Climate Change Anxiety

Zoe, age 16, shudders a bit when she describes to me that day last year, when, checking Facebook, she saw a headline in her newsfeed that sent chills down her spine: “We Have 12 Years to Limit Climate Change Catastrophe.”

“I thought maybe it was clickbait,” she said, “but I started reading it and it referenced all these scientists. There were links to other articles. And they all said the same thing. Basically, we’ve made a mess of the planet, and the time to fix it in any meaningful way is running out.”

Zoe tells me that in the following weeks she had trouble sleeping and wasn’t able to focus on her schoolwork. She was angry at her parents, for not being as upset as she thought they should be - “my dad just bought an SUV last summer! He’s part of the problem - we all are! And nobody seems to care.” Zoe couldn’t stop thinking about the suffering planet. “Every day a new worry would come up for me. Like one day, I found myself wondering if I still wanted to have kids one day. I mean, is there even a point?”

Zoe is part of a growing population of young people who are emotionally affected by global warming. Reports show that more and more children and youth are experiencing high levels of worry and feelings of helplessness over the dire state of the planet, a term unofficially referred to as “climate anxiety.” The Amercian Psychological Association released a report in 2017 suggesting that worrying about climate change is having an effect on our mental health, making us more depressed and anxious.

“I feel like because of my age, I’m helpless,” 14 year old Ben says with a shrug. “It’s not that I don’t care, because I do. But I can’t vote, I can’t change the decisions that leaders across the world are making. I can’t even grocery shop!” Ben has adopted a different strategy from Zoe to help him deal with his climate anxiety: “I just try not to think about it.” But then he adds, shrugging again, “that seems like a bit of a copout, I know.”

Ben’s response isn’t unusual, either. When we feel like we don’t have control over a situation that disturbs us, we tend to feel really anxious. But not everyone becomes obsessive and full of worries when anxious. Many of us will shut down, and avoid thinking about the things causing anxiety, or even try to rationalise the information we’re hearing.

The truth is, worrying and constant despair aren’t productive, and neither is avoidance. So what can youth who are feeling anxious about the state of the planet to do with their unsettled feelings?

KNOW

Headlines only give us the most dramatic part of the story. If you are upset by something going on in the world - whether it is climate change, bullying, or treatment of marginalised people - learn more about it! This will help you understand more about what actions you can take in your own life. Notice the way it makes you feel - angry? Sad? Scared? Educate yourself by reading about the issue and discussing it with other people. Here at Healthy Teens Magazine, our favourite saying is “Just say know!”

TALK

Zoe was frustrated by some of her parents’ choices - owning two cars, using plastic wrap on everything, even the type of washing detergent they used. When she came across as judgmental and critical of them, she noticed they didn’t react well. But when she told them how upset she’d been lately, and asked them what their thoughts were on climate change, it turned out that they also had been feeling worried. They were even able to talk about what types of changes the family could realistically start to make right away, which gave Zoe a little bit of hope.

Parents who have children or teens with climate anxiety can help out by acknowledging their child’s feelings on this issue and engaging them in a discussion about it. Well meaning parents sometimes try to lower their kids’ anxiety by offering reassurances that things aren’t as bad as they seem, but it’s important that parents be honest and direct. Validating the fears, and focusing on constructive actions actually helps lower anxiety more.

ACT

Anxiety can be a powerful motivator, and taking meaningful action is the best way to work through the helpless feeling that many youth talk about. Starting with your own household is a great way to begin. Zoe convinced her parents to stop buying pre-packaged snacks, and now they buy snacks for school lunches in the bulk food section. Zoe is responsible for putting them into reusable containers in advance so that they’re ready to go. She feels some satisfaction thinking about all the waste this saves. At a local high school, a group of passionate students lobbied the school administration to start a composting program, which is finally getting underway. And another class made terry-cloth reusable make-up remover pads as a fundraiser. They received so many orders that they had to make more! There are so many ways to make your home, school, and even your neighbourhood a more sustainable and less wasteful place.

Actions not only make a difference, but they help us to feel less powerless and more hopeful. What actions can you take?