RESOURCES

“I lost weight because I was having so much anxiety about whether or not the foods I was eating were sustainable or ethically sourced,” Weinfeld said. “That’s definitely a big example of how I internalized these things — I was taking my classes and taking them home with me. Then, there was a tremendous amount of guilt.”

Moore said she had a similar experience to Weinfeld when shopping for clothes. As she did more research, however, she said she realized those in power must take responsibility for producing unsustainable products, as well.

“Take fast fashion, for example,” Moore said. “There’s this whole narrative that it’s the consumers’ fault and we need to choose what we buy more ethically — which I think is true. At the same time, I feel like the big corporations that are producing these products are the fashion companies. It’s on them to change the way that they’re producing things more than it is on us.”

In the end, Moore said there are many little things everyone can do that will make a difference, but the key is that everyone actually has to follow through. She said her future will always be dampened by the climate crisis, but that does not mean anyone should give up on doing what they can.

“I don’t think you can escape this,” Moore said. “It’s just sad that our generation has to make choices based on climate change.”

Barragán said it can be discouraging to put so much effort into a cause without seeing an immediate positive outcome.

“It's really hard when you realize that your small actions maybe aren't making that big impact that you might think they are,” Barragán said.

The key to finding the motivation within himself to continue taking action is to change the way he thinks about his impact, Barragán said. It is about doing what he hopes those who come after him will do too, he said.

“It's switching our mindset,” Barragán said. “I really just want to be able to instill that in my life, in the people's lives around me and my kids’, my grandkids’. So I definitely feel it’s on us — it’s on our generation.”

Finding Peace in Uncertainty

Barragán said having a plan for how he will do his part in the future to prevent climate change brings him peace.

“It's become a goal of mine to work for a nonprofit or a business that is pro-climate change legislation, and similarly, just living my life in accordance,” Barragán said.

Moore said she found a balance of being aware of her impact on the climate crisis and letting it take over her life.

“We can’t be perfect,” Moore said. “Something that I advocate for is just to do the best with what you have in the moment.”

Traitz said the key to avoiding climate anxiety is to find balance in consumption of the news about it. Traitz also said reminding oneself of their love for the planet to disassociate feelings of anxiety with the Earth is important. Some ways to do this include hiking and gardening, and paying attention to the details of nature like the colors and smells of plants and trees.

“Find other ways to channel the energy,” Traitz said. “Find a connection to the world that isn’t just about it being this doomed thing where we’re only relating to the world as a set of statistics."

It is good for humans to have the tendency to fight danger, such as climate change, Traitz said. At the same time, though, she said not to let the stress of the fight make people forget their intentions.

“If we’re just all fight-and-response and we’re in that mode, we’re not as open to taking in the sense of connection that I think we need to sustain an act,” Traitz said. “We have to love it [the Earth] to fight for it.”

ONLINE RESOURCES All We Can Save Project x Gen Dread • Climate Therapy Alliance (Pacific Northwest Chapter) • The Australian Climate and Health Alliance

SOLACE AND SUPPORT "All The Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal with Climate Change" by Leslie Davenport • Climate Psychology Alliance UK • "How to Change Everything: The Young Human's Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other" by Naomi Klein with Rebecca Stettoff BOOKS "A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet" by Sarah Jaquette Ray • "Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy" by Joanna Macy • "Emotional Inflammation: Discover Your Triggers and Reclaim Your Equilibrium During Anxious Times" by Dr. Lise Van Susteren, M.D. and Stacey Colino • "I Work in the Environmental Movement. I Don’t Care If You Recycle.," published in Vox 2019, by Mary Annaise Heglar

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