healthier coping strategies.

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