What is climate anxiety?
“Climate anxiety” is a term used to describe the feelings a person can experience when faced with the extent of the climate and ecological crisis. For example feelings of fear, worry, helplessness, grief and rage. These feelings are understandable and justified but what can we do about them?
Tips for dealing with climate anxiety
- Process your feelings and voice them out loud or even write them down. We become less overwhelmed by our emotions when we put them into words.
- Connect and share your feelings with others. When people don’t talk about anxiety this can lead to further issues.
- Take a time out from the news and social media.
- Focus on the good news stories and solutions. It isn’t always doom and gloom!
- Spend time in nature and connect to the places that you care about.
- Take action! This could be writing to your MP to express your concerns, volunteering for an environmental charity or even taking a simple climate pledge such as buying more “pre-loved” clothes.