What is Eco-Anxiety and How Can You Manage It?
Our world is changing. A survey carried out in the UK found that more than two-thirds of people worry about the future of the planet and feel negative about the climate crisis that causes anxiety, stress, and grief. Eco-anxiety affects younger people more than older ones. They feel depressed more intensely about climate change.
What is eco-anxiety?
The signs? The American Psychiatric Association describes eco-anxiety as an ongoing, intense fear of environmental catastrophe, and it cannot be diagnosed easily in any one person, though professional psychiatrists are aware of its impacts on mental health. A loss of self-dependence and control. Feeling frightened and helpless, or aggressive, most of the time.
It is also referred to as climate anxiety. It is related to the impacts of the climate crisis, and people having eco-anxiety also struggle with the general symptoms of anxiety: insomnia, lack of concentration, panic attacks and fatigue.
Everyone experiences climate anxiety differently according to their mental health, and people who have experienced extreme floods, wildfires or severe earthquakes due to climate change feel it more intensely. The figures show it. According to a study of 10,000 people aged 16-25, 92% of people in the Philippines feel the future is frightening, while only 56% of people in Finland feel the same.
Impact of climate change on mental health
People feel many different emotions. When they come to know about any problem in another place, or worry about the future, or about big threats like losing a home or job, they experience such emotions and struggle with eco-anxiety. These emotions can include anger, tiredness, laziness, depression, guilt, loss and hopelessness etc.
If you learn how to cope with climate change, you’ll be able to:
- Take time with your emotions and problems and don’t let them make you feel too much.
- Ignore making yourselves too tired of small and meaningless things.
- Keep doing your daily tasks and activities and make yourselves happy with small things.
- Stay motivated and help the people in our surroundings.
- Believe in yourself and be optimistic for a better future.
Is eco-anxiety a mental illness?
Worrying about the environment is natural. It is our internal feeling telling us that something is wrong, and though climate anxiety has not been diagnosed as a mental issue, professional psychotherapists are aware of its impact on mental health and well-being. They know how to treat an individual if he feels any uncertainty in his behaviour or feelings during climate change.
We are not assured about the long-term effects of eco-anxiety. It can add some more to ways climate change affects our mental health. Research tells us that 45% of young people are getting affected and feeling worried about climate change, but investigations are still going on to figure out how common eco-anxiety is.
Experts are saying that it is becoming common day by day because many parts of the world are getting affected and we hear news about climate change on social media and TV.
Top 6 tips to manage eco-anxiety with simple actions
Learning how to manage your eco-anxiety with simple and small acts is the first step you have to take to deal with this anxiety, and here we have discussed some very beneficial tips. By following them you can control your climate anxiety. You will also perform well in your daily life.
1. Focus on what you can control
Climate change is not a minor thing. It cannot be changed or controlled by any person or organisation, so it is necessary to tell ourselves that we should focus on what we can manage rather than disheartening ourselves on complex issues.
Have a look at things that are within our control:
- Do things to help the environment e.g., participate in projects to fight against climate change.
- Develop more feasible habits such as reducing energy consumption or recycling things.
- Select healthy food that is beneficial for the planet, such as reducing the quantity of meat and focusing on growing more vegetables.
- Discuss climate change with your friends, fellows and family.
- Donate money to the organisations that are working on it.
Take water. Remind yourself that we all participate in a small role in a big picture. If you are concerned with water perseverance, remember this. 80% of the Colorado River is used for farming and agriculture purposes. So, instead of feeling bad for using more water during the shower or brushing your teeth without turning off the tap, focus on these actions to build good habits for a better future.
2. Avoid overload
Don’t put too much stress on yourself by working on more than one project or supporting too many causes, because it will make you tired at the end and you’ll feel overwhelmed. Try to spend your energy on the projects that are really important and have a positive impact on your lives, and prioritise your tasks and spend your time and energy accordingly. You can decide to focus on saving water or promoting feasible farming. Concentrating on small things will keep you enthusiastic and raise your morale.
While making such efforts, don’t make yourself feel like saying “yes” to everyone. Focus on the activities that matter to you more than any other thing, and don’t make yourself responsible for organising the whole event and performing each task during the occasion.
3. Practice compassion
It’s very important to be kind and gentle to ourselves and others especially when we are going through tough situations, and our mental health should always be our first priority. Being hard on ourselves can make us feel worse about ourselves. Feeling worried about the things that we have to do can do the same.
We should not blame ourselves for not performing excellently every time. Instead, we should appreciate ourselves for what we have done. Accept your emotions. Give yourself time, without being judgemental. It will help you say “I’m feeling disheartened” and understand your mental health state when various emotions arrive at one time.
It will also assist you in making affirmations like:
- It’s okay to feel worried about climate change.
- My mental well-being is more important and I can take a break to heal.
- Big changes take time and I can make the difference.
4. Take a break from climate news
Following climate accounts on social platforms can deeply impact your mental health. Scrolling through climate news all the time has the same effect. If you feel anxious about news updates related to climate change or its impacts in different areas around the world, you should take a break from watching such news. There is no need to be updated constantly, and remember that it’s essential for your mental health to take a break and nothing will change until you come back.
Giving yourself a relief from thinking about climate change can help you in:
- Enrolling in activities you love and avoiding news and social media.
- Hanging out with family or friends without talking about climate change.
- Spending time in healthy activities like walking, hiking, or doing self-care.
5. Remember that you’re not alone
It’s quite easy to be depressed and overwhelmed by bad news about climate change, but it’s more necessary to remind yourself that there are people working hard and trying their best to resolve this issue. Surround yourself with a community of people who understand your feelings. That can help you stay motivated and encouraged about the future. You will start believing that the change can happen. It will happen, due to the efforts people are making.
6. Talk to someone about how you’re feeling
Eco-anxiety is not an ordinary thing. It is a real experience that most people are facing, and it can have negative impacts on your mental health. If your feelings are making it hard to handle your daily life struggles, talk to someone who understands your emotions. You can discuss it with your friends, family members, or a professional counsellor who aligns with your thoughts and helps you learn how to deal with climate anxiety.
Key takeaways
Eco-anxiety cannot be ignored. It can lead you to intense depression and poor mental health, and you can manage your symptoms more healthily by taking therapy from professional therapists in London.
Seekapsych offers a wide range of counselling and psychotherapy in London. Talking to professional psychotherapists can help you make a difference. Contact our team today and book your appointment with the best psychotherapists in London.
