Four Psychology Tips to Ease Climate Change Anxiety and Depression

Introduction

We hear of more cases of air turbulence and people being injured while flying. With weather changes, bugs like Ticks and Mosquitoes are becoming more plentiful, often carrying diseases like Lyme Disease and Dengue Fever.  Forest fires seem more common, and people are losing their homes. People even hundreds of kilometres away are prevented from simple things like going out for a walk due to the smoke that’s blown their way. Flooding is becoming more prevalent in many places, and the effects on land, farming, and the environment are devastating.  All these topics cause people to have more and more anxiety and depression.  What can we do to help manage our feelings?

1. Stay in the moment

Don’t start overthinking about the future because you will ultimately feel powerless. Think about things in the present. Try some thought-stopping. When you obsess or worry about things that may happen, think of what is going well right now.  Distract yourself by what is good and still going okay.

2. Choose to read or listen to issues from reliable sources

Different news outlets and articles in the media can have a bias. It can be stressful not to trust what we read and see. With the advent of artificial intelligence, trusting a photo is even more challenging.  Is this the truth?  Find a source of information you know is generally balanced, and you can search around the net to find a few sources. The Economist is one example, but it is a heavy reading for some.  There are some excellent podcasts out there, too. Find someone you like and listen to what they say about climate change.  Follow them if what you hear calms you, informs you and inspires you to get involved appropriately.

3. Pace your intake of media

Daily news is essential for us to keep up to date. If you find hearing the general world or local news is contributing to your anxiety and depression, pick a time or day that is best for you to cope with it. Would you be better off checking the news early in the morning or late at night? Would a brief synopsis help rather than sitting for half an hour or more watching the local news channel?  As I say to clients, make things work for you.  You don’t have to be up on everything, but you don’t want to be too ignorant of what is happening around you. Climate change sometimes seems distant to us, but at times, it feels close and right now.  While things may not always affect us, we must be aware of what is happening around us.  How might we make a change? Knowing the news is a starting point.

4. Get involved in some climate change initiatives

There are obvious groups to join, but maybe you would like something else that fits your current lifestyle. How about working on fitness and joining something like The Conqueror Virtual Challenges, which donate to groups that plant trees or work on removing plastic from the sea for every few kilometres you run, walk or bike?  Physical activities and contributing to a cause at the same time can help you physically, emotionally and spiritually and help you combat your feelings of anxiety and depression related to the topic of climate change. 

Conclusion

Not everyone is triggered into anxiety or depression by climate change issues. However, many of my clients have expressed their fears about the future.  It is essential to be mindful that people around us often suffer from many things, and sometimes that suffering is not about something immediate in their family but around things like climate change. If you or someone you know is upset by these and other issues in their lives, encourage them to talk to a psychologist or counsellor. People often feel embarrassed to share what makes them feel anxious or depressed, but the feelings are accurate. However, the impact can be lessened when explored and understood more in everyone’s life story context.

*Photo by Nikhil Prasad (nikhilprasadphotography.com) - Thanks Nikhil for a beautiful photo.