What is Eco Anxiety? How to deal with it?

An increasing number of people are experiencing eco-anxiety due to the evident threat of climate change to the future of the world. This phenomenon, also known as climate change anxiety or environmental anxiety, can cause serious psychological symptoms like debilitating stress, anxiety, anger, fear, and helplessness.

We will examine what ecological anxiety is, its causes and symptoms, and how to avoid it while taking care of the planet.

Ecological anxiety is gaining attention among psychologists worldwide and impacting some individuals' daily lives.

Many people are experiencing ecological anxiety due to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change, such as the fires in southern Turkey and Australia, and Cyclone Idai in Mozambique.

The American Psychological Association formally defines eco-anxiety as "a chronic fear of environmental disaster" and recognizes its significant impact on mental health for individuals and communities due to climate change.

Eco-anxiety is characterized by persistent or temporary overwhelming anxiety triggered by climate change, global ecological disasters, or specific climatic events.

Eco-anxiety, not a clinical diagnosis or disorder, is an existential fear that significantly impacts the psyche due to the fear of our survival being at risk.

Increasing anxiety due to climate crises can lead to psychological disorders, even though eco-anxiety is not officially recognized as a disease.

Eco-anxiety, as defined by the American Psychological Association (APA), is the chronic fear of environmental catastrophe caused by observing the seemingly irreversible impact of climate change and the associated anxiety for the future of oneself and future generations. The APA believes that internalizing major environmental problems can have serious psychological consequences for some people.

All the alarm bells that nature rings are the things that cause eco-anxiety.

Abnormal weather events are increasing, such as heat waves, fires, typhoons, earthquakes, and tidal waves.

The number of people experiencing eco-anxiety is expected to increase as the number of ecological problems grows.

Not everyone is equally affected by eco-anxiety. It is more common among people who are more conscious about protecting the environment.

Certain groups are more affected by climate change anxiety. Pregnant or postpartum women, children, and the elderly are more prone to experiencing eco-anxiety symptoms. Minorities, immigrants, and refugees are believed to be at higher risk for developing psychiatric and psychological symptoms due to disparities in infrastructure, social and economic mobility, and healthcare access.

Eco-anxiety can cause feelings of suffocation and depression in severe cases.

Eco-anxiety effects can be minimized, like other anxiety disorders. Encouraging a sustainable lifestyle for ourselves and others can reduce the guilt felt about caring for the planet.

To ease the effects of eco-anxiety, try a few simple things.

The psychological symptoms of climate change may seem less serious than the tangible problems many people are already facing. Eco-anxiety is a real and serious issue affecting people around the world. Don't feel bad if you're having a hard time dealing with eco-anxiety.

Being aggressive towards yourself due to anxiety is pointless. One needs to be as supportive, kind, and encouraging as possible towards oneself during this process. Know your enemy: feeling anxious about the world's ecological problems is a human emotion. Raise awareness of climate change among yourself and those around you.

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