At press, Earth Hour (the last Saturday of every March) and Earth Day (April 22, every year) are upon us, making for an ideal time to address a growing mental health concern being reported by hundreds of thousands of Americans – chronic anxiety over sustained shifts in temperatures / weather patterns and how these shifts may impact humankind in the very near future. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reports that approximately one-third of adult Americans are “very worried”, with 35% experiencing worry about climate change on a weekly basis. 16% report experiencing corresponding symptoms of anxiety or depression.
As someone who arrived here after searching for insight into how to deal with anxiety about climate change, you recognize that waiting for the powers-that-be to take enough action to ease your concerns isn’t going to cut it. You recognize that you need to manage your feelings so that they are not so closely tethered to the socioeconomic / sociopolitical issue. Below is a summary of why you may be more susceptible to overwhelming concern and a look at changes to make to start feeling better, no matter what the literal and proverbial weather may bring.
Overview of Anxiety and Unhealthy Behaviors Relating to Climate Change and How to Improve Your Overall Wellbeing
I. Assess for Cooccurring Mental Health Issues
As addressed in the introduction, millions of Americans exhibit some form of worry and stress over climate change. However, if you join those who report more intense feelings of anxiety, it’s quite possible that you may have an underlying mental health issue.
Climate change anxiety commonly co-occurs with, and exacerbates, underlying mental health issues. Consistent reporting of extreme weather events and chronic environmental problems trigger these conditions, particularly in vulnerable populations, resulting in symptoms like sleep disorders and panic attacks. Understanding that this may relate to what you’re experiencing, you are encouraged to receive a professional assessment for one or more of the following:
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Depression |
| ADHD | Bipolar Disorder |
| OCD | PTSD |
| Substance Use Disorder | Suicidal ideation |
Confirmation or refutation of one or more of the above mental health concerns will inform a customized counseling strategy. Click here to initiate your assessment.
II. Change Behaviors that Elevate Climate Anxiety
There are behaviors that commonly cooccur with feelings of anxiety relating to climate change. By recognizing what these are, you will become more mindful of participation and can take the following steps:
a) Stop Doomscrolling
Research finds that a large proportion of Americans get their information about climate change from social media. A recent study from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) indicates that social networks have become a primary, influential source for eco-change information among Americans, with 19% citing it as their main news source. It is especially prevalent among younger generations, with 45% of Gen Z and 40% of Millennials depending upon social media for insight into climate change. However, SEAS confirms that these platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X, et cetera) are problematic because they frequently circulate misinformation and foster polarized echo-chambers.
Frequent exposure to negative news about the state of the environment, with back-and-forth finger-pointing at perceived culprits, contributes to a vicious cycle of engagement that is commonly known as doomscrolling. Doomscrolling is recognized by experts as a compulsive, addictive behavioral habit that can reinforce anxiety about the climate or any other socioeconomic / sociopolitical issue. Click the following link to check for signs of doomscrolling behavior and steps that can help you quit.
b) Take a Break from the News Cycle
Climate change issues are reported on the regular news (non social media) in a 24/7 cycle. Exposing yourself to it can negatively impact mental health by triggering anxiety and can cause or elevate physical symptoms and emotional burnout. In some cases, viewers may experience vicarious trauma (or secondary traumatic stress) which is the emotional residue and cognitive shift resulting from ongoing exposure to traumatic stories – even those that don’t directly impact an individual – that can alters one’s world view and cause symptoms similar to PTSD.
As someone who is trying to get a handle on climate change anxiety, we encourage abstinence from watching the news, at least until you can work through your feelings and emotions with a counselor. If complete abstinence is not possible or realistic, try limiting exposure to less than 30-minutes a day and avoid viewing the news for at least three hours before going to bed.
c) Limit Participation in Rallies and Protests?
Participating in climate change rallies and protests can foster social connection and provide a sense of meaning and purpose. In that sense it can help people manage feelings of isolation and stress related to concerns over the socioeconomic / sociopolitical issue. However, the benefits most often apply to generally healthy individuals. If instead, you are currently overwhelmed by climate change anxiety, and have noticed that you leave in-person or virtual attendance feeling more negative than positive, you may need to take a break.
Protesting can lead to significant psychological distress, with studies showing an increase in symptoms of anxiety in addition to stress, exhaustion, depression and even PTSD. This is particularly true if there is any exposure to verbal or physical violence. Anxiety (and more) may also be elevated when the goals of the movement are not achieved, with participants experiencing a sense of hopelessness or frustration, leading to lower wellbeing over time.
If you feel worse when involved in any form of climate change rally, abstain until you are able to manage triggers to anxiety and other negative feelings with the help of a counselor.
d) Avoid Potentially Unhealthy Coping Methods
Unhealthy coping methods (or mechanisms) for climate change anxiety are temporary, avoidant, and/or self-destructive behaviors that provide short-term relief but worsen long-term mental health due to their potentially addictive nature. While substance use (alcohol or drugs) and gambling are more obvious ones to avoid, we encourage mindfulness about others that may seem relatively innocuous. Many of these relate to web-enabled technology due to addictive design elements and ease of access. When used as coping mechanisms, they promote a dopamine loop, which is a self-perpetuating brain circuit where pleasurable, often unpredictable, actions trigger dopamine release, creating anticipation that drives the urge to repeat the behavior.
Be more mindful of the following online consumption behaviors until you can work through your feelings and emotions with a counselor.
| Online Gambling | Online Gaming |
| Online Trading | Online Shopping |
| Online Pornography | Deep Engagement with AI Companions |
III. Connect to a Qualified Counselor
If experiencing overwhelming feelings of anxiety related to reports of climate change, it’s time prioritize on your mental health. Connect to a virtual counselor who specializes in the treatment of anxiety and cooccurring mental / behavioral health issues discussed in the sections above. A qualified counselor will employ strategies founded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you identify triggers, reduce the impact of intrusive thoughts, and better educate you on how to employ skills and tools such as mindful breathing, reframing, and journaling (and more) to regain control of your life. There are also group counseling options available, which can be highly effective in providing social connection among other benefits (view here). Reach out via your preferred form of contact below.
