Eco-Anxiety: Psychological Effects of Climate Crisis
Climate crisis is not only a matter discussed by scientists or environmentalists. Millions of people worldwide experience an increasing number of environmental disasters with each passing day. Wildfires, extreme hot weather, droughts, and floods... For most, these events are not only tragedies they hear on the news, but they are also facts directly affecting their lives.
These changes affect the mental health of increasingly more people. Many people are greatly concerned about the future of the planet. There is a name for these feelings: Eco-anxiety.
The American Psychology Association defines eco-anxiety as a chronic fear caused by climate change. In other words, this is much more than a regular environmental concern. It is a constant state of anxiety, affecting daily life. For some, this feeling is a source of motivation to take action while for others, it creates hopelessness, desperation, and the feeling of exhaustion.
So, why does an increasing number of people experience this anxiety, and is it possible to deal with this? Let’s check it out.
In the past, climate change used to be considered as a problem of the distant future. In the present day, however, we directly feel the impacts. Extreme heat waves, forest fires, droughts, and rising sea levels are now ordinary facts of our lives. People witness the rapid change in their regions, and this increases the feeling of insecurity.
The impact of the media cannot be ignored either. News keep coming in. New disaster scenarios are constantly shared on social media in relation to climate crisis. Although this is important to create awareness, being subjected to constant news of crisis can increase anxiety. People can get the feeling of despair when they think what they can do as individuals would not be enough. This feeling intensifies eco-anxiety even further.
Another important factor is the feeling of insufficiency of individual efforts. You minimize your plastic consumption, make sustainable choices, observe recycling. But at the same time, you see governments and big companies still investing in fossil fuels. Thus, people start to question whether individual efforts have a meaning. This feeling deepens eco-anxiety even further.
Click here to read our article titled “Climate Crisis and The Role of Individuals”!
Eco-anxiety is not a feeling experienced by everyone. However, some groups feel this anxiety more intensely:
• Young people: Young generations think that their future is threatened. It is not a coincidence that they comprise the group voicing the highest protests against climate change.
• Environmental activists: Being in a constant fight can lead to a feeling of exhaustion. The question of “Am I fighting enough?” is frequently encountered among activists.
• Communities directly affected by climate crisis: People living on islands, farmers engaged in agriculture, and communities facing the risk of drought experience these changes first-hand.
Eco-anxiety is especially prevalent among young people. The number of individuals who are uncertain about having children because of climate change is steadily increasing. The question of “Will there be a habitable world in the future?” is a real concern for today’s youth. Studies show that the majority of young people are concerned about climate change, thus questioning their plans for the future.
Eco-anxiety is not something that can be completely eliminated. However, it is possible to manage it and mitigate its impacts. Here are some ways to do this:
• Accept Your Feelings
It is important to see the anxiety as a means for awareness instead of trying to suppress it. Feeling anxiety means that you care for the nature and the future.
• Turn to Activism
The things you can do individually may be limited, but collective movements are powerful. Participating in a community related to the environment can decrease anxiety.
• Practice Digital Detox
Constantly watching crisis news can be psychologically harmful. Balance your news consumption.
• Connect with Nature
Creating a small garden, spending time in nature, or turning to ecological life can help you feel more empowered.
• Seek Professional Support
Eco-anxiety is not a disease, but seeking therapy support may be beneficial if it significantly affects your daily life.
Although anxiety is generally considered as a negative feeling in human psychology, it can also be the driving force for big changes. When people feel anxiety, they realize that their current status is not sustainable, and they start searching for solutions. This can lead people to change, both on personal and social levels.
For example, increased anxiety concerning climate crisis can drive people to develop more sustainable habits. Similarly, big scale social anxieties have led people to revolutions, reforms, and innovative solutions throughout history. Anxiety can help an individual to stop being a passive observer, and to become an active participant. When managed correctly, it is a strong motivator for people to make conscious choices and to shape the future.
Eco-anxiety should not be considered simply as a negative feeling. As explained above, anxiety can sometimes be a strong motivator, driving people and communities to take action. And eco-anxiety can make people and societies more conscious and active in the name of sustainability.
People with eco-anxiety tend to be more inclined to adopt sustainable life practices. For example, a person who is concerned about climate change can take steps towards reducing their carbon footprint, gain conscious consumption habits, and participate in campaigns promoting social change. These individual actions become, in time, the keystones of social change.
Eco-anxiety can also increase political awareness. People can become more willing to support leaders and political parties caring about environmental policies, and to apply pressure for the implementation of eco-friendly laws. Thus, anxiety starting on a personal level can lay the grounds for a collective transformation.
Furthermore, many entrepreneurs and researchers use eco-anxiety as a driving force to develop sustainable innovations. Investments made in certain areas, including renewable energy solutions, ecological urban plans, and sustainable agriculture, arise mostly from the awareness caused by climate anxiety.
In summary, eco-anxiety may be viewed not merely as a source of stress, but also as a catalyst for transformation. One of the best ways to manage this anxiety is to turn it into action and to contribute to the future of the planet through individual and collective efforts.