As we witness increasingly severe weather patterns, rising temperatures, and devastating environmental impacts, many of us are grappling with a new kind of anxiety: climate anxiety. This term describes the feelings of fear, helplessness, and overwhelm related to the climate crisis. It's a form of distress that acknowledges the profound emotional toll of witnessing and experiencing the effects of climate change. If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. Here’s a small guide to understanding and managing the large issue of climate anxiety, while also finding hope and resilience in these challenging times.

Understanding Climate Anxiety

Climate anxiety is rooted in the knowledge that our planet is undergoing significant and often rapid changes. From melting ice caps to more frequent natural disasters, the evidence of climate change is everywhere. For many, this leads to a heightened sense of worry about the future—both for ourselves and for future generations.

This type of anxiety can manifest in various ways:

• Overwhelming Fear: Concerns about the severity of climate impacts and the potential for catastrophic events.

• Guilt and Shame: Feelings of guilt for not doing enough to combat climate change or shame over perceived inadequacies in personal or collective actions. 

• Hopelessness: A sense of futility or despair about the possibility of making a meaningful difference.

It’s important to remember that any type of anxiety can feel alienating and disempowering, but our anxiety is a faulty storyteller that emphasizes the negative while minimizing the positive. The story that anxiety often tells us about climate issues is that no one cares and we are not doing enough, when in fact statistics tell a different story. In a recent study, it was found that 86% of the global population endorse pro-climate social norms and 89% demand intensified political action (Andre et al.,2024). 

Additionally, becoming more informed about environmental issues also underlines that industries, rather than individual people recycling on a regular basis, have a much larger responsibility to change practices and enforce restrictions. The idea of greenwashing or climate-washing has been an idea largely pushed by companies and industries interested in deflecting focus onto consumers rather than modifying their own practices (de Freitas Netto, et al.,2020). Reminding ourselves that although taking action is important, the responsibility to save our planet is a collective responsibility. This is not all on one person’s shoulders and there are many successful efforts happening all over the world.

Coping Strategies for Climate Anxiety

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: It’s important to recognize and validate your emotions. Climate anxiety is a natural response to the reality of our situation. Talking about your feelings with friends, family, or a mental health professional can help you process these emotions and feel less isolated.

2. Stay Informed, but Set Internal Boundaries: It’s crucial to stay informed about climate issues, but constant exposure to distressing news can be overwhelming. Set specific times for checking news updates and allow yourself breaks from media consumption.

3. Focus on Action: Taking positive action can be empowering. This could be anything from reducing your personal carbon footprint, supporting sustainable practices, advocating for policy changes, or getting involved in community initiatives. Action helps shift your focus from feelings of helplessness to a sense of agency.

4. Connect with Others: Join local or online communities that focus on climate action or environmental advocacy. Sharing experiences and working together can create a sense of solidarity and support. Knowing that others share your concerns and are taking action can provide comfort and motivation.

5. Practice Self-Care: Incorporate activities that promote well-being into your routine. Exercise, mindfulness, and hobbies can help manage stress and maintain emotional balance. It’s essential to take care of your mental health to stay resilient in the face of challenges.

6. Seek Professional Support: If climate anxiety is significantly impacting your daily life, consider seeking support from an environmentally informed therapist. Therapy can provide tools to manage anxiety and help you develop coping strategies tailored to your needs. Many of us need help in processing grief and climate anxiety is a natural response witnessing environmental loss.

Finding Hope and Resilience

While it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the gravity of the climate crisis, it’s important to remember that there are reasons for hope. Advances in technology, growing environmental awareness, and increasing global efforts to address climate change demonstrate that positive change is possible.

1. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate the strides being made in environmental protection and climate action, for however slow and underreported it may be. From renewable energy innovations to successful conservation efforts, recognizing progress can inspire optimism.

2. Embrace a Growth Mindset: View challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Embracing a mindset that focuses on solutions and adaptability can help foster resilience. Are there ways that you can get involved with activism or an environmental anxiety support group, such as a climate cafe?

3. Cultivate Gratitude: Practice gratitude for the aspects of life that remain beautiful and rewarding despite the challenges. Focusing on positive aspects can balance the emotional weight of climate concerns. Connecting with nature can help us focus on what we still have – plant a garden, get out into nature, take up bird watching or beekeeping as a hobby.

4. Engage in Meaningful Work: Find ways to contribute to causes that align with your values. Whether through advocacy, volunteering, or supporting eco-friendly businesses, engaging in meaningful work can reinforce your sense of purpose.

Conclusion

Climate anxiety is a significant and valid response to the pressing environmental challenges we face. By acknowledging our feelings, setting internal boundaries for ourselves, taking positive actions, and seeking support, we can manage this anxiety and continue working towards a more sustainable future. Remember, while the climate crisis is daunting, the collective efforts of individuals and communities in holding companies accountable can drive meaningful change. Let’s channel our anxiety into action and hope, fostering resilience as we navigate these uncertain times. 

Additional Resources:

Books

• Saving Us by Katharine Hayhoe

• A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Generation Dread by Britt Wray

• Not Too Late by Rebecca Solnit, Thelma Young Lutunatabua

• Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

• Being the Change by Peter Kalmus

• All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson

• Saving Ourselves by Dana Fisher

• The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

• Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change by Leslie Davenport

• The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

Media, Netflix, Newsletters, Websites

• The Weekly Anthropocene—Sam Matey substack

• Life on Our Planet-Docuseries on Netflix with Morgan Freeman

• Bill McKibben’s Newsletter / substack

• Katharine Hayhoe’s Newsletter—includes good news

Activism Organizations

• Fridays For Future—Greta Thunberg & climate strikes

• 350 (350.org)—Bill McKibben

• Third Act- for people aged 60 and up (Rocking Chair

• Rebellion, Bill McKibben)

• Sunrise Movement-Youth-led. The Green New Deal

• Greenpeace

• Sierra Club

• Extinction Rebellion—disruptive, nonviolent direct action/civil disobedience

• Climate Defiance

• Just Stop Oil

• Local Organizations

- Michele Reitsma, BDAC Staff Therapist

Works Cited

Andre, P., Boneva, T., Chopra, F. et al. Globally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate action. Nat. Clim. Chang. 14, 253–259 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01925-3

Dittoe Barrett, Sara. (2024, April). Climate Change, Eco-Psychology & Climate Distress [17-56]. Cognitive Behavioral Associates of Chicago. https://cbachicago.com/

de Freitas Netto, S.V., Sobral, M.F.F., Ribeiro, A.R.B. et al. Concepts and forms of greenwashing: a systematic review. Environ Sci Eur 32, 19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-020-0300-3