Climate Anxiety And Environmental Anxiety: What Is It?
Unless you have spent the last five years of your life under a rock, you probably know who Greta Thunberg is. If you do not know who she is, she is a 17-year-old environmental activist who has a great passion for saving the planet from climate change. By hearing her speech and observing everything she does, we wonder if she might be suffering from climate anxiety and environmental anxiety. Is this possible?
The truth is that we do not have a proper answer. The reason for this is that there is scientifically no mental state in itself called environmental anxiety. In 2019, however, a group of experts from the Climate Psychology Alliance coined this term to refer to a phenomenon that can be considered a real and rational concern that is far from being a pathology.
What is climate anxiety and environmental anxiety?
Let us simplify the concept as much as possible. Basically, environmental anxiety refers to the concern for the natural habitat we live in. This includes habitat destruction, climate change and pollution. It also includes all ecological problems and disasters that are caused or exacerbated by human actions and their productive activity on the planet.
People who suffer from these worries feel anxious when they think about their own mortality as well as those closest to them. Furthermore, thinking about the future of the world makes them incredibly anxious.
However, it is important not to confuse this with a clinical anxiety disorder. As we mentioned above, this is not considered a pathology nor does it provide a specific clinical picture.
Nevertheless, the American Psychological Association (APA) defined this term in 2017. According to them, this chronic fear of environmental mortality can exacerbate existing mental health problems. It can also trigger previously non-existent health problems.
The mentioned American association states that there was a general increase in climate anxiety and environmental anxiety in 2019. This is due to the natural disasters that occurred and the impact they had on the media.
Climate and mental health
Climate has a direct impact on everyone’s minds. Some people feel affected by what is happening now. Others, on the other hand, worry more about what is to come. For example, it is extremely worrying that certain islands may be completely submerged in a few years due to climate change.
However, both cases can cause different emotions. For example, anger, shock or terror and all these emotions, more or less intense, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Furthermore, the consequences of climate change affect economic and social activity. Natural phenomena can affect industries such as agriculture, livestock and many infrastructures. As a consequence, this can lead to feelings of fatalism, powerlessness and other different types of mental illness.
The scientific journal Global Environment Change published a study linking depression and anxiety to the environment. When it comes to climate anxiety and environmental anxiety, women and people with low incomes are in fact the most affected people. However, there is still no clear information in this regard.
What do we know about those affected?
First, there are certain types of anxiety that can be said to be unfounded or disproportionate fear (when compared to the extent or probability of the threat). Speaking from an ecological point of view, however, this is a real problem.
Moreover, this feeling of insecurity becomes a natural response due to the restlessness that it provokes. In addition, these factors are particularly noticeable in women according to the information that supports the existence of the problem. The reason for this is that women tend to be much more concerned with pollution, global warming or climate change. In fact, many of them believe that it can even affect their fertility.
Furthermore, climate anxiety and environmental anxiety also affect young people in an intense way. Teenagers, young adults and even some children show greater connection to the environment and a great concern for their future. Nevertheless, middle-aged adults are concerned about this problem because of the impact it can have on their children’s development.
Is there a solution to environmental anxiety?
Fortunately, there is still time to reduce this type of anxiety. It is safe to say that if it continues like this, then it can become a serious problem for many people. For this, the best solution would be to change social and economic behavior, avoid compulsive consumption and trade and start implementing greener forms of energy.
In addition to this, it is also necessary to develop resilience that can follow a balanced and environmentally friendly policy that can have a positive impact on the human psyche.
When you start with healthier habits, such as less use of cars or spending more time in nature, you will also be able to improve your environmental anxiety. It is up to you!
