Are you experiencing "Eco-anxiety"?

Given the current climate crisis, it's hard not to be concerned about the state of the environment and your role within it. If you're really tuned into what's going on , then you may even worry about things like this often. But what happens when concern begins to take over your daily life?

As a student studying the environment, and now running a website with the purpose of getting the environmental message across, the environment is something I have no choice but to think about a lot.

With the constant news of the indirect and direct effects of human activity on the environment, like the ongoing Amazon fires, one can begin to feel stressed or even disheartened about our environmental efforts.

What is Eco-anxiety?

According to the American Psychological Association, Eco-anxiety is indirect psychological impact of climate change on an individual. This can involve emotional responses to viewing environmental degradation in the media, or questioning oneself on lifestyle and purchasing choices which often contributes to feelings of uncertainty, distress and helplessness, affecting everyday living.

Symptoms of eco-anxiety are known to include loss of appetite, irritability, weakness, sleeplessness and panic attacks. Depressive emotions, like guilt and grief, are also known to occur as a result of concern over current climate conditions.

However, this isn't to be confused with mental conditions that come from direct personal experience of environmental disasters or the changing climate, which according to the American Psychological Association can include PTSD, depression and anxiety along with behavioural changes from loss of property, lack of access to healthcare or loss of loved ones.

How does one deal with Eco-anxiety?

How do you deal with the stress of the current state of the environment? What can you do to make are that your efforts do have an impact? These are all questions a person with eco-anxiety may ask themselves on the daily.

At one point during my second year at university, my world became centred around the state of the climate and what I couldn't do about it. This feeling of helplessness distracted me from my studies and bothered me every single day. My goal to a zero-waste lifestyle started to become a mission, almost like a race against time and I often worried about my impact and getting the message across.

At some point I was able to channel this negative energy into something positive: The Planet A Collective. To show people and to remind myself that there is positive change to be made decreased my eco-anxiety and it was an attainable task.

But here's my advice: relax, you are only human. That doesn't mean losing your drive! But remember that when things are getting overwhelming that there is only so much you can do as an individual, and that impact will make a greater difference than doing nothing at all. If you think about it, your sustainable actions in combination with others small acts will make an even bigger difference.

Working together is a great tool to use in creating change, as an individual it may be difficult to speak up for changes that you want to see from your political leaders, school administration or municipal leaders, for example. However, working with others creates movement and in the face of the climate crisis will show that these issues matter.

In terms of individual care, other things you could do to relieve your eco-anxiety include taking action even on a small-scale like volunteering for a local environmental organization or event. If you are transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle, remember to take things slow if you need to and to work with what you have. If you're a student, see if you can get involved on campus with the sustainability department or join clubs with an environmental focus. If you're concerned about a crisis across the globe see what you can do through government or non-profit organizations, whether that's volunteering your time or making a donation.

REMEMBER! Doing something is better than nothing, and although you can't always see an immediate change from your efforts, remind yourself that you're doing it for the future. Showing your support is better than worrying that it won't do anything at all. Change has to start somewhere.