Did you know that 60% of people in the world are worried about the state of the environment? Research evidence suggests that 57% of UK adults believe that their mental health is impacted by climate change. In this time of climate change marked by rising sea levels and frequent environmental hazards, there is a need to focus on our mental health.
At City Psychological Services, we are devoted to providing the best psychological care, which is straightforward and accessible. We aim to deliver expert psychological support that makes a difference. The following case study explores the prevalence of climate anxiety.
A lives with her family in the UK. She works in a firm. The rainy weather is here, and it is raining every other day. She has started reading climate change news. She experiences racing thoughts about the probability of flooding due to climate change. She decided to arrange a boat for her and her family in case of floods. She also keeps food in the boat to prepare in case of floods. She checks the weather news daily and gets tensed about the climatic conditions.
Climate change is a global phenomenon. The sea levels are rising, and there is an increase in global temperatures. The climate crisis is having an impact on our physical and mental health. Climate anxiety is a sense of tension, fear, and worry about the dire consequences of climate change. Climate anxiety is a psychological response to the threat posed by the climate crisis. Climate anxiety is not yet considered a condition that can be formally diagnosed, but according to mental health clinicians, it is on the rise.
Symptoms of Climate Anxiety
Climate anxiety can be exhibited in the form of panic attacks, insomnia, depression, obsessive thinking, and other symptoms. It is more prevalent among the youth who are worried about their future during the time of the climate crisis. They feel emotionally drained and stressed when thinking about the threats posed by climate change. Environmental hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis are taking place more frequently than before due to climate change, which has an impact on the mental health of the young people affected by it.
Green Guilt
Green guilt is characterised by feelings of guilt experienced by people about unsustainable actions done by them. Research evidence suggests that 57% of Brits suffer from green guilt and feel they are not doing much to reduce their environmental footprint. To tackle green guilt, there is a need to focus on reforming the environment by engaging in initiatives like reducing the use of plastic and choosing paperless bills.
How to cope with Climate Anxiety
There are many ways to cope with climate anxiety.
Practice techniques for dealing with your feelings: Mindfulness techniques can be utilised to help respond effectively to challenging thoughts and emotions linked to the climate crisis.
Notice and challenge catastrophic thoughts: People often imagine the worst-case scenario linked to climate change and feel anxious about it. Challenge this thinking and introspect if there is any evidence that supports this claim. Consider if this can happen given the world scenario.
Limit exposure: Listening to news about the climate crisis on social media has an impact on mental health. Excessive exposure to negative news about climate change can lead to stress. Minimise exposure to news about climate change.
Seek safe spaces to navigate your feelings: Initiate communication with friends and family and express your concerns to them. You can join support groups and listen to podcasts that can enhance a sense of support.
Take collective action and build community: Take action at an individual level against climate change. Join organisations and support groups that deal with climate change issues. Spread awareness about climate change and promote the government's climate action plan.
Therapeutic Modalities to cope with Climate Anxiety
The significant treatment methodology that can be utilised to manage the symptoms of Climate Anxiety is talking therapies. They are found to be helpful in the long run and can be conducted at an individual and group level. There are many kinds of talking therapies. A type of talking therapy which is employed by us to treat anxiety is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is the most prevalent talk therapy. It is an effective tool to
address emotional problems. It can be done one-on-one or in a group. There are four key
stages of CBT. The first stage is identifying disturbing situations wherein decisions are
taken on the goals that need to be attained. The second step is fostering awareness of
thoughts, emotions and beliefs about the problem.
The third step is recognising the negative thinking, and focus is established on the
behavioural response to situations. The fourth step is reshaping the negative thinking
patterns. CBT is a short-term therapy ranging from 5 to 20 sessions.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for the treatment of climate anxiety aims to challenge the negative beliefs of people about the climate crisis by the proof of evidence. It involves bringing a shift in perspective about the situation.
We at City Psychological Service located at the heart of London provide consultation for the treatment of Climate anxiety. We are committed to providing exceptional psychological care and exact support precisely when you need it.
#mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthawareness#CBT#citypsychologicalservices
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