Eco-anxiety and Ecological Ways to Cope With it.

Living in today’s day and age we are all aware that the climate around us is not the same as it was 15 to 20 years ago, reports according to NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have shown us that in the past decade from the year of 2010 to 2020, the planet has witnessed the hottest decade that has been recorded. Besides the reports and statistical figures, we are also seeing and observing various changes that are happening around us due to climate change, from untimely rains, increased temperatures, droughts, more severe natural disasters, the spread of various diseases, extinction of various species of plants and animals etc. All this has not only affected the planet ecologically and us humans physically, but it has also affected us mentally.

In recent years besides dealing with the stress and worry of the changing environment, we are also starting to raise various questions, mainly questions stemming from a place of concern for our planet's future, questions such as “Will our human race exist in the next 50 years”? “Will the earth be livable by 2080”? “What will happen to our children''? etc. Since people around the globe have started to show worry and concern and raise such questions about the planet's future, scientists and researchers have felt the need to develop a terminology for this, and thus the term Eco-anxiety was coined.

What is Eco-anxiety?

According to the United Nations and the American Psychological Association, Eco-anxiety is “the chronic fear of environmental doom”. According to a report released by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, by the year 2040 the entire human population will witness extreme environmental catastrophe if things are not taken into control now. The awareness of this increases the eco-anxiety that is experienced among people of various age groups, and is more commonly experienced among the youth, since it is their future that is at stake. Across the globe Eco-anxiety is experienced differently among the people and is becoming a prominent concern in the field of mental health.

Those who experience eco-anxiety experience it in different ways that also may vary in their intensities. The symptoms of eco-anxiety range from anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, low mood depression, etc and also creates a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. People who have been directly affected by natural disasters that are caused due to global warming often not only suffer from PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) but also experience an increase in the level of eco-anxiety that they experience. Research has also shown that people who experience eco-anxiety also experience a sense of guilt towards how we humans have been living on this planet. Ergo eco-anxiety can be experienced in many different ways depending on where we live, our awareness about the climate and our surroundings, our experiences, our connections and our culture.

Ecological ways to cope with eco-anxiety.

As humans living on this planet hearing about the condition of our planet can be disturbing or stress inducing, however we have not reached a dead end yet, we still have time to take a few steps back and reflect on how we can contribute by cutting down on making uses of resources that harm our environment and instead take steps to a more greener future. Some of the steps that we could take are listed below.

• Going to individual or group therapy- Experiencing eco-anxiety can at times make one feel extremely helpless and hopeless and can induce a strong sense of guilt. Thus by seeking help one can navigate through how to deal with these emotions at first and also explore ways in which they could contribute to the betterment of our planet.

• Following the 3 R’s of Reduce- Reuse and Recycle as much as possible.

• Reducing the use of plastic as much as possible

• Many countries in the wake of the climate crisis have taken steps to help the planet, by following such rules such one can contribute in reducing the harm done to the ecosystem.

• Increasing one's awareness about climate change and voicing out one's concerns in a respectful and understanding manner that would make others aware and active.

• Taking part in group activities such as clean-up and awareness camps, thus would also help developing a sense of togetherness and help in dealing with the isolation and helplessness that eco-anxiety brings along.

• Making donations to organisations that are voicing for this cause.

• Practice living a sustainable lifestyle.

Thus when it comes to us taking action it is these small steps that would help lead us to a bigger future.

Disclaimer: This blog post is meant for awareness/entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice and one must refrain from self-diagnosing. It is in no way a substitute for therapy with a mental health professional and it is not meant to be clinical. To consult with a psychotherapist on our team, you can contact us on fettle.counselling@gmail.com.