By Staff Writer: Jamiliere Luranc Sweeney
With the impacts of climate change becoming more severe, many people are experiencing a sense of helplessness about the future. This feeling is known as climate anxiety, which manifests as guilt, fear, or hopelessness about the future and can amplify the stress of daily life.
While fears about climate change are justified, it’s important to not let these feelings become overwhelming. There are several things you can do to help make climate anxiety more manageable. Volunteer with environmental groups, make small sustainable changes in your daily life like walking or biking to school, or advocate for climate policy. These strategies will help reduce the feelings of helplessness and allow you to make a small but important difference.
Aside from becoming more involved with sustainability efforts, traditional ways of dealing with stress are useful as well. Practicing mindfulness or meditation, talking with a counselor or friend, getting some exercise, and listening to calming music are all great ways to reduce anxiety.
While climate change is overwhelming, by staying engaged rather than withdrawing, we can create hope and take meaningful steps towards a better future.