Climate Anxiety: How Environmental Changes Impact Mental Health

Climate change is a topic we often read or hear in the media or our daily lives. It is on the news, and people are discussing and sharing it on various social media channels. Catastrophic events such as wildfires, heatwaves, and floods are becoming recurrent, and each time, the anticipation of the next tragedy heightens. This worry is referred to as climate anxiety, a new mental health problem that has affected millions of individuals globally. In what manner do these environmental changes affect our mental health? Let’s discuss.

What is Climate Anxiety?

Climate anxiety, also known as eco-anxiety, is the stress or fear that individuals experience about climate change and its consequences. It is not just a simple concern but a constant feeling of anxiety that causes emotional stress, worries, and sometimes panic. Climate anxiety is characterized by a sense of helplessness that arises from the knowledge that the planet’s health is deteriorating and there is nothing one can do about it.

When Did Climate Anxiety Start?

Climate anxiety is quite a new term and only started being discussed when the effects of climate change began to manifest through severe weather conditions and changes. In the last decade, with the increase in awareness of climate change and backing up scientific facts, people began to develop this particular type of anxiety. Though people have always been worried about the environment, climate anxiety only became widespread due to the increasingly evident and imminent dangers of climate change.

What Causes Climate Anxiety?

There are several factors contribute to climate anxiety, such as:

• Natural Disasters

Witnessing or listening to stories about wildfires, floods, or hurricanes can lead to profound fears.

• Uncertainty about the Future

Concerns regarding the future of the planet Earth in the next few decades are enough to make many feel hopeless.

• Overexposure to Media

Constant media coverage of climate disasters and negative predictions can overwhelm individuals, especially the younger generation.

• Social Pressure

Individuals experience pressure or even guilt for not adopting eco-friendly habits, which increases stress.

How Common Is Climate Anxiety?

Climate anxiety is more common than one might assume, particularly among the young population. According to a survey conducted among young persons from ten countries in 2021, 75% of the respondents agree that “the future is frightening” because of climate change. About sixty percent of the adults claim to get worried or stressed about the state of the planet. This shows that climate anxiety is not a rare issue. It is something that millions of people experience every day.

Is Climate Anxiety a Mental Illness?

It is crucial to understand that while climate anxiety may cause significant distress to a person’s mental health but it is not officially classified as mental illness. However, it should not be ignored. Climate anxiety increases other mental health issues like depression or anxiety disorders when the affected individual is also facing other stressors in their lives. These feelings should not be ignored and seek appropriate assistance if they become overwhelming.

Climate Anxiety and Different Age Groups

• Kids and Youth

The youths, children, and teenagers, are the most affected by climate anxiety. They are often raised with stories of the dreadful life they are to live in the future, thus developing severe phobias about their future. Climate change is a topic that schools introduce and this is good but it can also make kids feel more anxious without providing coping mechanisms.

• Students

Social media and school lessons frequently raise awareness of the severity of the climate situation among high school and college students. The overwhelming amount of information can produce a feeling of hopelessness, especially when there are no real solutions in sight.

• Workplaces and Schools

Climate anxiety harms the ability to focus, productivity, and morale in workplaces and schools. Some people may be easily distracted, lack motivation, or get stressed particularly when involved in environmental-related industries or fields of study. It is crucial to address these issues in educational and work settings to strengthen people’s mental health and achieve fulfillment in life.

How to Avoid Climate Anxiety

Although one can hardly escape climate anxiety in the modern world, here are the recommendations on how we can reduce its influence.

• Limit Media Consumption

Frequently witnessing or reading climate disasters can lead to anxiety. Limit the amount of information you consume related to climate change in order not to feel overwhelmed.

• Focus on Solutions

Instead of focusing on the problem, one should focus on the number of climate solutions being worked on. Realizing that positive change is possible can be very helpful and can help you feel better.

• Find Balance

Keep a healthy balance between being informed and taking time to step away and relax. Relaxation techniques such as meditation should be practiced to avoid stress and to stay focused.

Climate Anxiety and Social Media

Social media has contributed greatly to the creation of awareness of climate change however it has also contributed to the worsening of climate anxiety. The availability of negative news, pictures of disasters, or the world that is going to end soon can overwhelm even the most optimistic person. To avoid this, consider:

• Taking Breaks

You should reduce the amount of time you spend on different social networks or take social media detox breaks to avoid the pressure.

• Curating Your Feed

Follow the accounts that concentrate on climate solutions and positivity to balance the flood of alarming content.

Coping Strategies for Climate Anxiety

If you are already stressed out about climate change, don’t worry, you are not the only one. The following are the coping strategies:

• Take Action

It is important to do something, even if not much because it can lessen the sense of helplessness. Climate change is an overwhelming force, but being able to reduce your carbon footprint, recycle, or become a member of a climate action group is empowering.

• Talk About It

Sometimes, it is good to share your worries with the people around you. Spend time with friends and family or consult a therapist to share your feelings. Sometimes, it is just good to know that you are not the only one who feels that way.

• Join a Community

Join a group of people with similar interests who are focusing on finding solutions to environmental solutions. It is comforting to know that others are doing something as well, which gives a person a certain strength rather than a sense of loneliness.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices, like meditation, yoga, and other similar techniques can lessen the severity of anxiety. Instead of allowing your thoughts to stray to worst-case scenarios regarding the future, it will enable you to focus on the now.

Conclusion

Climate change is real, and so is the associated anxiety. It is impacting the lives of millions of people around the globe. The environmental changes we are experiencing today are overwhelming but the understanding of how these changes affect our mental health will enable us to handle our emotions. Though we cannot choose what will happen to our planet in the future we can certainly select how we will face it. If we learn to take small steps, be aware, and ask for help when needed, we can all face this uncertain path together.

In the end, it’s about finding balance, and protecting the planet while also taking care of our mental health. In this case, there are ways to manage climate anxiety and to continue living with hope, whether by limiting screen time, taking action that has a positive effect on the planet, or sharing the issue with other people. This is how we can learn to cope with climate anxiety and live with hope.