How to Deal with Eco-Anxiety

Eco-anxiety is the fear of environmental damage or ecological disaster. It stems from the awareness of increasing risk of extreme weather events, loss of livelihood, fears for future generations and a feeling of helplessness when it comes to climate change. And given the current state of our world, it’s no wonder that it seems to be on the rise. 

👉 In this article we’ll explore what eco-anxiety actually is, what its symptoms are and steps that can be taken to reduce its effects.

Although eco–anxiety isn’t an officially diagnosable condition (or at least not yet), the ever looming threat of environmental problems is undoubtedly creating psychological problems for some people. 

Arguably it’s a perfectly normal and healthy reaction to the world around us. With climate change in the news almost constantly, and new, frightening reports on the environment or climate disasters it’s no wonder that many people are feeling the effects of eco-anxiety.

Eco-anxiety isn’t actually new. In the 19th century for example, people worried about the effects of black smoke and smog in industrialised cities. But with increasingly frequent climate disasters, alarming reports on the effects of pollution, pesticides and forever chemicals on our health, global loss of biodiversity, rising sea levels and other concerning climate change effects, it’s no wonder that anxiety is increasing globally.  

It’s hard to escape news of the devastating effects of climate change: whether it’s catastrophic forest fires in Australia, or devastating flooding in Pakistan, every day there seems to be some kind of new climate related disaster. And while on one hand the awareness is crucial because it’s encouraging action, it also means that eco-anxiety is on the rise. 

The effects of eco-anxiety can range from mild to severe, with symptoms such as stress, nervousness and mild sleep disturbance on one end of the spectrum, to constant and overwhelming fear and panic attacks on the other. Although eco-anxiety isn’t currently recognised as an official medical condition, it shares many of the same characteristics as general anxiety. 

People who find that they’re unable to switch off from thoughts around the impacts of climate change, global ecological disaster or other specific extreme weather events may be suffering from eco-anxiety, particularly where this is matched by a sense of helplessness. 

It’s important to note that anyone can suffer from eco-anxiety. It might be someone who has been directly impacted by a climate related event such as a forest fire or flood, but equally, sufferers are not limited to those who have been directly affected. 

Constant news coverage, and 24/7 access to social media means that discussion of environmental crises can be hard to escape, which can make it feel overwhelming. This constant exposure can lead people to develop feelings of anxiety. 

Experts believe that eco-anxiety disproportionately affects young people and children. Research in the UK for example, found that more that 57% of children and young people were distressed about the climate crises and the state of the environment. 

The same research found that young people feel both betrayed and abandoned by governments and adults, who they see as failing to adequately respond, leaving them with no future and a feeling as though humanity is doomed.

Although solving environmental issues and preventing the worst effects of global warming relies on governmental input, the actions of companies, and societal change, there are things that individuals can do to manage their response to environmental issues. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to manage feelings of eco-anxiety.

Take action

Eco-anxiety can often create feelings of powerlessness and helplessness. The issues at hand can often feel so large that it creates the impression that there’s nothing we can do about it, and that it’s out of our control. However, by taking action you may find that you feel less helpless. Even just taking small positive actions can reduce feelings of anxiety and give a sense of control over a situation. For example, you could make greener choices in your own life, this might include recycling, choosing greener transport options such as walking, cycling or taking public transport, following a more sustainable diet by eating less meat and dairy, or even talking to others about actions that they too can take to help the environment. These easy to implement actions can help to regain a sense of control over the situation while also positively impacting on the environment. 

Educate

Often, those who suffer the most from eco-anxiety are those who live in areas that are directly affected by climate change. In particular, people whose livelihoods depend on the environment (such as those with jobs in the tourism, agriculture or fishing industry) are more likely to be affected by eco-anxiety. For those who live and work in such areas, it’s important to have access to accurate information on the environment. This can help people to feel prepared and can increase resilience in the case of an actual environmental crisis. 

However, it’s not just those who are directly impacted by environmental crises who can benefit from educating themselves, anyone suffering from the symptoms of eco-anxiety may find relief by educating themselves using reliable and scientifically backed resources.

Resilience

Research shows that a person's belief in their own resilience may ease symptoms of anxiety and reduce the likelihood of PTSD or depression following a natural disaster. Even in instances where a person hasn’t suffered the effects of a natural disaster, fostering resilience can help individuals to handle feelings of eco-anxiety. 

Medical associations advise taking the following actions to improve resilience: 

• Invest in building strong relationships with friends and family who can provide support
• Avoid catastrophic conclusions and assuming that problems are unsolvable
• Set realistic goals and take steps towards them
• Look at the wider context 
• Practice self-care - ie. eating well, exercising, sleeping well 
• Avoid isolation and connect with like-minded people

Embrace optimism

Those suffering from eco-anxiety should try to reframe things in a positive way. This means that individuals learn to recognise negative thoughts as they occur, and that instead of indulging them, they question the thought and try to re-frame it in a more positive light. In the context of environmental issues it is easy to feel hopeless about the situation, but there are actions that we can all take that make a real difference. 

Embrace nature

Getting involved with local groups or projects that benefit the environment or tackle climate change can both help the environment and bring positive effects for your mental health. It means that you’re able to get outside and up close with nature while connecting with like-minded people. 

Studies have also found that spending just two hours a week outdoors in nature is linked to better health and well-being. A small period of time outside in a park or garden each day can make a big difference in the long run.

Get active

As with most types of anxiety, regular exercise can really help with eco-anxiety. Walking, running or cycling instead of using the car or public transport can be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint while also getting some exercise in.

Disengage

It can be hard to find relief from eco-anxiety when you’re bombarded with environmental crises on the news and social media every day. Repeated exposure to this kind of information can cause stress and anxiety. What’s worse is that often the information is untrue or sensationalised which can make the situation seem even worse than it actually is. 

While it’s definitely beneficial for individuals to educate themselves on the environment and climate change, they should try to ensure that the information is based on actual science and evidence. Evaluating whether or not your sources of information are accurate can be helpful, but it’s even better to simply unplug from time to time. Taking small breaks from ‘doom scrolling’ as they call it, can reduce stress levels.

Don't feel ashamed

Many people who feel the effects of eco-anxiety report feeling ashamed that no matter what action they take on an individual level it is never enough - ie. that they can’t solve climate change. 

It’s important not to feel shame from this. The fight against climate change is a collective effort, and even though small individual actions can feel a bit fruitless at times, this isn’t the case - the collective effort can and will make a difference.

See a doctor

People with severe eco-anxiety, or anxiety that doesn’t respond to at home management tips, may need professional help. A family doctor or health care advisor can provide professional guidance and appropriate treatment.

As it stands, eco-anxiety is not an official medical diagnosis. However, given the increased frequency and severity of climate crises it’s no wonder that people are reporting higher levels of climate related stress and anxiety. Thankfully, there are small steps that individuals can take to help manage these feelings. Taking action on a personal level to reduce your carbon footprint and to connect with like minded people can help you to regain a sense of control while also improving the environment.

At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. Why not request a free demo with one of our experts - no obligation or commitment required. 

If reading this article has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help. Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here.