CLIMATE ANXIETY

CLIMATE ANXIETY Navigating Our Emotions as the Planet Changes

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by Sandra Yeyati

Following a record-breaking Or, we’re standing in front of a packhurricane season, out-of-control age of blueberries at the grocery store feelwildfires and a deadly prolonged ing confusion and ambivalence. A desire to pandemic, many of us are anxious and be healthy and adopt a sustainable, vegetarfearful, prompted by the growing realiza- ian lifestyle is playing tug-of-war with the tion of being in a state of environmental fact that these blueberries were flown in insecurity. These inklings of impending from South America, are wrapped in plasdoom are nothing new for members of the tic and were grown in a monoculture that youth climate movement—kids in their depletes the soil. It’s hard to know whether teens or younger—succumbing to hope- to eat or boycott them. “The greater this lessness, anger and rage as they learn the dissonance grows, the more likely we’ll tell science and watch leaders do nothing to ourselves that the problems are too big. address it. We decide that we can’t make a difference,

Hardest hit are “marginalized commu- so why try? We check out,” says integranities, including indigenous people, climate tive psychotherapist Leslie Davenport, refugees, farmers struggling with drought author of Emotional Resiliency in the Era of and communities of color, who dispropor- Climate Change. tionately suffer from the health effects of The first step to alleviate this anguish polluting industries,” says Jennifer Atkinson, is to validate and normalize the dark associate professor of environmental studies feelings. “It’s important to remember that at the University of Washington-Bothell. there’s nothing wrong with you. What’s

Some of us are affected in more subtle happening is actually painful and difficult; ways. Perhaps we’re noticing slow-moving there’s a lot of loss involved. Eco-anxiety is changes around us, like the gradual loss a natural response to having your heart and of bees or a disappearance of trees, and mind open, being an attentive and caring we develop a sense of loss the philosopher person, if you tune in to what’s happenGlenn Albrecht coined “solastalgia”, which ing in the world,” says Davenport, adding plays on the concept of nostalgia—a long- that good self-care, including mindfulness ing for a time or place we can’t go back to. practices, will expand our tolerance for dealing with tough times.

Another powerful antidote can be found in community, according to Sarah Jaquette Ray, associate professor of environmental studies at Humboldt State University, in Arcata, California, and author of A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet. “People feel like they can’t impact the world because they’re only one person. But when they start to shift the lens toward the collective, it allows them to realize that the positive things that are happening in the world are actually happening at scale, and it allows them to feel like they’re part of some larger purpose,” says Ray.

As we accept climate-related anxiety and seek the company of like-minded people to affect change, surprisingly positive emotions will arise, including joy, laughter, dancing and camaraderie at street protests. “Those positive feelings help us process grief and anger, engage us in the work long term and help us maintain the stamina we need for sustained work,” Ray says.

“Think of climate anxiety as a kind of superpower, a signal that goes off to tell us something’s wrong and needs to be addressed,” says Atkinson, the creator and host of the climate-anxiety podcast Facing It. She points to grief as a compelling motivator. “You can’t feel grief without love,” she explains. “Grief is an expression of compassion and connection to others and to the pain we feel when those lives are destroyed. Love is far more powerful in motivating us to fight than any other affect. There’s no limit to the lengths we’ll go to protect what we love.”

We are only limited by a lack of ecological imagination, Davenport proposes. “Our contemporary Western culture emphasizes the rational, cognitive way of thinking, which is linear and analytical. But another part of the brain—the imaginative, creative and intuitive part—views the world synergistically and holistically. If we open up to this ecological imagination, we can have a visceral knowing of interconnectedness, making it simpler to act in a way that’s beneficial to all of us.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

Yellow Lentil Dahl with Ginger and Turmeric

by Dr. Sarah Axtell

Diet is one of the most powerful ways you can reduce inflammation and, in turn, reduce musculoskeletal pain, excess weight, headaches and the risk of chronic disease. Dahl, an Indian lentil soup, is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse thanks to the benefits of ginger, turmeric and garlic. This dahl recipe makes for a warming, hearty winter meal.

2 cups yellow split peas or yellow lentils 10 cups vegetable broth 2 carrots, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced Thumb-sized piece of ginger, chopped 1 Tbsp coconut oil 4 tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp coriander 1 bag organic baby spinach 1 lemon 1 Tbsp brown rice miso paste, mixed in ¼ cup water Cilantro, chopped, as garnish Salt and pepper to taste

Heat coconut oil in a large soup pot on low-medium heat. Add garlic, ginger and carrots. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vegetable broth, yellow split peas/ lentils and spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander) to the soup pot and increase heat to high. When boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

When the split peas are soft, add in spinach and cook approximately 5 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat.

Stir in the miso/water mixture. Squeeze fresh lemon and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

This recipe serves 8 to 12 and can be frozen for another easy weeknight meal.

Sarah Axtell is a naturopathic doctor who helps people facing many different chronic health conditions, such as hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and weight-loss resistance. Her passion is using “food as medicine” with her patients. She has a private practice, Lakeside Natural Medicine, in Shorewood. Visit LakesideNaturalMedicine.com for more information. See listing, page 39.

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