Coping with Ecoanxiety by Marcia Amidon Lusted

Author:Marcia Amidon Lusted [Lusted, Marcia Amidon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
Published: 2018-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

Ecoanxiety is especially common with millennials, as they grew up watching negative media reports on the environment. The Harris Poll, which was featured in an April 2018 PRNewswire.com article, lists the following:

• 92% of Americans are worried about the future of our planet

• Nearly three quarters (72%) of millennials 18−34 say that watching, hearing and/or reading negative news stories about the environment sometimes has an impact on their emotional wellbeing (e.g., anxiety, racing thoughts, sleep problems, a feeling of uneasiness)

• Among those who say they are worried about the future of our planet, about two-thirds say they take steps to reduce energy use in their home (68%) or take steps to reduce water waste in their home (64%)

• Only 13% of American adults invest in environmentally responsible companies to address worries about the future of the planet, but millennials are ahead of the curve with 20% investing in companies that prioritize the environment.

Progressive Stages of Ecoanxiety

Ecoanxiety develops in progressive stages. In the first stage, denial, people avoid any acknowledging that a problem exists. Then, as people become more consciously aware of the issue, they move on to Stage 2, semi-consciousness. Stage 3 is described as a moment of realization. Such a moment might occur when reading a compelling article or when personally experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, such as a natural disaster. Once people “wake up” to the threats that Earth is facing and reach a so-called “point of no return,” also known as Stage 4, they typically experience feelings of despair, hopelessness, and guilt in Stage 5. This is followed by the final stage of acceptance and action, in which people take steps to help the environment and live a more sustainable lifestyle.

It’s during Stage 4 that ecoanxiety can, like other anxiety disorders, manifest itself with both mental and physical symptoms. Most of these symptoms are similar to general anxiety disorders, including panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares, grief, helplessness, depression, and irritability. Those with ecoanxiety may burst into tears when they see news items about extinct animals or melting ice sheets. Physical symptoms may include physical pain, unexplained weakness, and loss of appetite. In extreme cases, ecoanxiety sufferers may even feel rage.

Eco Extreme: Ecoterrorism

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