Eco-anxiety, or climate anxiety, is a term used to describe the fear of environmental doom, including chronic worry related to environmental issues like climate change, deforestation, species extinction, overpopulation, and pollution, to name a few.
Eco-anxiety is more than worry: it’s excessive anxiety that causes distress and can lead to a loss of hope for the future. Although not a diagnosable mental illness, Eco-anxiety is very real and can include symptoms such as obsessive thoughts, existential dread, guilt, anger, grief, sadness, and even trouble sleeping or concentrating.
Eco-anxiety can manifest in many different ways. Obsessive or intrusive thoughts related to the climate may cause distractedness or preoccupation (eg. “what will happen if the ice caps melt?” “how many species are going extinct?” or “will I be safe from wildfires in the future?”). Anxious thoughts and feelings may keep you up at night or make decision making difficult. You may have guilty thoughts like “am I doing enough to help fight climate change?” or fatalistic thoughts such as “there’s no hope for the Earth, why bother trying to fight climate change?” Eco-anxiety can also cause you to avoid activities with loved ones that may be less than ideal for the environment. For some, Eco-anxiety can even result in a hesitancy to have children because of worries for the future of our planet.
Who is at risk?
Individuals who are closely connected to the natural world or have already suffered the consequences of a natural disaster may be at higher risk of Eco-anxiety. This may include Indigenous peoples, farmers, fishers, or people living in geographic regions like coastlines or Northern communities. First responders, as well as climate scientists and activists who have more exposure to information about the threats of climate change may also be at a higher risk for Eco-anxiety. Young people have also been found to feel high levels of stress and anxiety related to climate change.
How to minimize and manage Eco-anxiety:
1) Acknowledge your emotions. Don’t invalidate your feelings- it’s natural to feel anxiety, stress, or sadness when it comes to thinking about the future of the environment. Use these feelings to motivate you to take action.
2) Practice self-care. Self-care activities like going for a walk, exercise, or meditation can help reduce stress.
3) Engage with the news mindfully. This could mean taking scheduled breaks from the news, setting app time limits to manage exposure to information on social media, or choosing news sources carefully.
4) Focus on what you can control like activism or education. Some ideas could include learning more sustainable habits like reducing meat consumption, biking instead of driving for your commute, or recycling.
5) Connect with others who share your concerns. Finding a community of like-minded people can reduce isolation and provide comfort.
6) Seek additional help when you need it. If reaching out to your friends, family, or community is not enough, talk to a professional for additional help. A therapist can help you manage your anxiety.
Worrying about the future of our planet is a helpful response to what is happening. However, when the worry shifts from being a helpful motivator to causing major disruptions in your life, it may be time to work with a climate aware therapist to help minimize and manage your emotions and create an action plan for moving forward.
If you’re interested in working with a therapist for help with your Eco-anxiety, reach out to alex@rootsinwellness.ca for more information and to book a free consultation!
By Alex Luby
Intern Therapist, Roots in Wellness
MACP (Candidate), RP (Qualifying)