In our first article about climate change anxiety (eco-anxiety), we discussed how eco-anxiety is not only real, but is an increasing problem, especially in younger generations concerned about climate change they are now witnessing, and worried about how things will look in the future. Climate change is a complicated and massive problem with many different moving parts for which there is no clear solution. Complicated problems or issues can make us anxious and even overwhelm us. If you think about it, eco-anxiety makes a lot of sense in connection with climate change. People all over the world are living through catastrophic events which have been scientifically linked to climate change. Most people have already acknowledged that climate change has either directly been caused by humans, substantially caused by humans, or at least partially caused by humans.
Every day we are inundated by the media and social media covering these weather events which may scare us. Will some type of disaster we see on television eventually happen to us? What will we do? It is worrisome to have to think about these possibilities. Here in South Florida, prior to the destruction of Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, many people hadn’t taken hurricanes seriously. However, since Andrew, hurricanes now create a lot of fear and anxiety and people pay very close attention to the paths of developing tropical storms and hurricanes. When environmental news coverage is negative and/or exaggerated, we can quickly become anxious, agitated, fearful, frustrated, angry, or depressed. Eco-anxiety doesn’t mean you are mentally ill, but it is a rational response to be depressed or worried about climate change. Experiencing these feelings and emotions in threatening and uncertain situations may also motivate people to change their behavior.
I too, was a bit discouraged and depressed in the first semester of my master’s program where I learned about all the problems there are all over the world and the scope and extent of the many environmental issues which must be addressed. I came home one day looking dejected and my wife asked me what was wrong. I just blurted out that climate change was too huge, there wasn’t enough time left, and so few people even cared. Thankfully, I realized I was wrong on all counts. There IS time and there ARE so many people all over the world who are getting involved. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TOO! WE NEED YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. If you continue sitting at home worrying and feeling guilty or hopeless about climate change and the state of our environment, with the attitude there is nothing you can do, you are only going to feel more miserable. If you act in some fashion, you will feel better because you are contributing and doing something for the environment, which can be rewarding and self-satisfying.
Changing our world to emit less carbon emissions is NOT just for scientists, technicians, inventors, engineers, billionaires, and governments to fix for us. If we wait for governments to change our world, we will be making a serious mistake and wasting precious time. This is OUR problem – yours and mine. This is a problem that should motivate 8 billion people on this planet to come together in repairing what has already been damaged or destroyed and help in preventing further damage. Susie Orbach, a psychotherapist says: “The involuntary turning away and acceptance that our world is doomed can sink us into despair,” and “shutting off from our feelings is a counsel of collapse; it diminishes us, it disempowers us, it makes us less smart and, in so doing, adds to the climate emergency.” If you are someone who loves and respects nature, cares about endangered species, biodiversity, dying corals, polluted air, water, and land, is concerned about carbon emissions, sea level rise, deforestation, rising temperatures and stronger floods, droughts, and storms – say something, do something, get with like-minded people. There is power in numbers. Think about what you would like Earth to look like for future generations – your children and grandchildren.
JOIN THE FIGHT and DON’T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN!
References:
KrisDe Meyer et al 2021 Environ. Res. Lett. 16 015002
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abcd5a/pdf
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/10122022/tiktok-pique-action-stories/
https://www.npr.org/2022/11/17/1137156134/kids-youth-coping-climate-change
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00278-3/fulltext
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/25/we-dont-have-to-be-overwhelmed-by-climate-anxiety-feel-the-pain-then-act?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1
Published:December,2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3
