CLIMATE anxiety plagues minds and hearts globally, creating a silent, inner storm. The constant stream of news about approaching climate catastrophes fuels emotional turmoil. Questions — ‘what will happen to the world?’, ‘how can we stop environmental degradation?’ — haunt us but remain unanswered. Climate anxiety is a genuine and increasingly pervasive problem that impacts us at multiple levels.
According to psychologist Melanie Klein’s paradigm, climate anxiety has two forms: first, depressiveanxiety, involving loss, regret and dependency controlled by neurotic defences, and second, paranoid-schizoidanxiety, involving persecution and feelings of annihilation, fought by denial, projection and splitting.
Individuals often distance themselves from impending news either by emotionally shutting down or becoming engrossed in tasks to ignore broader societal contexts — responses can lead to demotivation, disengagement and subpar performance, accompanied by sadness and frustration. This turmoil intersects with mental health issues: depression, panic attacks and PTSD. Affective neuroscience highlights how fear of external threat and loss precipitates climate anxiety, evoking reactions similar to those experienced during the pandemic.
Climate anxiety affects individuals across demographics. Some time back, a global survey in The Lancet of 10,000 young people aged 16 to 25 years in 10 countries, revealed alarming figures: 59 per cent expressed extreme worry about climate change accompanied by sadness, anxiety and powerlessness, and over 45pc said it impacted daily life and had raised existential questions about a warming planet.
Climate anxiety affects individuals everywhere.
Additionally, “extreme and slow-moving” weather events contribute to intimate partner violence, substance abuse and suicidal tendencies. Displacement, infrastructural breakdown, food insecurity and unemployment exacerbate mental health challenges. Vulnerable populations, including women and those with pre-existing mental illnesses, are particularly impacted.
In the US, around 10pc experience climate anxiety, 9pc feel uncontrollable worry, and 7pc report diminished pleasure due to global warming. Worry has steadily risen over the past two decades, with 27pc expressing significant concern.
According to Yale Sustainability 2023, the number of worried individuals has tripled in six years, highlighting a growing awareness of the issue.
To understand the gravity of climate anxiety, we need to engage in conversations, listen to the quiver in voices, notice furrowed brows, and recognise that this emotional turmoil matters. Certain coping strategies are recommended:
a) Mindful breathing: deep breathing anchors one in the moment. The world may be at a difficult point but we cannot be productive if we are unhealthy.
b) Purposeful action: channel anxiety by reducing personal carbon emissions and supporting eco-friendly initiatives with environmental groups.
c) Support network: climate anxiety can be isolating. Communicating with friends, colleagues and others provides relief, sparks innovation and bolsters the commitment to make a difference.
d) Self-care: mental and emotional health is essential. Engage in stress-reducing activities, such as exercise, meditation and making time for nature.
e) Activism: join environmental organisations to support initiatives, donate to environmental causes and volunteer for habitat restoration.
f) Information: it is important to know about climate change with an understanding of science, policies and solutions for effective climate action.
g) Build resilience: strengthen coping mechanisms and skills to navigate stress. Resilience aids productive engagement and mitigates climate anxiety.
h) Limit online time: set a schedule for news consumption and avoid pseudo-fulfilment on social media.
i) Focus on the present: acknowledge future uncertainties and concentrate on actionable steps. Emphasise immediate actions and well-being over existential concerns.
While individual actions matter, systemic change is crucial to addressing climate change. Governments and politicians must develop laws and policies to mitigate the crisis. By supporting sustainable energy programmes, advocating for climate policies and holding officials accountable, we can make a greater impact. Collaborating on individual and systemic levels is essential to combating climate change, alleviating anxiety and building a sustainable future. This is vital not only for environmental sustainability but also for the protection of community mental health and resilience worldwide.
Muhammad Hassan Dajana is a Fulbright Scholar in community climate adaptation.
muhammadhassandajana@gmail.com
Syeda Hamna Shujat is a climate activist.
Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2024
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