I was visiting my brother recently in a suburb of DC and while standing outside in a light jacket, his neighbors were all  telling me they hadn’t really had a winter yet this year. No rain has fallen in Northern California in the entire month of February, normally a time we get our heaviest rains.  While we all felt the pull to take advantage of the sunny and warm weather, I was struck by the number of people saying they felt guilty for enjoying it, because they knew what it meant.  Our climate is changing and our planet is in crisis. It’s hard to feel good in the effect, when the cause is so catastrophic. I notice it everywhere. As people are awakening to the reality of climate change, they feel a sense of doom and helplessness.  It’s become so common and its effects so pronounced, the American Psychological Association put out a 70 page report on the issue of “Eco-anxiety,” its causes, symptoms and ways to manage it. The good news, you are not alone in experiencing it, and the better news is, if managed well, this anxiety may in fact be a part of the solution.

According to a Yale survey conducted in 2018, 70% of Americans are worried about climate change, 29% are very worried, and 51% feel helpless.  (I can’t imagine that in 2020 these numbers are even higher). The thing about it is, that we aren’t necessarily aware of this anxiety, as it lies underneath the surface as we listen to the news and then go about our day.  But as psychologists study the roots of our stresses and concerns, the emergence of this common form of anxiety has emerged. The American Psychological Association defines it as “a chronic fear of environmental doom.” The impact can range from day to day worry, to the fear and panic attacks that natural disaster victims experience after the fact.  Often people feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the issue, mindful of their position as just one person on a planet of billions of people, and this leads to feelings of helplessness and depression. Psychology Today describes it as a source of stress caused by “watching the slow and seemingly irrevocable impacts of climate change unfold, and worrying about the future for oneself, children and later generations.”  It adds that people are “deeply affected by feelings of loss, helplessness, and frustration due to their inability to feel like they are making a difference in stopping climate change.” Young people are particularly affected as they feel the inheritors of a damaged ecosystem that was not of their making, and witness the lack of action on the part of our world leaders.

But, kept in check, eco-anxiety may be a good thing.  In the words of 16 year old Greta Thunberg, the young climate activist, “Adults keep saying, we owe it to the young people to give them hope.  But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful, I want you to panic.” Eco-anxiety is not a mental health disorder. In fact, it seems like a rational response to a really serious problem.  We need to ask, is it more pathological to be very worried about climate change or is it more pathological NOT to be worried about climate change? Anxiety is precisely what can propel us to action. But overly high levels of anxiety or hopelessness can lead to paralysis.  

The antidote to isolating anxiety is taking steps that foster a sense of connection with your environment and your community.  Studies suggest that even small conversations about climate change fears can be helpful in understanding its presence and its impact.  These types of conversations can be followed up with strategies to take action. Joining in on letter writing campaigns, protests, sustainability efforts and the like, all do make a difference both psychologically, but also for the bigger picture.  Duncan Geere, a climate activist and author, suggests that eco-anxiety is the right response to the scale of the challenge. But he holds onto optimism by reminding himself that individuals have never been as powerful as they are in today’s society.  Steps you can take not only benefit you to feel better but can push for changes that will matter: “Firstly, make climate change a factor in the decisions you make around what you eat, how you travel and what you buy. Secondly, talk about climate change with your friends, family, and colleagues.  Finally, demand that politicians and companies make it easier and cheaper to do the right thing for the planet.”

I, too, am to blame for feeling anxious and angry and yet not doing enough about it.  But with the political season upon us, and candidates fighting for our votes, this is a great time to be active and make our voices heard.  We have to believe it is within our power to protect what is left and make a difference to the trajectory of our planet’s delicate systems. I personally believe it is a moral duty and the best thing we can do  to help our children cope with their fears and frustrations. While there is a lot of science telling us how bad the problem is getting, there is also a lot of science telling us that if we can act now, we can indeed make a difference.