A couple weeks ago, me and my family were watching Queer Eye (definitely would recommend if you have Netflix), and in one of the episodes the Fab 5 were helping out a young anxiety-filled environmentalist interning for the Sunrise Movement. Throughout the entire episode, you can see that this young girl is really feeling the pressure of the world, and I could totally relate to that.
Being an environmentalist is a lot. It takes a lot of energy. It takes a lot of knowledge. I mentioned in one of my first blogs that environmental issues and social issues cross paths in many different scenarios so juggling all that is a lot of work. Anxiety is most likely something that we have all experienced at lease once and there is a specific type of anxiety that many environmentalists deal with. Thinking about the effects that climate change currently has and will have can lead to a lot of worry and anxiety. Eco-anxiety became the official word to describe this phenomena and according to the American Psychological Association this can really affect one’s mental and physical states. In a 2017 article from the APA, they discuss the individual affects that it can have as well as the communal affects. Some of the effects listed in the article were “loss of personal and professional identity, loss of social support structures, and a loss of a sense of control.”
I am a big advocate for taking care of one’s mental health. And this is no different. Here are some tips that I personally have and also learned from some research:
Try to adopt practical and safe environmentally friendly lifestyle choices. According to that same 2017 APA article, walking/biking to work or using public transportation is associated with “an increase in community cohesion and a reduction in symptoms of depression and stress.” There is a possibility that many of you are already doing the most environmentally friendly actions that are physically possible, so this may not apply to you. But to those that are so anxious about the state of the environment that they do not do these actions, this may help your state of mind!
One thing that I noticed about my state of mind while I was in Australia was that I was at peace. I was super happy. And I think that was because of my extreme exposure to the outdoors. We went on hikes at least once a week, saw different environments and looked for different species. Taking advantage of the outdoors and breathing in the air near a beautiful green space is a great way of decreasing anxiety levels. To me, it made me feel more human walking through the forest and touching the dirt covered trees and grass. This connection with your surroundings can put your mind at ease.
The last tip I have, is remembering that there are people fighting with you and for you. One thing I wanted that girl to know on the Queer Eye episode is that she wasn’t the only person to feel that stress and pressure. There are active environmentalists across all four corners of the earth that are trying to do the best they can to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The weight of the world is not on your shoulders. Even though the environment is important, what is even more important is your life. Enjoy it.
Written by Dominique Agnew, Senior at Cornell University and Climate Justice Now Intern