Understanding Eco-Anxiety

Clinical psychologists and researchers have recognized a new phenomenon called “eco-anxiety.” The adverse effects of climate change are no longer documented solely in science-related news; they now feature rather prominently across media. As a result, this particular type of anxiety is growing steadily. It demands to be understood, studied, and discussed. Though eco-anxiety is not yet a diagnosable condition, therapists and researchers have noted a sharp rise in the number of people anxious about climate change and environmental degradation. This anxiety is today referred to as eco-anxiety.

“Modern” Anxiety

Anxiety is certainly not a new phenomenon. It was most famously recognized and defined by Sigmund Freud. In particular, he differentiated between fear and anxiety (fear is associated with a particular object, whereas anxiety is a more generalized emotion).

Anxiety was also a key concern of the existentialist movement, which deeply influenced literature and philosophy during the late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth centuries. The existentialists, however, preferred to use the term “dread.”

Mentions of anxiety disorders first featured in the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Third Edition (DSM-III) in the 1980’s. Subsequent editions of the DSM further elaborated on it, with accounts of the physiological and mental effects of anxiety growing in detail. Simultaneously, the DSM also recognized a number of related disorders.

Today, anxiety has become a feature of daily life for many. It has become widespread enough to affect an entire generation, and is also widely alluded to in cultural products. In the more specific context of eco-anxiety, books, films, and TV series set in apocalyptic conditions with children, teenagers, or young adults as the protagonists are finding tremendous traction among readers and viewers. Online spaces are rife with heated arguments and debates about the effects of climate change, though most of these discussions tend to result in divisiveness.

Eco-anxiety is exacerbated by other factors as well: demands of modern work culture, concerns caused by rapid technological advances, burgeoning societal inequalities, political instability, and most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic are among the major factors contributing to a constant state of anxiety. It is thus important to acknowledge that climate change is not a standalone phenomenon. Analyses of human-driven climate change cannot be complete without a critical analysis of human activity and its wide-ranging effects on the planet. Ultimately, unchecked human activity might lead to the deterioration (and very likely the destruction) of our own fundamental niche. Thus, while it is startling to learn that concerns about climate change alone have now become a significant cause of anxiety among the young, we must remember that this anxiety also relates to concerns about the many ways in which humans and human activity are affecting the planet’s wellbeing.

Dealing With Eco-Anxiety

Researchers and scientists have warned that environmental degradation and adverse climate change have reached alarming levels. In fact, they argue that alarming levels were reached decades ago.

However, it is only recently that these warnings have filtered into the mainstream consciousness. Climate change and environmental degradation are expected to worsen in the coming years, and this, too, has resulted in much anxiety among the young. Indeed, climate-related anxiety is not only widely prevalent, but is also rising alarmingly.

Eco-anxiety is not merely anxiety about the future. The future is uncertain, and this uncertainty has for long been a cause of anxiety and fear. Eco-anxiety is different in that it is accompanied by the fear that the planet itself is in danger. Though this concern has inspired action in some quarters, it has limited people’s will to act by worsening their dread. This is a result of the tendency to describe the effects of climate change in pessimistic or apocalyptic terms. Presenting the scale of the damage already done to the planet in a pessimistic manner tends to make us feel helpless.

It is thus important to think about the adverse effects of climate change without letting it affect our will to take action.

Of late, there have been many reports of record temperatures reached in different parts of the world. The frequency of natural disasters has also become a key cause of fear and anxiety. In particular, the coverage of weeks-long forest fires in the Amazon, California, Indonesia, and Australia have caused much concern and anxiety. It might be challenging to retain our will to take action against climate change in these circumstances, but it is important to remember that action is the best way to fight anxiety.

At the core of eco-anxiety is the knowledge that there is no escape from the consequences of human-driven climate change. This does not mean that we are doomed beyond redemption. It merely means that we now have the responsibility to recognize the extent of damage done and take action to minimize, if not reverse, the damage.

Other Challenges Involved in Addressing Eco-Anxiety and Climate Change

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the actual experience of eco-anxiety predates the coining of the term. The lack of a conceptual vocabulary to accurately express this dread and fear may also be a reason why it is so intensely felt. It compounds the issue with a sense of loneliness, as the sufferer may feel that they are the only person worrying about climate change when in fact most people around them are probably experiencing it too. Thus, recognizing it and developing a useful vocabulary to deal with it are important first steps toward addressing eco-anxiety.

As mentioned above, a change of mindset is also needed. People feel overwhelmed by the extent of distressing environment-related news they receive on an almost daily basis. The media, now that it has turned its attention toward the matter, is relentless. Awareness about the climate is at an all-time high, and rather than crumple under the pressure, this should be viewed in a positive light.

Children and teenagers see the current situation as one they have inherited, not caused. This in turn not only produces a great deal of anguish but also prevents the coming together of the young and the old. In other words, the young feel that the old have not only played a large role in environmental degradation and adverse climate change but also hold them responsible for the eco-anxiety the young have to deal with. Eco-anxiety interferes with their sleep, work, and in some cases, it is an all-pervading presence. In urban spaces, eco-anxiety is aggravated when people observe soaring temperatures, traffic jams, and unchecked development. In rural areas, specifically in agricultural areas, people inhabit what is now being called the “frontiers of climate change.” They are witness to one of the biggest and arguably most alarming consequences of climate change–its effect on farming and food security.

While it is true that the young have not actively contributed to adverse climate change, it is necessary to mobilize as many people as we can to fight it. In other words, the young and the old cannot afford to alienate or antagonize each other. Coming together is especially important since climate change can be fought in so many ways, and this is good news. Since there are several ways to take action, it is easier for people with different preferences and temperaments to partake in efforts aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Climate anxiety can be paralyzing, but the best way to deal with it is by taking action. There has been a surge in protests and demonstrations calling attention to climate change and its adverse effects. Several lifestyles and habits that had previously been regarded as fringe or alternative have become more widely accepted. “Sustainability” is no longer a mere catchword. It is a gradually growing practice with a wide range of applicability: from individual to community lifestyles, from energy to buildings, and beyond.

As lonely as being eco-anxious may have felt initially, there are now several methods to reach out to others who have the same concerns. Communities that have sprung up around climate anxiety are sites of action and comfort: they allow people to express themselves, assess the impacts of their actions, and identify more ways to fight the dangers of climate change. Eco-anxiety may not be a diagnosable condition yet, but therapists and psychologists are being trained to deal with it nonetheless, so there is the option to avail professional help, too.