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What in the World

What in the World

Why are we all so stressed?

27 January 2026

13 minutes

Available for over a year

Nonstop notifications, exam stress, the fear of being left behind. These are just some of the things which can increase our anxiety levels. We’ve all been there. Stress is something most of us experience. But sometimes that stress can tip over into feeling overwhelmed or even burnout. So - what can you do about it?

BBC presenter and psychologist Claudia Hammond has just written a book all about overwhelm. She breaks down the data on stress, explains what triggers it and gives us her tips on how to deal with it when it all gets too much. And we hear from listeners across the world who share what’s overwhelming them right now - from social media to exams - and get some advice from Claudia on how they can feel less stressed.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

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WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6

Presenter: Iqra Farooq

Producers: Mora Morrison, Chelsea Coates, Adam Chowdhury and Natalia Makohon

Video producer: Baldeep Chahal

Editor: Julia Ross-Roy