Navigating Eco-Anxiety: How to Stay Positive and Take Action

There’s mounting evidence suggesting that most people worldwide are worried about the planet’s future. In fact, 80% of respondents to a Global Trends Survey covering 50 countries believe “we are heading towards an environmental disaster unless we change our habits quickly.” It’s no surprise then that an ever-increasing number of people are experiencing “eco-anxiety,” or what the American Psychological Association describes as “a chronic fear of environmental doom.”

Who is Most Affected by Eco-anxiety?

How people experience “chronic fear” varies widely. Clearly, someone who has been directly affected by loss of a previously abundant food source or way of life, or suffered due to forest fires, flooding, drought, inescapable heat or unbreathable air will experience that fear quite differently from someone who is watching such disasters unfold on the news. And access (or lack of access) to necessary resources before, during and after environmental disasters will also affect how intense fear is and how it manifests.

Psychologist Joseph Dodds cites evidence that while climate anxiety can be mild, it can also lead to “panic attacks, loss of appetite, irritability, weakness and sleeplessness,” and in more extreme cases, “post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.”

Particularly concerning for parents is a 2021 global survey of 10,000 16-to-25-year-olds, which found that while 84% were at least somewhat worried about climate change, more than 56% believed “humanity is doomed” and more than 45% said “their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning.”

Dodds and other experts are quick to point out that feeling anxious about climate change and environmental degradation is not in itself a sign of mental illness. Dr. Jenalee Kluttz puts it this way: “Eco-anxiety is a normal response to the challenges of the times and is certainly healthier than turning away and denying the crisis exists.”

So, a certain degree of eco-anxiety just proves that you haven’t got your head buried in the sand. But, how can people keep that anxiety from becoming overwhelming?

Tips to Reduce Eco-anxiety

Here, in a nutshell, are key recommendations from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and others:

1. Acknowledge emotions, rather than suppressing them.
2. Find credible information sources. I would add, support the organizations who do the hard work of unearthing and sharing the truth. A few of the sources I personally trust: Ontario Nature, The Narwhal and Environmental Defence.
3. Find hope by learning about evidence-based solutions. Dr. Elin Kelsey insists “Hope… is a powerful political act. When you’re hopeful, you’re more likely to act.” She urges us to tap into The Solutions Journal, Future Earth and Covering Climate Now, as well as social media campaigns like her own #OceanOptimism. I would add to that CBC Radio “What on Earth” and futurechicken.com.
4. Focus on what you can control, voice your concerns and create an action plan. If you are a young person reading this and want your family to consider reducing the family carbon footprint, take heart! There is evidence that you are more likely than anyone else to influence your parents. Make sure you’re prepared with clear, accurate information and useful strategies first. Ontario Nature’s page on How to reduce your environmental footprint, the videos Strategies for Talking Effectively About Climate Change and Talk Climate to Me are all useful.
5. Connect with others who share your concerns. Dr. Sarah Lowe’s research into eco-anxious university students found that some were depressed while others weren’t. The difference? Those participating in group activities to address climate change were not depressed. If you want to join a group, check out ontarionature.org/take-action, or elsewhere in Canada: Ecoportal Canada.
6. Get outdoors. Even if you’re just listening to birds, watching bees, or standing among trees, time spent outdoors in nature has been shown to improve sleep and lower stress hormones in people of all ages. There’s also ample evidence that kids who spend time outdoors in nature are happier.
7. Seek additional help when you need it. Wellness Together Canada offers virtual resources and the option to talk with a health or mental health professional. Hope for Wellness provides a 24-7 Canada-wide helpline and chat service for members of Indigenous communities.

It bears repeating that a certain degree of eco-anxiety just proves that you’re paying attention. The trick is to channel that anxiety into action. If you can do that together with others, so much the better.

Susan Sheard is a retired elementary teacher now working on freelance writing and teaching projects with various sustainability-oriented organizations.