Last week we talked about how to consume negative climate news in a way that allows you to stay informed, but not get overwhelmed. This week let’s move into the second part and learn how to better deal with that overwhelm when it does come through. No matter how well we try to not lose ourselves to hopelessness and despair, there will be days when you start to question, and the fear creeps in.
Will we actually be able to do this? Is there hope for the future at all?
Know that it’s OK to have those days too and that you don’t do yourself any good by ignoring them altogether. In fact, to remain a grounded and resilient climate hero, you need to practice climate awareness and emotional resilience as often as you can.
Here are some tips that I’ve learned (from myself and masters I’ve talked to) that can help you with whatever climate anxiety that might be luring.
Anxiety, as defined by Psychology Professor Janet Swim, is something you experience when you get closer and closer to an “anti-goal”, without feeling like you can do anything about it. The fear combined with the lack of power is what makes you anxious. Climate anxiety, therefore, is what you experience when climate change is edging closer and you feel like you lack the power to change its course.
If you are suffering from any sort of climate anxiety, know that you’re not alone. 73% of Americans agree that climate change is “probably or definitely” affecting their mental health, according to a study in 2020. Similarly, 4 out of 10 children fear having kids of their own due to climate change, according to a study in 2021.
Unfortunately, climate anxiety is starting to spread among us like wildfire, pun intended. This is not only bad because it’s taking a toll on our mental health, but anxious people tend to shut down and not engage! In a time when what we really need is for people to feel inspired and take action, the opposite is happening.
Famous author and thought leader Yuval Noah Harari recently said,
“Climate despair is as dangerous as climate denial.”
So the question goes — how do we learn about climate change and still feel inspired to act? How do we stay aware of the situation yet motivated to work for change?
It starts with self-care and the understanding that you cannot heal the world without healing yourself first. You are the vessel for change. You are the key that can unlock miracles, shift systems, and co-create a better world. Recognizing how important you are is the first step in understanding the importance of self-care as a climate optimist.
Here are some tips for consuming climate news and how to deal with climate anxiety when it arises.
4 Tips for Dealing with Climate Anxiety
Start by recognizing that it’s OK to feel and let yourself be one with your emotions. Ignoring your feelings will not make them go away, they will only build up inside, which can lead to anxiety and depression. Letting yourself feel is the first step to healing. You might feel scared by this but your heart is stronger than you know and if you practice tuning into your emotions more often, you will soon learn how to let them flow through you with ease.
Once you’ve recognized that it’s OK to feel your emotions, no matter how difficult they are, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to hold on to these feelings to make a difference. You’re not a better activist because you’re angry and worried all the time. In fact, you’ll have a much bigger impact if you choose to heal yourself and act from a place of strength, love, and light.
Lastly, understand that you’re not alone. By talking about it with others, you activate your own healing, first of all, but you also allow for others to start their healing process as well. When we share how we feel we begin to understand that we’re not alone and that is a good first step in releasing pain. Also, when we come together in our fear and grief, we feel like we’re in something together, that there is hope, and hope is where the action grows!
This leads me to the last part — taking action! Professor Swim explains that the fastest step out of anxiety is by putting yourself back into a feeling of control, which is to take action. So whatever it is you can do to make a difference, no matter how small it may seem in the bigger picture, just do it! Become the change you wish to see and slowly work yourself out of despair and into empowered action!
Download Your Emotions
Many times it can be hard to put a finger on what it is you’re even going through and in those times I find journaling so helpful. When you put pen to paper, you get a chance to express how you feel, and you finally get a chance to understand what’s going on. Below is a free journaling resource that you can use for downloading your emotions and in doing so, let them empower you to take meaningful action!