There is no doubt that the climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our time, an issue that deeply affects our psychology and well-being, even if we do not understand it. Concern for the future of the planet, extreme weather conditions combined with natural disasters, but also the gradual exhaustion of natural resources, cause a feeling of insecurity and anxiety, which does not only arise from the temporary effects of the phenomenon.
Because what burdens us the most is the continued uncertainty about the course of the situation, and also the unpleasant realization of the long-term consequences that climate change will have on the daily lives of millions of people. It is enough to think that millions of people will be forced to leave their areas over time, due to the devastating effects of the climate, to understand that serious social and economic crises may follow on a global level.
This situation, therefore, is what cultivated a new form of psychological discomfort, known as “echo anxiety”. However, it is not only about people who are in vulnerable areas of the planet, but also about those who realize that we are going through an extremely critical time for the future of our planet.
What is eco-anxiety and how did it become established in modern psychology
Before explaining exactly what eco-anxiety is, it is important to know that it is a term that was formed in the 2010s, that is, the moment when the climate crisis began to be heard more intensely and more often in the public debate.
Prominent psychologists and researchers, such as geographer and founder of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, Anthony Leiserowitz, as well as psychology professor Susan Clayton, have publications that examine the psychological impact of the climate crisis. Leiserowitz’s work contributed to the recognition of “climate anxiety”, while Clayton’s work focuses on the psychological effects and management strategies of stress.
Basically, eco-anxiety is defined as intense concern about the future of the planet, which can be caused by a phenomenon similar to the Daniel storm, by daily information about environmental threats, by the fact that a person lives in an area that is directly affected of. the climate crisis.
So the question is, how can we manage environmental anxiety?
And yet, we can deal with it, as long as we invest in activities that help us regain our hope. For example, we can participate in organizations and actions that protect the environment, because that way we will meet other people who have the same concerns as us. We can spend more time in nature, walking or tending to our garden. This contact helps us relax and brings relief. Also, it would be good to avoid unnecessary movement on social networks, because it… bombards us with unpleasant news that seems to affect our mood.