The term anxiety refers to our reaction to stress. It is basically a sort of human psychological response to any crisis. Further, it involves different feelings. These feelings could be fear, anxiousness, excitement. Mostly, anxiety increases heart rate. However, it becomes a disorder if not controlled. The anxiety can lead to sleeping disorders, elevated blood pressure, and other diseases. It can also lead to nervous disorders and low self-esteem. It can also lead to indecisiveness, panic attacks, and social disorders.
The causes of anxiety could be certain life experiences, genetics, drug abuse, personal relations, etc. The stress induced by anxiety could disrupt endocrinology or human hormone regulation. This can lead to severe problems including damage to reproductive health, thyroid, and obesity. However, nowadays, climate crises are becoming a leading cause of human anxiety around the globe.
Eco anxiety is an emerging topic. American Psychological Association defined the term in 2017. However, it has been happening since humans disrupted the natural environment. This term gained momentum after Greta Thunberg’s climate strike in 2018. She made the world realize that she couldn’t attend school due to the ignorance of world leaders regarding climate change. So, she went on a strike from school. Her schoolmates also joined her for the cause. Later, #FridaysForFuture became a global movement. Every Friday, students would go on strike to raise the climate change issue.
As per American Psychological Association, eco-anxiety is a fear of a catastrophe. Which will cause the end of the earth due to human impacts of climate change. This has also become a form of social anxiety in many parts of the world. Especially younger generation is raising voice globally. They are in a state of fear and under stress that human activities will destroy everything on earth. The ecological crisis has already worsened. The magnitude and occurrence of disastrous events have increased. There are more rampant wildfires, floods, heatwaves, smog, desertification, etc.
These events create serious socio-economic crises. These are not just happening in the developing world. Rather developed countries are also facing their worst fears. Despite infrastructure, developed countries are facing losses. Because climate change is becoming uncontrollable.
People who have eco-anxiety are basically those who have been worst affected. Those people include indigenous communities, youth, people in developing countries, etc. However, people from developed countries are also training their voice. Due to eco-anxiety, people are becoming frustrated, having panic attacks, suffering from fear of economic crisis. It has also resulted in inflation in many countries.
Also, the climate crisis has diminished purchasing power of people. The economic crisis has resulted in mass poverty. Countries are losing billions of dollars due to climate change. Hence, the fear, stress, and anxiety have increased.
Indigenous communities are losing their homes. Due to floods, food security issues, they are migrating to cities. This is increasing the overall population. Hence, the sharing of resources has increased. So, these resources are already limited. Hence, due to limited resources and access, anxiety is prevalent. The tribal communities of Amazon are threatened by forest fires. In Pakistan, the Kailash community is facing excessive floods every year. People are already poor.
The crisis has affected tourism in these areas. Tourism was a source of income for these people. Now, they are a victim of climate change and eco-anxiety.
Eco anxiety has many forms. one of the most prevalent forms is Solastalgia. This term is a combination of nostalgia, sadness, and homesickness. A person may feel gloomy if his/her home is being destroyed. A person feels helpless. He/she remembers how trees were there. Now there are just grey buildings. How birds used to surround the area. Now there is urban traffic.
Another form is climatic trauma. A person gets affected by a heatwave. If authorities forecast more heatwaves. A person may get intro traumatic stress. Since heatwave occurs due to climate change. So, this trauma is termed as climatic trauma. Every year is declared as the hottest year by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC). Now, wildfires are even occurring during the winter season. There are extreme weather conditions around the world. The fish population has declined. People in coastal areas are suffering. There is chaos and anarchy due to climate crises.
The cause of this anxiety is environmental conditions. There are ways to cope with this anxiety naturally. It is not possible to stop the climate crisis. But every individual can take steps to contribute towards mitigating and adapting the crisis naturally. Plant trees. Take initiative and get involved in campaigns for plantations. Practice deep breathing in nature. Walk and observe the beauty of nature. Promote cycling. Talk to your community members. Discuss ways to create awareness for climate adaptation strategies. Go for eco-tourism. Keep the environment clean. Create awareness of how nature can help reduce stress.
Meditate to improve your focus. Practice yoga in nature/ public spaces with your friends. Promote social groups to discuss climate adaptation. Admire the natural creation. Instead of constant worrying, adapt natural ways to reduce stress. There are so many, natural healing methods that could help you detoxify your body from negativity. Ecotoxicity is manageable. There are things that we cannot control. But we can definitely play our role to make things better. Because every individual counts.
