Coping With Climate Anxiety
Cultivating Resilience
Healthy coping with climate anxiety is a challenge and an opportunity for us all. Climate anxiety is also referred to as “climate distress,” “climate grief,” or “eco-anxiety.” The American Psychology Association (APA) describes eco-anxiety as “the chronic fear of environmental cataclysm that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change and the associated concern for one’s future and that of the next generations.” Anxiety has a function, as it alerts us to danger. Climate anxiety is not a mental illness but a normal response to a prevalent and ongoing threat, such as the ongoing climate crisis. However, it can lead to or exacerbate psychological disorders.
Yet, in Greek, the word ‘crisis’ means opportunity. Learning to be resilient—to adapt or cope with intelligence and faith—will carry us forward personally and collectively.
A 2020 poll by the American Psychiatric Association found that 67% of Americans are somewhat or highly anxious about the effects of climate change, and 55% are worried about its impact on their mental health. A more recent poll indicates the effects on various age groups and populations.
Research indicates that more and more people, especially younger people, are getting increasingly anxious about the effects of climate change on the planet and for their survival. However, what starts as a health concern can become debilitating worry and anxiety and worsening mental health in many vulnerable people. Here is more research on the global issue of ineffective coping with climate anxiety in youth and its effect on their mental health.
Effects of Ineffective Coping with Climate Anxiety on Mental Health
Anxiety and depression are two sides of the same coin. Climate anxiety may manifest as dysthymia, a mind depression characterized by chronic sadness and grief regarding the state of the world. Anxiety and stress about climate change may also exacerbate any underlying mental health issues.
These may include anxiety and mood disorders, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Guilt over the global state of the planet may be present, especially in older generations or those with children or grandchildren.
It can also cause post-traumatic stress, especially in those who have suffered from devastating environmental disasters or are traumatized by repeated media exposure. Relationships may be strained to varying degrees.
It is important to recognize when you need professional support to enhance your coping with climate anxiety.
The good news is that people worldwide are mobilizing to address climate change, partly because humanity’s suffering has intensified in recent years. Citizens, businesses, organizations, and governments are moving forward, although not rapidly enough.
Improve Your Resilience with Healthy Coping Strategies for Climate Stress
- Validate your feelings. If your worries about climate change are distressing, reach out for help. Talk to someone, whether with someone you trust or a professional counselor such as myself, if you are have difficulties coping with climate anxiety. If lonely, it is helpful to build healthy relationships.
- Do what you can do to make this a healthier world. Use less fossil fuels. For example, walk, bike, take public transportation, grow some of your food, etc. Think about sustainability in your own life.
- Work with your community or organizations that effect positive change in causes that attract you. Group efforts are a source of emotional support and bring hope when you are contributing to a good purpose.
- Encourage others and your family to be more environmentally friendly.
- Encourage others and your family to be more environmentally friendly. You may feel more optimistic about making a positive difference when you influence others through your efforts.
- Take care of yourself. Get out in nature regularly. Research shows that outdoor exercise, such as walking in natural environments or activities like forest bathing, improves mental and physical health. Connecting with nature increases our desire to protect and heal the natural world.
7. Create meaning every day. Reduce your exposure to bad news if you are depressed or anxious.
8. Support organizations that promote a healthy planet. Some options are listed below.
See Blog, Ecotherapy, for more information.
9. Focus on the positive efforts and achievements that are also prevalent. For example, the organizations I support, like NRDC and others, provide regular newsletters with updates on their successes and achievements. Their success encourages me to continue supporting and keeping them in my will.
10. Support your family by acknowledging the shared threat of climate change, validating their feelings, providing empathic support, and encouraging them to be involved in meaningful community efforts. Transforming fear into positive action creates new hope and improved coping with climate anxiety.
11. Every vote counts. Encourage others to step up as well.
Supportive Therapies Improve Coping with Climate Anxiety and Despair
Climate anxiety and grief may accompany guilt, anger, and powerlessness. These feelings exacerbate any previous traumas and heartbreaks you may have endured. If you are feeling depressed, angry, or powerless to effect change in the world, such as with climate change, here are some examples of holistic therapies that may help.
These include supportive counseling, body-mind therapies such as yoga, massage, and progressive relaxation. Regular exercise, optimizing sleep, improving nutrition, stress management, and creative expression are also beneficial. Also, remember to spend time in nature, work with your dreams, and include any spiritual practices that support you.
For more information, see my Blog, Soul Care, and Resources, Yoga and Healing.
Plant Medicine Helps to Alleviate Climate Grief
Plant and energy medicine modalities can also be very beneficial to improve coping with climate anxiety. These may include acupuncture, energy healing bodywork such as Reiki or polarity therapy, yoga and breathwork, and homeopathic remedies. Essential oils and flower remedies are also part of botanical medicine.
Scotch Broom, a flower essence from FES (FESflowers.com), helps transform feelings of anxiety and despair about the world into positive participation in life. It is especially needed in these challenging times. White Chestnut, a Bach Flower Remedy, helps with worry and repetitive thoughts. There are numerous remedies to choose from specific to your type of anxiety, depression, fatigue, etc.
Many other helpful formulas combine essential oils with flower essences, such as Five Flower Formula (for panic and acute stress), Post-Trauma Stabilizer, and Grief Relief. Please reach out to me for a consultation below to assist with your unique needs. Thanks.
For more information, see Services, Integrative Medicine for Mental Health, and Blog, Plant Medicine.
What Else Improves Coping with Climate Anxiety?
Action Absorbs Anxiety
Addressing your anxiety and mood issues with a professional may be transformative, especially if climate distress has exacerbated any of your underlying symptoms. If this feels right to you, I offer many anxiety and stress management tools for your consideration.
For example, learning and practicing assertive communication is often needed to prevent an accumulation of anxiety that may turn into panic, anger, or depression. Additionally, setting and keeping healthy boundaries comes from transforming fear and anger into appropriate action.
Also, what we are anxious or angry about often reveals a meaningful path and purpose. Here is an example of channeling some of these feelings into positive action:
Please see a photo of me at an Earth Day climate rally. Remember, if you are distressed, along with other coping strategies, as previously mentioned, know that your feelings can be transformed into healthy action, giving you a sense of purpose and a feeling of belonging to a greater community.
The antidote to climate despair is climate activism.
The best way to feel empowered and hopeful about the future is by actively engaging in efforts to combat climate change.
Coping with Climate Anxiety Summary
I hope that you will apply many of these recommendations to improve your coping with climate anxiety. Also, immerse yourself in nature as often as possible to enhance your health and well-being, stay grounded, and increase your motivation to support the healing of our planet. For more in-depth support, please get in touch with me below. Thanks.
For more information about my practice, see About Therapy with Deborah Lee,
Blogs, Ecotherapy and Climate Stress, and Holistic Nutrition.
Ready to book a consult? I’d love to hear from you. Contact me HERE for your free consultation. Thanks!