This article is by a Kooth writer (she/her) and contains mentions of: anxiety, the environment, and climate change.

Eco-anxiety refers to the feelings of worry or fear about the environment. This can be especially difficult for people after environmental emergencies, like floods, wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes. A lot of people are worried about climate change and the health of our planet, which is a good thing. However, when that worry becomes overwhelming or overly upsetting, it can take a toll on your mental health.

We’re here to answer the following questions about eco-anxiety:

• 1. How does eco-anxiety affect people?
• 2. How can I manage my eco-anxiety?
• 3. How can I help the environment?

1. How does eco-anxiety affect people?

If you’re struggling with eco-anxiety, you might experience:

• panic
• shock
• low mood and feelings of depression
• feelings of worry and anxiety
• feelings of fear or hopelessness (this might come from feeling like we cannot change anything)

Because we are all unique, we all might experience eco-anxiety differently. People can experience it differently based on their age, location, what they see on the news, and the state of their mental health. For example, those who know many people affected by extreme weather and natural disasters – like forest fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes – might be more likely to experience eco-anxiety.

2. How can I manage my eco-anxiety?

The first step in managing anxiety is often to talk about it with someone. If you’re really struggling, you can talk to a parent, friend, teacher at school, or a mental health practitioner here at Kooth. You can also start a discussion board to talk to others your own age about your worries. You’ll need to log in or sign up to Kooth for free first.

You might also want to take a little break from reading news stories or talking about climate change, if you’re finding it just too much to handle. It’s okay to step back when something feels overwhelming; it’s important to look after yourself first.

Another way to tackle your anxiety is to find ways to help make changes. Sometimes, doing something active and positive can go a long way in helping us feel less anxious.

3. How can I help the environment?

There are a lot of ways that people can help the environment. Being involved in climate action or making eco-friendly changes to our daily lives can help us feel a little less out of control.

You might want to try:

• Using your voice: You can share information on social media, such as news articles or tips for being more eco-friendly. You can also write to your local representative, to ask them what they’re doing on a bigger scale to tackle climate change.
• Educating others: You can talk to your friends and family about climate change and encourage them to speak up or make changes in their lives to be more eco-friendly.
• Getting into nature: Research has shown that getting into nature can really help us with our anxiety in general. Finding time to take nice walks in natural spaces, even just a city park, is a good way to feel connected to the planet again. You can even watch nature documentaries or look at nature photos online, if going on walks isn’t possible.
• Making some simple changes: Getting into a more eco-friendly mindset can help you feel more in control. You can try recycling more, turning off lights when they’re not in use, and using reusable products (like water bottles) when possible.
• Pitching in: Helping out is a great way to feel like you’re doing something active and useful. For example, you can talk to your parents about getting involved with a volunteer organisation that picks up rubbish or creates community gardens.

It’s important to remember that solving environmental issues isn’t all on you – companies, governments, and other organisations have a responsibility to make environmentally friendly choices too. Although it may not seem like a lot is changing, there are plenty of people who want to help the environment and are working to help make our planet a healthier place.