Constantly stressed and discouraged about the smog in the air, global warming and change in temperatures around the world, and depleting climate health? You are definitely not alone. Eco-anxiety is gaining traction among people lately and rightly so. 

Medical Research Today states that “Researchers coined the term “eco-anxiety” to describe chronic or severe anxiety related to humans’ relationship with the environment. In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) described eco-anxiety as “a chronic fear of environmental doom.”

Since it’s a relatively new concept, there is less clarity regarding the condition. According to research, there is evidence that extreme weather events may harm our mental health by increasing worry.  However, Eco-anxiety is not officially recognized as a mental illness, yet. Still, professionals do recognize the toll it takes as it’s increasingly prevalent. 

Feeling eco-anxiety could mean you’re in an emotionally mature state. This depicts your awareness of the crisis the whole world is facing. Recognizing your feelings as reasonable is essential in understanding your emotions better. This would even help motivate your activism as finding your place in a community by helping you feel less alone. 

However, if you see this affecting your day-to-day being, it would be wise to seek professional help. It is often the loss of meaning that causes people to suffer, so validating these feelings have sense can be extremely comforting.

But we have here various ways you can cope with eco-anxiety effectively so worry not–

Reconnect with nature

Try spending time outdoors. It is essential to remind yourself that if you’re worried about climate change, it is clear that you genuinely care about your surroundings. Be it a simple walk in the park or a total digital detox to go out in the wilderness, breathing fresh air can help you cope with this better. 

Follow positive news

Since social media has a significant influence on our thinking and decision making, it is crucial to start ‘following’ pages that recognize the progress being made on varied fronts. Many pages out there promote an optimistic outlook that can inspire you rather than petrify you.

Join protests and communities 

There is one fundamental way to affect change constructively—joining protests and communities for any suitable cause.

None of us can fight climate change alone: it’s vital to join a community to battle the overwhelm. Feeling united while embracing difficult situations can have a significant impact on the environment and mental health. You could do this through social media, join groups online or gain awareness via family and friends. 

Give back

Volunteering for initiatives that prompt climate cleanup can be extremely gratifying. You can also support similar initiatives by backing brands that are trying to change the system. 

You could switch to sustainable shopping methods by reducing plastic bag use, thrift shopping, and promoting second-hand purchases. (Check out our guide to living sustainably on a budget and thrifting.)

It can seem ambitious to be 100% sustainable. Still, the little changes definitely help. Be sure to go for what’s possible and accessible for you.

The goal is to strike a balance between experiencing these feelings and using them in various ways to build positive progress towards change, healthier relationships with your family and friends, and perhaps meaningful work and advocacy of some kind. The world is changing, and so are our worries. But fear not and be sure to seek help if the changes seem overwhelming for you to keep up with.