The first time I heard the phrase eco-anxiety was during a Climate Change workshop I attended. It immediately piqued my interest because I had never thought of the impact climate change may have on our mental health. The more research I did the more I realised that it is quite a prevalent issue especially among the youth. This pushed me to write this article on it to discuss the issues surrounding eco-anxiety and what you can do to manage it.
What is Eco-anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is the chronic or severe fear of environmental damage or ecological disaster. Eco-anxiety is like generalised anxiety and stress, but it is mainly focused on the environment. Inadvertently, this results in a sense of anxiety that is based on the current and predicted state of the environment with regard to climate change.
There is a branch in psychology that deals with eco-anxiety known as eco-psychology which focuses on people’s psychological relationships with the natural environment and its connection to their well-being and health. Many people go to nature to centre and ground themselves so it’s only natural to get anxious when such a sacred sanctuary is threatened. However, it is not listed as a diagnosable mental health disorder, but it still warrants our attention.
The gradual impact of climate change and the impending doom associated with it push people to have anxiety over their future. Anxiety triggers a fight or flight response which requires a quick solution for imminent danger. Therefore, when people observe impacts like rising sea-levels, deforestation or changes in weather patterns it can cause them to feel threatened, scared and unsafe.
Research shows young people are feeling betrayed by governments and global leaders through their failure to take the necessary action to curb climate change which is exacerbating eco-anxiety among the young. According to an analysis by UN, by 2030 carbon emissions are set to rise by 16% instead of dropping by half which is the requirement to prevent reaching the 1.5°C mark set at COPs meetings.
Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health
Climate change impact on mental health can manifest in several ways:
Anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), aggression, feeling hopeless and fearful, and feelings of trauma and shock. Chronic or severe stress can make people prone to other diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, sleeping problems, changes in appetite and depression.
Anxiety surrounding environmental issues can stem from real life experiences related to extreme weather such as droughts, hurricanes and wildfires. It hits harder if you have experienced it first-hand or have had loved ones go through it.
In addition, people may feel guilty due to their contribution and that of their generation to environmental degradation. In fact, young people wish to have fewer or no children to avoid them having to inherit a degraded world.
It has been observed that eco-anxiety or eco-angst mainly affects people who work in environmental jobs or as emergency health workers and first responders. Due to the nature of their jobs.
Furthermore, it affects people disproportionately, some people are more predisposed to the effects of climate change. For instance, those in indigenous and coastal communities, in low lying areas and islands and who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods (tourism, fishing and agriculture). Other groups include people of lower socio-economic status, children, young adults and elderly, displaced people, and refugees.
What can you do about eco-anxiety?
The silver lining in this story comes in the form of what we allow ourselves to consume. We should have access to reliable and factual information albeit in moderation, make greener choices in our day to day lives, team up with like-minded individuals and partake in plant-based diets. Other environmentally conscious practices are cycling and the use of public transport. Calculate your carbon footprint and find ways to reduce it. And finally spend more time in nature the very thing you are fighting so hard to protect and appreciate and build a connection with it. It may not seem like much but this can appease you psychologically and act as a remedy to the situation. Taking positive action can greatly improve our mental health and reduce feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
Conclusion
It is normal to feel discouraged, angry and helpless over things beyond your control. However, if these feelings are overwhelming and interfere with your daily life it is best to seek medical advice. Moreover, allow yourself to go through the motions and have compassion for yourself. Go a step further and seek emotional and social support which can really boost resilience and optimism.