Climate Anxiety[2024]: 10 Tips on How to Deal Climate Change Anxiety

I write this article in the thick of the heat wave that has New Delhi in its grip, reeling from a conversation with my partner about how the extreme weather makes it difficult to envision our future in the city. Assuming we will live up to the average lifespan of our species, we still have another 30-40 years left to think about. Increasingly, climate has been a topic of discussion as we plan the rest of our lives. I know we are not alone.

Many of our friends and family - especially those with children - have moved to cities or countries with kinder weather. The current state of the climate has many of us worrying about the future. This worry about the future is characteristic of anxiety, lending this new, widespread concern of ‘climate anxiety’.

What Is Climate Anxiety?

According to The Handbook of Climate Psychology, climate anxiety is defined as “heightened emotional, mental or somatic distress in response to dangerous changes in the climate system”. It is important, however, to keep in mind, that like any other form of anxiety, climate anxiety, too, exists on a spectrum. If we are witnessing concerning events unfolding, it is healthy for us to have some amount of worry regarding the same. It is when the distress becomes unmanageable or clouds our thinking that climate anxiety becomes concerning. 

Let’s try to understand this with an example. If you live in a place like Delhi, where air pollution is uncontrollable,  it would be fair to worry about the impact of air quality on your health. However, if you don’t step out at all due to the anxiety associated with it, that may be concerning because it may come in the way of you engaging with necessary tasks.

Another example: since the recent news of clear weather turbulence in a Singapore Airlines flight, there has been an ongoing conversation about the impact of climate on flights. Now, a helpful response to it would be to put guidelines in place that would ensure the safety of travelers. However, refusing air travel completely due to this might point to high climate anxiety. 

Since climate change poses a threat to our future, it is understandable that the anxiety associated with it is seen most among the younger population. A 2021 survey of over 10,000 participants between ages 16 and 25 conducted by Lancet Planetary Health revealed that over 60% of the participants worried about the climate, and about half reported that this worry impacted their daily functioning. 

Is climate anxiety a mental health disorder?

Climate anxiety is not recognized as a mental health disorder in the DSM. Having said that, there is debate among scholars about whether or not we need to treat climate anxiety as a mental illness. Some argue that climate anxiety is a healthy response to climate change as it propels people to take action to prevent the deterioration of planetary conditions. On the other hand, not recognizing climate anxiety as a mental health concern may deprive climate crusaders of the help they need since it can cause changes in behavior, relationships, and physical and emotional well-being.

Regardless of whether climate anxiety is added as a diagnosable disorder or not, it’s important to keep in mind that climate change can impact one’s mental health and well-being. With climate-related calamities on the rise, it is understandable that one would worry about the future living conditions. In the last decade or so, several studies have been conducted to show the impact of air pollution on one’s mental health.

In one longitudinal study of over 1600 adults living in South London, it was found that air pollution increases the chances of developing common mental health concerns like anxiety and depression by 18-39%. Another longitudinal study based in Indonesia found that air pollution has a long-term impact on mental health, in particular, increasing the prevalence of clinical depression among women. 

Climate Anxiety in Children

Children are impacted not only by worry about the future but also by the ongoing effects of global climate change. Globally, we are witnessing many natural disasters including hurricanes, forest fires, cyclones, and heat waves. These disrupt the daily lives of children and contribute to mental health issues like anxiety, PTSD, and learning difficulties. According to WHO, it is children under the age of 5 who carry the burden of 88% of global climate change. 

Climate anxiety in Gen Z teenagers 

Surveys from the US, UK, and Australia show that Gen Z are also concerned about climate change. In particular, the teenagers of today are impacted by what psychologist Sally Weintrobe calls the ‘culture of uncare’ - the attitude of the older generations that they won’t be around to see the mayhem they’ve caused and the next generation has to fix the mess. 

Climate Anxiety in Young Adults

While climate anxiety reduces as we go up in the age bracket, young adults today are concerned about the impact of climate and what it will mean for their future. Concerns about future generations are also rising, as is evident by the growing reluctance to bring a child into this world. 

Climate Anxiety in Women

Women already face more challenges and have access to fewer resources compared to men. The impact of global issues like poverty and lack of employment opportunities have historically impacted women more deeply than men and this trend is likely to continue with regards to climate change as well. In particular, it has been seen that women are more prone to developing anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The increasing temperatures also impact women more than men. A rise in temperature is associated with reproductive issues including higher chances of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and low birth weight. 

Knowing the causes helps us understand. Why do some people have climate anxiety?

Climate change is a result of many political and socio-cultural factors that are beyond the control of any one individual. Urban development, industrialization, deforestation, and even AI are some of the big contributors to climate change. Having said this, climate anxiety is often accompanied by feelings of helplessness. No matter how much you do to reduce your carbon footprint, there is the silent knowledge that you alone can’t stop climate change. This feeling of helplessness is exacerbated by many things including: 

1. Regret for your past contribution to climate change - Even though we may know that we alone are not responsible for climate change, having to bear the consequences of it may make us wonder if we can do or could have done something differently. However, we do what we do based on what we know. It could be that in the past, you were unaware of the impact of your choices on the climate. However, in the present, your past actions may contribute to feelings of regret, leaving you susceptible to anxiety.  
2. Overconsumption of news and other information about the climate - We have access to too much information and it’s important to curtail how much we consume. It’s common for people who don’t curtain their consumption of news to feel helpless and thus, anxious. 
3. Lived experiences of climate change - If you have had firsthand experience with climate change, this may directly impact your mental and emotional well-being, contributing to the development of climate anxiety 

Climate anxiety symptoms

Even though climate anxiety is not officially recognized as an illness, there are some peculiar ways it may show up, including, but not limited to:  

• Fear about what the climate may look like in the future 
• Fluctuations in the weather causing extreme worry 
• Guilt or shame about one’s own contribution to climate change 
• Getting upset if others show less concern about climate change 
• Obsessive thoughts about the climate 
• Compulsive behaviours that help alleviate anxiety 

How to find a solution to deal with climate change Anxiety

Like other forms of anxiety, climate anxiety, too, can be along the spectrum from mild to severe. When the anxiety is low, one can channel it for positive use and learn to manage it in various ways. This may look like: 

• Taking action to prevent climate change by joining an advocacy group, starting an organization, or simply reducing your carbon footprint 
• You may join a support group of like-minded people who share your concerns about climate change to process your feelings, find community, and helpful ways to cope 
• Limit the consumption of news and content around climate change 
• Spend time in nature
• Spend time around loved ones 
• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help deal with the symptoms of anxiety 

However, if you find that the anxiety is interfering with your daily functioning, do seek the help of a mental health professional. We also have a team of experienced mental health professionals who can help you in your journey to finding the balance. 

How does climate anxiety impact other Mental Health Disorders?

While climate anxiety itself is not a mental health disorder, it is associated with anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. Let’s see how

Climate anxiety and anxiety disorders: Those who are exposed to extreme weather or climate change are at a higher risk of developing anxiety disorder. Extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, floods, frequent storms, or extreme cold can be stressful, and when one is chronically or repeatedly exposed to such environments, it can lead to anxiety. 

Climate anxiety and depression: Climate anxiety may come with feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and helplessness, plunging us into a depressive state. 

Climate anxiety and OCD: Climate anxiety may lead to obsessive thoughts about the climate or one’s contribution to a carbon footprint, and subsequently, repetitive behaviours that help mitigate these thoughts. For example, one may compulsively check lights, water taps, etc to ensure there’s no wastage. Or, one may refuse to discard things and insist on using only recycled or upcycled materials, even when they may not be easily accessible. 

Climate anxiety and PTSD: Those who have witnessed the impact of climate change firsthand may experience symptoms of PTSD. The symptoms of PTSD are common among populations who have experienced natural disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, or floods as it often is traumatic in nature and leads to massive loss of life and property.  

What are other emotional responses to climate-specific psychological impacts other than Climate Anxiety[eco-grief, eco-depression), eco-anger, eco-guilt, and solastalgia.]

The emotional impact of climate change doesn’t always and only shows up as anxiety. Sometimes, it may show up as grief. Eco-grief can show up when one loses natural ecosystems and other aspects of nature due to industrial or Urban development. At other times, as anger. Sometimes, as guilt and at other times, as general distress caused by climate change called ‘solastalgia’. Solastalgia can be understood as a longing for a better environment which has now become a thing of the past. It is the distress one feels about the changing environmental conditions in their place of residence.  

Treatment for Climate Anxiety

Since climate anxiety is not a clinical diagnosis, there is no direct treatment for it. However, lifestyle changes along with psychotherapy or counseling can help manage the feelings associated with climate anxiety. Additionally, if there is a comorbidity like generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, or OCD, treatment can be provided for the same. In most cases of anxiety-related disorders, a combination of medication and therapy is provided. 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that climate impacts our mental well-being. Climate change is often out of our control, and a lack of control often invokes anxiety. Climate anxiety, in particular, shows up among younger people because worries about climate change pertain to our future living conditions. 

Climate anxiety is along the spectrum of a useful response to climate change to unmanageable anxiety. Adaptive anxiety concerning the climate can be mobilized and used as motivation to take action to create a better living environment in the future. However, if climate anxiety feels too much, it is advisable to work with a mental health professional. 

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