The climate crisis that is both present and ahead of us is urgent, and the psychological dimensions of this crisis are profound. No one knows precisely how ecosystems and climate events will unravel and unfold before not only ourselves but future generations. Facing this dilemma and uncertainty involves processing difficult emotions and can feel lonely, especially when friends and family may deny the existence of climate change itself. Climate anxiety and depression can manifest and cause difficulties in many ways like:

• Consistent feelings of despair, hopelessness, and distress about the immediate and future impacts of climate change on our planet and human existence

• Intrusive thoughts, frequent rumination, or crying spells about natural disasters, eco instability and collapse, sea level rise, species extinction, etc.

• Feeling paralyzed as a modern consumer leading to an obsession over or avoidance of purchasing decisions

• Isolation from friends, family, and coworkers who don’t seem to understand or care about your feelings of urgency around the planet and make you feel like a bummer, downer, or “other”

• Parenting fears and sadness around the future world our children will inhabit and how best to help your kids navigate their feelings around climate change

• Discord in couples around eco-related value systems, lifestyles, and future planning

You may not be experiencing these issues yourself directly but work in a field where eco-anxiety is rife like environmental studies, science education, the energy sector, conservation and farming, etc, and are struggling to know how to support those in your life or job wrestling with these issues. While there is no quick individual fix for this global emergency, you do not have to work through these feelings alone. Eco-aware therapists understand that eco-distress is a natural and reasonable reaction to the world we live in (and is a sign of one’s care for and connection to the world!) and will not dismiss or pathologize it. Get started working with a climate-aware therapist today.