Unless he’s spent the last five years of his life hiding in a cave, he certainly knows who Greta Thunberg is. If she doesn’t know who she is, she’s a 17-year-old environmental activist who has an incredible passion for saving the planet from global warming. As you listen to your speech and observe everything you do, you wonder if you have ecological anxiety. Would that be possible?
The truth is that we have no answer and the reason is that scientifically there is no psychological condition called ecological anxiety, however, in 2019, a group of experts from the Climate Psychology Alliance coined the term to refer to a phenomenon that, far from being a pathology, can be considered a real and rational concern.
- Simply put.
- Ecological anxiety is a concern for the natural environment.
- Including habitat destruction.
- Global warming.
- Pollution.
- And all ecological problems and disasters caused or reinforced by human action and productive activities on the planet.
People who experience these concerns are eager to think about their own mortality as well as that of their loved ones; In addition, thinking about the future of the world causes them a deep unease.
However, this cannot be confused with a clinical anxiety disorder, as mentioned above, is not considered a pathology and does not present a specific clinical picture.
Despite this, the American Psychology Association defined the term in 2017 and, according to it, this chronic fear of environmental mortality can exacerbate existing mental health problems or trigger problems that did not exist before.
This US association states that in 2019, due to the impact of numerous climate-related natural disasters, there was a widespread increase in ecological anxiety.
The climate has a direct impact on every human being’s mind, some are affected by what is happening today, others for what is to come, such as knowing that an island can be completely submerged in a few years by global warming.
However, both scenarios can cause a variety of sensations, such as anger, shock, or terror, and all of these emotions, more or less intensely, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
In addition, the consequences of climate change are influencing economic and social activity, as they can affect industries such as agriculture, livestock and various infrastructures, all will be affected by the intense increase in natural phenomena, such as storms or heat, which can lead to feelings of fatalism, impotence and mental disorders of various kinds.
The scientific journal Global Enviromental Change has published a study linking depression and anxiety to the environment, even when it comes to ecological anxiety, the people most affected are women and low-income people, however, there is still no clear data on this.
At present there are certain types of anxiety based on what we might call unfounded or disproportionate fear (relative to the magnitude or probability of the threat), however, from an ecological point of view, it is a real problem.
Thus, this feeling of insecurity becomes a natural response because of the turmoil it causes; Moreover, according to the evidence supporting the existence of the problem, these factors are particularly visible in women, as they tend to be more concerned about pollution, global warming and climate change, in fact, many believe that this can affect even their fertility.
Ecological anxiety also affects young people, who show a greater connection to the environment and great concern for the future, as well as middle-aged parents, who are suffering the impact this can have on the development of their children.
“Study nature, love nature, approach nature. Will he ever let you down?” -Frank Lloyd Wright-
Fortunately, there is still time to alleviate this type of anxiety that, if persisted, can become a serious problem for many humans. Basically, the best solution would be to change social and economic behaviors, avoid consumption and compulsive trade, and start implementing more environmentally friendly forms of energy.
In addition, it is also necessary to develop resilience, which can be accompanied by balanced and environmentally friendly policies, so that they have a positive effect on the human psyche.
Adopting healthy habits, such as using the car less or spending more time in nature, can also help improve your ecological anxiety.