Even with the economy humming, Americans are feeling more anxious, depressed, and dissatisfied with their lives than they did in 2009. Polarization is at an all-time high, and a feeling of malaise, or worse, grips the nation.

Our happiness, or what researchers refer to as "subjective well-being," is down across the nation, according to a detailed study by the Gallup Organization. The survey of more than 2.5 million Americans examined how people feel in their day-to-day lives across key dimensions of well-being, including physical health and wellness; having supportive personal and family relationships; financial and economic security; having a sense of purpose; and connection to one's community.

Despite some gains in specific categories, the overall results show a nation where well-being is in sharp decline. From 2016 to 2017, America saw its largest year-over-year drop in well-being in the 10 years that Gallup has tracked this data. Furthermore, 21 states registered absolute declines in their levels of well-being, and not a single state showed a statistically significant improvement in 2017.

An article about the study concludes: "America is growing increasingly unhappy and the trend toward unhappiness is concentrated in the places that used to be among the very happiest. Whatever the reasons, America's collective psyche is clearly suffering today."