WHOOP Data Reveals Peak Stress and Anxiety in Early May, Links to Reduced Recovery

New analysis of data from hundreds of thousands of U.S. users of the WHOOP wearable health tracker indicates that stress and anxiety are the most frequently logged mental health concerns among its members. The findings, released in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, also suggest a seasonal pattern in mental well-being.

According to the anonymized aggregate data from 2025, the first week of May saw the highest volume of mental health journaling entries for the year, with over 160,000 members logging these experiences. This period showed a significant increase in activity compared to other times, with an additional 7,000 members logging entries during that specific week.

These self-reported trends may correlate with physiological data collected by the WHOOP device, which monitors metrics such as heart rate variability, sleep duration, respiratory rate, and skin temperature. Analysis of approximately 30,000 users showed that on days when members reported elevated stress or anxiety, their recovery scores and sleep durations were notably lower than on days without such reports.

The WHOOP platform, which provides users with a daily recovery score to gauge physical readiness, also offers tools to help manage stress. Its AI feature, WHOOP Coach, provides real-time insights into cognitive and emotional stress, assists in identifying patterns and potential triggers, and offers breathing exercises designed to calm the nervous system.

This data highlights the potential for wearable technology to not only track physical performance but also to help users recognize trends in their mental health and implement changes to support overall well-being. National statistics from 2022 indicate that nearly one in four U.S. adults live with a mental illness.