America's Most Anxious Place Is Right Here In Maine - And It Might Surprise You
By Michelle|Published October 12, 2016
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
The nerve of these people! Last month, the New York Times ranked the anxiety levels of all 50 states, and what do you know, Maine came in at number one in nervousness. Vacationland beat the national average by a jitter-inducing 21 percentage points – and within the state, it was found that no place was more on edge than Aroostook’s own Presque Isle.
I know what you’re thinking – and we’re as perplexed as you are. Presque Isle has a lot going for it: low crime, friendly people, a slow pace and beautiful natural surroundings. All the ingredients for a truly calming place to live. So we did some digging to try to get to the bottom of this ranking. Here’s what we found.
Presque Isle is a town of around 9,000 in the northern reaches of Aroostook County. Like many Maine locales, it's surrounded by beautiful wilderness, wildlife and limitless outdoor opportunities. It also has more commercial conveniences than most towns in The County, acting as the retail hub for the greater area. So what could be making its people so uneasy?
Many people in Presque Isle make a good, honest living in potato farming, but there's no denying that it's a tough life. A good harvest – and the farmer's livelihood – is often at the mercy of Mother Nature. That kind of uncertainty would put gray hairs on anyone's head.
By the 1880s, Presque Isle was home to two lumbermills, a gristmill, a wool carding mill, a furniture factory, a carriage factory and a tinware factory. Today, more than 20% of Presque Isle residents live in poverty and more than 16% are unemployed – both well above national and Maine averages.
Addiction, particularly to prescription opiates, has become a harsh reality of many Maine towns. And some of the worst addiction rates occur in rural areas just like Presque Isle. One common symptom of opioid withdrawal? You got it: anxiety.
It's a matter of geography. The people of Presque Isle just don't have access to the same mental health resources as people from more populous areas. In many cases, they're turning to Google for answers, which could explain the high rate of searches for anxiety and related treatments.
We should be used to it, but it comes as a shock every year. Short days, lack of sun, freezing temperatures and lots of snow are proven to cause depression over time. Up north, it can be a long five or six months.
When things get you down, or you're feeling overwhelmed, just look out your window or take a step outside. We're so lucky to live in Maine. It's the way life should be. Calm, tranquil and, hopefully, stress free.
We all have different ways of dealing with stress? What are the most anxiety-inducing parts about the place you live, and how do you deal with it? We can all get through this together!
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