Simply spotting a nemesis, loud chewing and heavy breathing are some of the smallest things that will push Americans over the edge, according to new research.
A survey asked 2,000 adults about their lowest common denominator of stress and revealed that the smallest sounds or acts are enough to send their anxiety skyrocketing.
Lagging WiFi (40%) and an unexpected phone call (35%) also ranked high on the list.
Americans outlined some of the weirdest causes of stress: “the texture of my socks,” “aluminum cans,” “not washing my hair for two days” and “the beeping sound on TV to hide swearing” were among the most unique.
To pile on, just thinking about how expensive everything has gotten (47%), running late when stuck in traffic (40%) and simple miscommunications (39%) are common stressful situations.
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of CBDfx, results also revealed what Americans do when they need to mellow out. Many turn to music (58%), deep breathing and meditation (34%) or pet cuddles (32%).
In fact, Americans would rather hear their favorite artist or band over their partner (46% vs 34%) when they need to de-stress.
The average American has stuck to their unwinding method for over a decade, which may be because 84% find these approaches effective.
The survey, which polled respondents who have all tried CBD or THC before, also found that 20% take CBD gummies and 30% use THC products on a daily basis in order to combat their stress.
And it’s working: Users find that their stress levels are decreased by an average of 54% after taking a CBD gummy, while THC users find they drop by more than two-thirds (68%).
Nearly three in five (58%) respondents believe that there’s less stigma surrounding CBD and THC products today, compared to 10 years ago.
But compared to just five years ago, two-thirds (67%) find themselves getting stressed easier.
This may be why another two-thirds (67%) agree that Americans would be less stressed out if they all indulged in some CBD or THC.
“One of the benefits of CBD’s interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system is a calming effect that works great for dialing down stress,” said Jameson Rodgers, CBDfx Co-Founder. “THC can have similar positive effects—enhanced by the compound’s natural mood elevation benefits—making it another great choice for stress relief.”
Seventy-three percent of Americans say that stress has an impact on their quality of life and an even larger number (77%) said it has an impact on their quality of sleep.
In fact, only 20% of Americans admit they don’t look at their phone past a certain time each night and even fewer (11%) avoid looking at it before a certain time in the morning.
To combat this, the average respondent takes CBD gummies an average of three nights a week, while 16% say it’s a nightly occurrence. They also average using THC products four nights each week, with 29% doing so nightly.
“Over time, lack of sleep can have a negative effect on many areas of a person’s overall health, including stress. When you’re tired, stress can be more difficult to manage and, potentially, can do more long-term damage,” said Rodgers. “CBD sleep products can be an effective natural sleep aid. Those same calming effects that make CBD great for stress relief also make it an effective base ingredient for sleep aids, along with compounds like CBN (cannabinol), melatonin, chamomile, and other natural ingredients. THC works well with those same natural sleep ingredients, helping to elevate one’s mood and help them relax before bedtime.”
TOP 10 SMALLEST THINGS/SOUNDS THAT CAUSE AMERICANS STRESS
- When I see someone that I don’t want to talk to – 46%
- A knock on the front door when I’m not prepared for guests – 44%
- People talking to me when I want silence – 43%
- When my Wi-Fi is lagging or cuts out – 40%
- Listening to someone chewing loudly – 40%
- Phone calls when I’m not expecting one – 34%
- Someone near me heavy breathing – 25%
- My alarm clock/alarm – 21%
- Text message alerts – 16%
- My phone/notifications going off during a meeting – 15%
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans who’ve ever tried CBD or THC; the survey was commissioned by CBDfx and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 30 and May 8, 2025.
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