Eco-Anxiety: What is it and what can we do about it?

What is Eco-Anxiety?

If you’ve been looking at the news or scrolling through social media, you have probably seen all the problems our planet is facing. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, overfishing, violence to both humans and animals, and other environmental concerns are oftentimes the norm and not the exception.

You might find yourself worrying about the state of the planet, feeling hopeless about the future, and experiencing higher levels of stress than usual because of this. These worries and feelings are typically referred to as eco-anxiety. Eco-anxiety can range from passing thoughts about the environmental and humanitarian crises, to debilitating worries that leave you feeling unable to enjoy life or carry on with your day to day. It is a serious issue that unfortunately does not get talked about enough in the mental health field.

What does it mean if we struggle with Eco-Anxiety?

Although eco-anxiety does not feel good, we need to remember that it is a completely understandable response to everything that is going on in the world right now. If you are someone who feels deeply connected to the planet, then hearing about and witnessing its suffering on a daily basis is going to impact your mental health.

Feeling eco-anxiety does not mean that there is something wrong with you or that there is anything you need to fix or change about yourself. The planet is in fact struggling right now, and it is quite difficult (and actually not a great idea) to ignore that. You feel that eco-anxiety because you are paying attention to all the suffering. It is a reminder of your empathy, of your care for the world and those who live in it.

Does that mean we simply give in to this eco-anxiety, though? Of course not! We need to pay attention to our feelings and find ways to cope with them, even if those feelings are completely valid.

What can we do about our Eco-Anxiety?

Feeling eco-anxiety might be a sign that it’s time to start taking action. So how do we take action? There are three main components that I want you to keep in mind:

1.     Get involved:

There are many ways to get involved in the fight to save our planet. We all have different skills, be it photography, painting, writing, or something else. Use those skills to help our planet. You can photograph endangered wildlife or paint local landscapes. You can share those images and paintings on social media to raise awareness and even sell them to raise funds for your favorite conservation organizations. You can walk around your neighborhood picking up plastic or, if you’re feeling extra motivated, organize a beach or park clean-up event. You can even create or sign petitions and write to your representatives about the issues that matter to you. These actions might feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but small actions do add up when we all take part in them. Besides, getting involved makes us feel productive and hopeful about humanity (especially if we get involved with others!), which is exactly what we need to cope with that eco-anxiety.

2.     Keep hope up:

Don’t forget that paying attention to the positive is just as important as being aware of the negative. If you’re on social media, start following accounts that share positive climate and environmental news (@sambentley is a great one on Instagram!). There are so many conservationists out there doing amazing work to protect Earth.

3.     Get support:

Finally, please remember to get support. Speaking with others who feel like you or sharing your feelings with a counselor who understands can go a long way. Your feelings of eco-anxiety are valid and deserve to be heard. You are not alone in this fight. At True Bloom Therapy, we are ready to accompany you in your mental health journey and to be the support that you need!

Interested in booking with Karen who specializes on eco-anxiety? Feel free to call or text:  ‪(813) 467-6792‬