How to Deal with Eco-Anxiety

Between wildfires, heat waves and hurricanes, it is normal to feel anxious and overwhelmed about the future of our planet.

• The climate crisis is evoking feelings of guilt, grief and anger in many people as we increasingly experience the dire consequences of a warming planet first hand.
• A growing number of extreme weather events have led to widespread destruction. For younger generations, the knowledge that things are bound to get worse can make the future seem bleak.
• Reports show that young adults experience the greatest level of eco-anxiety, which can correlate with higher levels of depression.
• However, research has also shown that climate anxiety can be helpful when processed in a productive manner, as it is an adaptive response to a threatening situation.
• For those experiencing climate anxiety, connecting with others is often helpful. Sharing anxiety within a supportive community can help people channel their feelings into meaningful action.
• Taking action can create an internal shift in one’s beliefs about the future. In other words, our anxiety can spur the kind of change that leads to hope.