Are you suffering from Climate Anxiety?

Areas covered in this article, 

• What is climate anxiety? 
• What climate anxiety disorders are, and what are their levels of exposure?
• What research has recently been found?
• How to prevent climate anxiety?

What is climate anxiety?

Climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, is distress related to worries about the effects of climate change. It is not a mental illness, yet the anxiety is rooted in the uncertainty about our future, resulting in our brain alerting us to the dangers ahead. Besides the physical impacts, climate change significantly impacts mental health.

WHO defines mental health as “A state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and support the community.” 

The CFC team investigated this topic with the help of a psychological counsellor, R.P.A.Minoli Perera, as this is a vital topic to be discussed, especially in a country more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

How extreme weather impacts climate anxiety?

Climate change is a natural phenomenon, but human-induced industrialization and rapid, unsustainable development has accelerated it to a harmful stage, resulting in extreme weather events, sea level rise, global warming and other severe impacts.

Rapid climate change mainly causes extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts, changing rainfall patterns, flash floods and various natural disasters. “The uncertainty caused by these events can lead to anxiety among people,” said Mrs Minoli Perera.

The symptoms of severe anxiety are restlessness, irregular sleep patterns, headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or other pain. In addition, anxiety patients find it difficult to control their feelings, especially their worries.

Severe anxiety needs to be treated clinically to avoid negative consequences for the individual and society. If not treated properly, it can lead to an increase in disabilities, a reduction in work efficiency leading to productivity, and a high risk of depression. 

How impacts of climate change affect a person’s psychology?

Many people exposed to climate-related or weather-related disasters experience stress and face consequences on their mental health. The typical behavioural patterns of humans can drastically change when faced with extreme weather conditions regularly—posing a more significant impact on mental health than physical health. Mrs Minoli Perera stated that “mental breakdowns are more dangerous as the medical system cannot measure its severity as opposed to physical ailments.

Depending on the disaster and tolerance capacity of individuals, the status of mental disorders may vary. It can start from anxiety and develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  

“When disasters occur more spontaneously, leading to the loss of life, it can cause a mental breakdown in those that experience the trauma. This stage of anxiety is termed “separation anxiety” If not treated within two weeks, it can lead to depression”, added Mrs Minoli Perera

Depression is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. Tiredness, poor concentration and lack of sleep are common symptoms. More can be read here, Archived.

Depression has no age discrimination. It affects people from all levels of life and age groups. According to the WHO, women are more vulnerable to depression than men. It involves the performance of children, the productivity of workers, and the relationships formed, leading to a decrease in the development of a country.

Some individuals experience shock and fear after a disaster since PTSD influences it. This means these emotions may remain for an extended period after the disaster.

Psychological counsellor Minoli Perera said that “this kind of individuals recall their bad experiences over time. As an example, when a person has a bad experience during a flash flood, PTSD tends to recall it gradually. When they see an umbrella or rain post-disaster, the traumatic experience will return. People then get easily startled or frightened, which causes the development of self-destructive behaviour. These individuals have trouble sleeping and trouble concentrating.”

On the other hand, when aggressive behaviours develop in such individuals, it leads to guilt which can be further troubling. However, many people recover over time, while a significant proportion that is exposed develops chronic psychological dysfunctions. It is a kind of abnormal mental functioning that result in changing patterns of behaviour.  

Eco-grief 

Eco-grief is a type of emotional response to ecological change associated with the physical loss of a personally significant place, such as a home, ecosystem, or community. Indigenous communities face this more often globally. This condition has persisted for generations. 

Risk of mental illness due to extreme weather patterns

As we all know, heat stress is now common worldwide. Some individuals, like elders taking prescribed medications, find it hard to regulate the temperature in their bodies. Increases in extreme heat will increase the risk of disease and death among the mentally ill, especially among older people.   

There is also a risk of Eco-depression, which is classic depression triggered by predictions of climate change impacts. People who develop a fear of the uncertain future caused due to climate change suffer from this. It is a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness to change the course of the climate crisis. 

Many suicide cases of farmers were reported due to changes in weather resulting in poor or destroyed harvests. Read more about the impacts of climate change on agriculture here. 

Migration due to climate change can cause stress.

Acculturation stress develops when people migrate due to the impacts of climate change. The pressure develops due to conflicts caused when individuals must adjust to a new culture. Language barriers can also add to the stress associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. NCBI research study shows that differences with natives and problems related to obtaining legal status lead to lower levels of mental well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction, ultimately ending in depression. 

Recent Research Findings about Climate Anxiety

In 2020, the non-profit environmental Friends of the Earth estimated that over two-thirds of young people experience climate anxiety. The survey group comprised 18-24-year-olds considered as Youth. They represent not only the future of society but also one of society’s main agents of change and progress. 

Who is at risk of climate anxiety the most?

Specific groups of people are at higher risk of distress and other adverse mental health problems, followed by frequent exposure to climate-related disasters. These groups include children, the elderly, women (especially pregnant and postpartum women), people with preexisting mental illnesses, the economically disadvantaged, the homeless, and first responders. However, generally mental disorders have no age limit and can affect any individual at any time.

Communities that rely on the natural environment for their livelihood (like farmers and fishermen) are at increased risk of climate anxiety. In addition, people living in areas most susceptible to specific climate change events are also at risk. 

Read our article on the Adverse Effect of Climate Change on Agriculture Sector. It includes what Sri Lankan farmers face due to the severe impacts of climate change. 

What steps should be followed to overcome climate anxiety

• Rely on accurate information 

Misinformation constitutes a significant barrier to overcoming mental illnesses. “Myths can cause shocks, fear and stress among individuals”, mentioned Mrs Minoli Perera. 

• Rely on Scientific data 

More people fall for myths regarding climate change as they mostly rely on social media and mainstream media. But unfortunately, these platforms often broadcast false predictions rather than scientific findings. Hence, it is crucial to clarify such information through scientific research.

• The use of geographic data and tools 

Geographic data and tools allow more sophisticated mapping of risk factors and social vulnerabilities to identify and protect specific locations and groups of people. 

• Reduce the dependence on climate-related news

When people frequently rely on disaster-based news, it can develop into mental illnesses. Therefore, psychological counsellor Minoli Perera stated, “when there is a calamity, you should avoid watching the news frequently if it disturbs the mind.”

• Practice meditation, Yoga

During meditation, you focus on positive affirmations and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process is capable of enhancing one’s physical and emotional well-being. Likewise, Yoga soothes the overactive nervous system, relaxing the mind and body. 

In a nutshell 

Extreme weather events, rising sea levels, global warming, etc., drive climate change anxiety. Depending on the type of disaster and the personal tolerance capacity, mental health status can vary in different individuals. Climate anxiety is distress related to worries about the effects of climate change. It can start from anxiety and develop into post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, we should always rely on accurate information and scientific data and pay more attention to calming our bodies and mind to eliminate climate anxiety. 

Read this article for more information on the Importance of a climate-resilient health system!