April 22 is Earth Day! This year @earthday.org’s campaign is highlighting eco-anxiety.
Eco anxiety is defined as: extreme worry about current and future harm to the environment caused by human activity and climate change.
Many of us who are aware of and acknowledge climate change can experience eco-anxiety at different levels and in different ways. It’s important to recognize when we’re experiencing this type of anxiety and to learn ways that we can help ourselves and others.
Here are a few ways to help ease eco anxiety:
- Be mindful of the content you consume. Reading about climate change in the context of what we can do to help vs how negative the situation could be
- Talk about it. Find a community of people who also want to make a positive impact on our environment
- Spend time in nature. Relax and connect with the environment around you
- Incorporate sustainable actions to your daily routines. Learn the guidelines for recycling in your area or begin to repurpose items you’ve previously thrown away
- Turn the anxiety into action. Join a local cleanup event or safely pick up trash you see on your next walk around your neighbourhood
- Reach out for help if you need it. Talking with a counsellor or therapist about your feeling may help you feel better
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
– Edward Everett Hale
Our friends at the Bay Area Climate Change Council (BACCC) provide information, resources and ways to learn more about climate change solutions. Visit BACCC’s website to learn more.
