Overload, helplessness, uncertainty and worry are some of the feelings that people with eco-anxiety experience everyday due to the growing impact of the climate crisis. Although this concern is growing among younger people, the best strategy is to share and communicate this discomfort and take actions that are beneficial to the environment.
Every morning, Bruno Martín, Scienseed science communicator, wakes up disturbed by the ecological crisis. End the day the same way. Every little gesture he makes throughout the day is “tiring”, he confesses.
“When I say this, people think I’m overwhelmed buying stuff wrapped in plastic or on Amazon because I feel guilty, but that’s not exactly it (though too). What really stresses me out is to see in the news that every year more people die by floods, fires, heat waves, what disappears from the fauna and natural spaces because we destroy them, what the world rulers are unable to deal with at the end of the year. fossil fuels”Says the science communicator.
This feeling of helplessness, misunderstanding and oppression generated by the climate crisis is known as eco-anxiety. Traditionally, the scientific community has analyzed the effects that human actions have on the environment and how the consequences affect our physical health through pollution, the spread of disease or food shortages, among others. Now, in addition, there is more and more talk about how all these effects affect our mental health.
Eco-anxiety would therefore be the feeling of apprehension, concern and uncertainty about the potential reach of the expected impacts of climate change, as defined by María Ojala, Professor of Psychology at the University of Örebro (Sweden), who studies how young people feel face to environmental threats.
This feeling has its origins in the catastrophic futures that lie before us. For example, when we read news from studies on global warming or when we see devastating images that are produced as a result of extreme weather events.
“You feel helpless, sad, angry, anxious because you see how these futures have materialized and everything seems to indicate that they will be more and more frequent.”, explains Andreu Escrivà, PhD in Biodiversity and author of the book And now what I do: how to avoid climate blame and act.
Eco-anxiety: a very present problem
However, it is not only related to the future, but also to the present. Climate change is still considered an abstract concept that we will have to deal with in the future. Therefore, it is not a problem that involves today’s society, but future generations. This simplistic narrative shared by the majority of society is another reason that most oppresses people suffering from ecological anxiety.
“People who talk about the planet we’re going to leave to our grandchildren or the planet we’ll have 50 years from now… is that my blood boils. I’m talking about the environmental refugees we have today, the deaths we have today, the ones that made the news this morning”, highlights Bruno Martín.
Added to this is the feeling of impotence and guilt, as citizens concerned about the state of the planet often do not have enough tools to deal with this problem.
“You feel guilty because there is a narrative that citizens have to do everything (change our habits: recycle plastic, use public transport, eat less meat…) and, at the same time, we feel that the climate problems are enormous magnitude. . Therefore, this impotence generates a lot of climate anxiety.”Adds Escrivà.
The Scienseed communicator agrees: “You try to do things well, but the system makes it very difficult for you. A lot of people seem to care and those who don’t don’t really know what to do.”.
Two types of ecological anxiety
According to the Biodiversity doctor, there are two types of eco-anxious people. “On the one hand, there are people who end up convincing themselves that they are doing everything wrong and that they could do more [para minimizar su impacto en el medioambiente]. We have to avoid this because guilt is a feeling that does not mobilize and does not lead to action.”.
On the other hand, there are hyper-perfectionists, that is, “those who, for example, don’t use anything that contains plastic, don’t eat meat for weather reasons, or don’t get into the car no matter what happens”, explains the expert.
However, in different investigations, it was observed that these profiles are not mobilized either. “Sometimes they make us think that if we break perfection, everything we’ve done is worthless, and that’s false.”, points out Escrivà.
“Climate change is not a kind of catechism or duties that must be fulfilled 100%. As a promoter and activist, I don’t care that only 5% of Spaniards do everything ‘perfect’, but that 80% of the population in this country reduce, for example, the consumption of plastic, meat, plane flights, etc.It details.
Furthermore, according to the scientist, these hyper-perfectionist profiles can be dangerous if taken as an example and generate more eco-anxiety, since there are people who cannot give up certain things due to their personal situation.
“There are people who can give up plastic, but others cannot, like doctors. Therefore, these profiles must be seen as people who, thanks to the privileges that their conscience and impulse already have, were able to make certain changes.”, states the expert.
More uncertainty among children and young people
In addition, an opinion article published in the magazine BMJ notes that levels of ecological anxiety are increasing, especially among children and young people. Researchers at Imperial College London in the UK, Mala Rao and Richard A. Powell, discussed the results of a 2020 survey of child psychiatrists in England. More than half (57%) of them care for children and young people who are distressed by the climate crisis and the state of the environment.
“What worries them is the uncertainty about the future, as it increases awareness of the magnitude of the catastrophic change that can occur and the urgency of the need to act on a global scale.l”, emphasizes Rao.
Furthermore, the most frustrating thing for these young people is “that governments and adults – especially those with influence and power – do not seem to share this concern about climate change and the urgency to act. Therefore, they feel betrayed and abandoned”, adds the expert.
Hope against climate change
But despite the spirits, is there room for hope? On a political level, the Glasgow Pact reached the last climate summit (COP26) was described by experts as insufficient given the emergency we are facing, although concrete actions have been established to significantly reduce the use of coal and end subsidies for fossil fuels.
According to María Ojala, the best strategy to face climate change is to have hope and broaden our perspective: “We have to be able to see the positives, like that more and more people are aware of the climate crisis or that, throughout history, difficult social problems have been resolved.”, explains the psychologist.
“Activist groups like the Extinction Rebellion believe that the anger generated by the leaders’ inaction will lead to transformative movements. I trust more in inspiring, motivating and offering hope. A hope that requires demanding changes and implementing them in our daily lives, yes.. ”, Details Irene Baños, journalist specializing in environmental issues and author of the book Ecoansia.
In addition, it is critical that ecologically concerned people speak out about their environmental concerns and engage with people who share those concerns. Being part of a group of volunteers, where actions beneficial to the environment are carried out, can have the potential to improve the person’s well-being and reduce their eco-anxiety.
“Working with others of the same age and who share a common interest has the advantage of starting to develop emotional resilience as a group and believing that they have a voice and that they are part of the solution.“Sao Rao.
The bathrooms correspond to: “It is important to join the collection.ives of any kind that make us feel that we are not alone in the face of such a challenge, that they inspire us and give us hope”.
“And, of course, shake off the guilt; hagamWhatever we do, let’s not let the obsession for perfection overwhelm us or run the risk of falling into paralysis”, concludes the journalist.
