How to Cope with Eco-Anxiety (and Climate Emotions): Series Introduction

Are you finding yourself overwhelmed by worries about the environment?

Does the thought of climate change consume your mind, leaving you feeling hopeless and discouraged?

If so, you may be experiencing what are known as "climate emotions". This term describes emotional states, like anxiety, grief, and anger, that arise in response to environmental concerns such as climate change, pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

It’s essential to recognize that climate emotions are not mental illness; instead, they are natural responses to the challenges facing our planet. After all, our connection to nature and dependence on it means that we’re bound to feel anxious or upset when we see something wrong.

While climate emotions can serve as motivating forces for positive change, they can also become a problem if not processed effectively. The gradual and unpredictable nature of environmental threats, combined with the feeling of powerlessness to tackle them alone, can lead to spirals of escalating distress. In an attempt to escape or alleviate this discomfort, we may resort to avoidance behaviours or seek quick fixes that ultimately exacerbate the problem.

It’s crucial to understand that feeling hopeless doesn’t mean there’s no way forward. By learning how to cope with climate emotions, we can channel them into meaningful action and find hope and purpose in the face of daunting challenges. The three-part series below was developed to help you explore how to break free from unhelpful cycles and move towards constructive action.

Part 1: Is Eco-Anxiety a Problem? introduces eco-anxiety and answers the question: is eco-anxiety considered a mental illness? And when is it a problem?

Part 2: Navigating the Storm: Eco-Anxiety Coping Strategies offers guidance and coping tools for those experiencing environmental anxiety.

Part 3: How to Transform Your Eco-Anxiety into Eco-Action outlines how to honor environmental concerns through concrete actions.

I initially developed these resources on eco-anxiety for the non-profit Anxiety Canada and received input and review from other members of the scientific advisory committee including: Drs. Melanie Badali, Carmen McLean, Lynn Miller, Marlene Taube-Schiff, and Maureen Whittal.