How To Find Hope in the Face of Climate Despair

Climate change remains a critical global concern; it’s impossible to overlook the news about escalating challenges and concerns about the health of the planet. Despite increased awareness of the damage that unchecked global warming has on ecosystems, weather patterns, and human societies; international efforts are still falling short of the climate action needed to address this issue—frequently causing many people to feel anxiety about the future.

This post is part of the Climate Change Collective, a group of environmentally-minded bloggers who share valuable climate action news. Started by Michelle from Boomer Eco Crusader and Jamie from Jamie Ad Stories, each month a different member contributes a lead/focus post that the rest of the collective responds to on their own sites, further discussing the information and issues raised.

The collective is currently open to any other bloggers who want to join; if you’re interested, get in touch.

Collective Climate Action

The most recent lead/focus post for the collective was written by Alison from A Sustainably Simple Life; where she wrote about a retreat she went on to de-stress and reconnect with nature away from the distractions of everyday life. By doing this, she found a way to take some precious moments to care for herself while also being able to step back and better understand how her life (as well as all of ours) fits into a reciprocal relationship that cares for the planet.

I feel that doing a retreat such as this is essential not only for my overall personal wellness, but also for the wellness of my greater connection to the world. | Reconnecting with Nature and Self by Disconnecting from the World – A Sustainably Simple Life

Being mindful of our emotional health as we try to limit how fast climate change is taking effect on the world got me thinking about how developing climate anxiety is steadily increasing. It’s a feeling many populations around the globe share; especially among historically marginalised and/or vulnerable communities experiencing poverty, conflict, or other humanitarian crises that global warming exacerbates.

There is growing concern about how we, as individuals, cope with the reality of real-time and future repercussions of a warming planet. Coming face-to-face with current and anticipated environmental threats, coupled with the slow pace of systemic change, can produce feelings of emotional distress that elicit fear, helplessness and grief. Climate anxiety can manifest existential dread about the Earth’s future—and, by default, our own—that impacts our mental and emotional health; underscoring the need for coping strategies and societal action to help ease the psychological impact of the climate crisis.

How To Recognise the Symptoms of Climate Anxiety

Climate anxiety, sometimes known as eco-anxiety, refers to the distress and concern some may experience due to the potential, predicted, or actual impacts of climate change. It’s worth noting that while this is not an officially recognised mental health condition; the symptoms associated with it may overlap with some that are, such as generalised anxiety disorder or depression. Not everyone will experience climate anxiety in the same way, but some common signs may include:

• Persistent worry and intrusive thoughts about the environment, ecosystems, and the well-being of subsequent generations.

• A sense of fear or despair, especially when considering the potential consequences of global warming.

• Feelings of powerlessness in the face of the complex and global nature of environmental issues—frequently leading to overwhelm and uncertainty about how to achieve meaningful impact.

• Experiencing guilt and shame about personal actions that contribute to climate change problems, causing internal conflicts and a sense of moral distress.

• Changes in mood that manifest in feelings of sadness, frustration, or anger about perceived lack of climate action being taken by governments, institutions and individuals.

• Eco-anxiety may trigger physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, and sleep disturbances.

Important Note: If any of the above symptoms cause significant anguish, it’s advisable to seek support from mental health professionals who can provide guidance and assistance when necessary. There are also a number of beneficial actions to take that can help navigate climate anxiety when it strikes.

Helpful Strategies To Overcome Climate Anxiety

Addressing feelings of unease about climate change is linked to fostering practices that allow us to care for and maintain our mental well-being. Setting personal boundaries that show ourselves self-compassion will also empower us to be proactive when it comes to facing—and fighting—environmental challenges. The first vital step begins with recognising when we start to experience anxiety, fear, and a sense of helplessness. From there, we can prioritise certain actions that support us in managing our concerns.

Overcoming these feelings may at times be strenuous, but there are several strategies that we can make use of to alleviate them. Here are some suggestions:

• Limit Information Consumption: While staying informed is important, having a constant stream of exposure to distressing climate news can contribute to and increase levels of stress. It’s advisable to take regular breaks from social media and news sites and even restrict checking them to shorter, specific times.

• Connect with a Support Network: Sharing worries and feelings with family, friends, or like-minded individuals can provide emotional reassurance and much-needed guidance.

• Take Focused Action: The enormity of the climate crisis can make it hard to see how we can have a positive impact—sometimes leaving us overwhelmed and feeling immobilised by it all. Instead of trying to cover or support many issues, we should select a few things to centre our advocacy and activism on.

• Change What You Can: There are numerous individual, sustainable lifestyle choices we can make that help protect the planet; however, not all of these options may be accessible to us. Instead of focusing on what we are not doing, we should concentrate on achievable actions that we can embrace and execute to the best of our abilities.

• Build a Sense of Community: Doing something tangible often provides a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. It’s good to be useful, so one thing we can do to ease climate anxiety is find a local environmental organisation or project to join and support.

• Spend Time in Nature: For those moments when we need to step away and find respite, getting outside can be physically refreshing and therapeutic. Taking walks or simply being in natural spaces can help nurture a connection to the world around us and allow time to restore our well-being.

• Celebrate Positive News: Sometimes we lose sight of all the good that is happening and forget to admire, uplift, and share in environmental successes and progress. Any innovation, project, or policy that can effect real change is worth learning about and supporting—we must remind ourselves of the good that is being done.

• Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Getting enough sleep, taking regular physical activity, nourishing our bodies with food we thrive on, and practicing mindfulness and self-care are things we should be doing anyway, but they definitely come into play when dealing with stress and concern about the state of the planet.

We should also remember that working through climate anxiety is an ongoing process. It’s essential to find a combination of approaches that best suit our individual needs and circumstances.

Being Aware of the Social Disparities in Climate Anxiety

Climate anxiety is a complex and multifaceted emotion that is either based on potential but not yet realised future crises; or it stems from very real, active, and current threats. There are many people in communities and countries around the globe for whom the accelerated advancement of climate change is not an imagined fear. There are immediate and urgent issues like droughts, floods, lack of access to clean water, land loss, or food insecurity—all devastating struggles being made worse or emerging from global warming.

Bringing awareness to this is not about causing anyone to feel guilty for eco-anxiety about what might happen; but rather it’s a reminder to remain cognizant of the fact that there are populations experiencing our imagined fears right now. It should prompt us to better recognise the intersectionality of climate change and social issues; understanding that historically marginalised communities and countries—particularly those impacted by colonisation—often bear the brunt of environmental impacts while possessing fewer resources to cope with the associated anxieties.

Efforts should be directed towards creating a more equitable and healthy world, addressing both immediate and long-term challenges—which we cannot achieve if we do not accept that for some of us, feeling climate anxiety is a privilege (for now) rather than a reality. Ultimately, acknowledging this privilege inspires a collective responsibility to secure a sustainable future that uplifts those most vulnerable to the consequences of environmental degradation.

How To Support Communities Most Impacted by Climate Change

The worldwide consequences of climate change are not distributed uniformly. While some regions are experiencing severe consequences like extreme weather, rising sea levels, and loss of biodiversity; others may not detect the direct effects as acutely.

Exactly which populations are currently most challenged by advancing climate change is likely to transition over time; however, Indigenous communities, as well as many nations in and around Africa, are on the frontlines. As outlined above, doing something meaningful or focusing on a specific action (like attending events, donating money, or raising awareness; whatever is accessible) can alleviate some climate-related anxiety. 

Here is some useful information about populations currently facing the brunt of global warming and how we can support them:

• Amazon Rainforest Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous communities in the Amazon Rainforest are facing deforestation, habitat loss, and disruptions to traditional ways of life due to changes in precipitation patterns and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. | Take Action via Amazon Frontlines

• Tuvalu, Kiribati, and other Pacific Island Nations: Rising sea levels pose a significant threat to these low-lying islands, leading to saltwater intrusion, erosion, and threats to freshwater supplies. These changes affect the livelihoods, cultural practices, and even the existence of these communities. | Take Action via 350 Pacific

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Australia): Rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events are affecting the Torres Strait, threatening the homes, infrastructure, and cultural sites of these Indigenous communities. | Take Action via Seed

• Saami People (Scandinavia and Russia): The Saami people, traditionally herders of reindeer, are facing hardships due to warmer temperatures affecting the availability and quality of grazing lands for their herds. | Take Action via The Saami Council

• Inuit Peoples (Arctic Regions): In the Arctic, rising temperatures are leading to the melting of sea ice, affecting traditional hunting practices and threatening the livelihoods of Inuit communities. | Take Action via United Voice of the Arctic

• Native American Tribes (North America): Various Native American tribes in North America are experiencing changes in weather patterns, impacting agriculture, traditional hunting and fishing practices, and the availability of traditional plants and medicines. | Take Action via Indigenous Environmental Network

• Central, Northeast, and Horn of Africa (Chad, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia): There are areas of Africa that have become some of the most rapidly warming nations on Earth. Temperature increases are causing extreme weather events at both ends of the spectrum; droughts and erratic rainfall patterns are damaging crops and killing off farm animals (worsening food insecurity), while other areas are experiencing unprecedented flooding. | Take Action via The African Youth Initiative on Climate Change

• South and Southeast Asia: Low-lying areas in these regions are vulnerable to rising sea levels, an increased frequency of cyclones, and floods that pose a significant threat to agriculture and infrastructure. They are also experiencing intensified heatwaves and changing precipitation patterns that impact agricultural security. | Take Action via APAC Sustainability Seed Fund

We can also pursue environmental action on a local level; particularly if it strengthens the resilience of those in our cities, towns and rural regions that are most impacted by climate change. Fostering sustainable communities is crucial, particularly within areas that have been historically marginalised and/or chronically underfunded, as well as low-income or elderly populations.

By actively raising awareness of or championing policies, educational programmes and resource sharing that provide grass-roots-level resolutions, we can be a part of securing an equitable future.

In Summary

As climate change intensifies, so does the psychological toll it takes on individuals, giving rise to climate anxiety. Recognising and understanding how it manifests and affects mental health and well-being will encourage us to work through it.

Taking time to deal with our eco-anxiety does not mean we stop being involved in environmental action or being concerned about the future; it provides us with a chance to recoup and come back renewed to fight on. Climate advocacy should always go hand in hand with combining mental health support and mindfulness to empower us as we face ongoing climate issues.

If you have experienced climate anxiety, what did you do to work through it? What climate action do you take that helps you feel less anxious about climate change?

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Further Info:

NAMI Helpline – a free, nationwide U.S. resource that offers experienced peer-support guidance and advice

FindAHelpline – global (by country) resources for free, confidential mental health support

Safe In Our World – a list of global (by country) LGBTQ+ mental health resources and support