St. Francis of Assisi Parish

CLIMATE ANXIETY – Climate anxiety means a state of extreme worry about the damage being done to the planet by humans.  The emotional symptoms include a sense of being overwhelmed and worry and rumination about the future.

With environmental anxieties, there is often a lot of blame toward ourselves for not doing enough in the past or toward politicians, government entities and others for not doing more.

Tips to calm climate anxiety –

• Stay informed, do research and set limits. Don’t take in so much news and research that you feel paralyzed, overwhelmed or counterproductive. 
• Take Action: Find ways to get involved in a safe and productive manor. Start small and focus solely on the things you can do each day to reduce your carbon footprint and your impact on the world around you.
• Connect with others who have similar concerns. Connecting with others who share the same values can help you feel like you’re making a bigger impact than what you might feel doing it on your own.
• Cultivate other interests – We want to ensure we are taking time for other aspects of our lives and other hobbies to balance out how we are feeling.
• Practice Mindfulness – Use grounding techniques, yoga, or meditation.
• Build emotional resilience – learning to recognize your symptoms of anxiety, identifying when they are becoming unmanageable, and utilizing positive coping strategies will build your resilience over time.
• Connect with nature – take a walk, sit by the water, watch the sunset. Being in a space you want to protect and keep safe can also help you feel better about the future.

When to seek help – If you feel it is unmanageable, and if you are wondering if you should talk to a therapist, that is a sign that you probably should. 

Sources for further information:

Good Grief Network – process your climate emotions in a supportive group format

Climate Café – facilitated group gathering for people with climate emotions.

AllWeCanSave.Earth – more impactful resources on dealing with climate anxiety

How to Save a Planet – podcast on Spotify

Sources: Time.Com, Cleveland Clinic Newsletter 7/5/23, Readers Digest 10/8/23, John’s Hopkins University.