As the frequency of extreme events increases, people may develop climate anxiety. It is possible to alleviate this anguish
With climate change and the increase in the average temperature of the planetextreme events will become more common, such as the intense rains that caused floods and inundations in Rio Grande do Sul. Other places may experience long-lasting droughts or atypical heat waves. In this scenario of uncertainty, many people have developed a condition known as climate anxiety (or eco-anxiety), which deserves due attention. There are ways to relieve this tension, as psychologists point out.
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“Climate change is not only an environmental problem, but also a psychological one”, underlines Susan Clayton, psychologist and head of the psychology department at the College of Wooster (USA), in an article published in the journal Journal of Anxiety Disorders.
A root of anxiety Climate change affects how people manage their emotions and feelings, which can vary depending on circumstances. For example, a person who has directly experienced an extreme event may have greater difficulty dealing with the fear of being a victim of new tragedies.
What is climate anxiety?
“Climate anxiety is an emotional response to the fear and worry generated by climate change and its impacts”, defines Jacqueline Mazzoni, deputy coordinator of the psychology course and coordinator of the Clinic-School of Psychology of the Universidade Cidade de S. Paulo ( Unicid), for the Canaltech.

Officially, climate anxiety is not yet classified as a specific disorder by medicine, but psychologist Mazzoni explains that the condition “can evolve into a mental health disorder when its symptoms become severe and persistent, interfering with people’s daily routine.”
In these cases, patients with climate anxiety tend to present:
- Problems and difficulties sleeping, including insomnia;
- Difficulty concentrating;
- Irritability;
- Other symptoms common to individuals with anxiety and depression disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Profile of people with this type of anxiety
“The feeling of helplessness in the face of the problem, combined with the perception that individual actions are insufficient to resolve the climate crisis, can generate feelings of desperation and contribute to the development of mood disorders”, explains Mazzoni.
Given the scale of the problem, it is difficult to narrow down the portion of the population most affected by climate anxiety. In a partial perspective, the condition is more common in young people related to environmental issues or in those who have been victims of extreme weather events.
Negativism and apocalypse
Be well informed about climate change and understand how 1.5 ºC warming is expected to impact life on the planet are important, considering current trends. However, this flow of information cannot become a factor of paralysis and nothing else can be done.
All this information should not even serve to validate the arrival of a hypothetical apocalypse or to make people understand that “we are going towards the end of the world”: this is definitely a lie.
Living with this negative feeling can generate a chronic state of stress and anxiety, which will only make climate anxiety worse.

How to deal with eco-anxiety?
It is possible to address climate anxiety and eco-anxiety as the world undergoes transformations. To this end, psychologist Mazzoni shares some strategies that help preserve mental health, including knowing when to ask a professional for help.
Below, see the main guidelines for dealing with eco-anxiety:
- Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature helps reduce anxiety and promote emotional well-being, without the use of social media;
- Talking with friends, family or support groups, in person or virtually, about changes in the world that reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness;
- Limit exposure to negative information, posts and news about natural disasters and climate change on social media by seeking more balanced sources;
- Adopt individual measures that contribute positively to the preservation of the planet, such as recycling waste generated at home;
- Participate in community activities aimed at mitigating climate change, such as planting trees, which can provide a sense of control and emotional support;
- Seek psychological support if you are suffering from climate anxiety.
“Implementing these strategies can help transform climate anxiety into a motivating force for positive action and provide greater emotional well-being,” adds the expert.
Source: Journal of Anxiety Disorders
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