Wildfires, hurricanes, heat waves, floods, smog. Scrolling your newsfeed can be such a devastating experience nowadays that it can create a strong sense of anxiety, eco-anxiety.

Learn more about this new form of distress and how you can manage its symptoms.

What is eco-anxiety?

Eco-anxiety is a form of distress that is caused by a chronic concern for the climate emergency. This can manifest in many ways and cause you to experience a range of emotions that includes stress, anger, sadness, fear, guilt, or helplessness.

According to Charline Schmerber, a psychotherapist that specializes in eco-anxiety cited in a United Nations article, “eco-anxiety is not a mental disorder. It’s, rather, a sign indicating that you are informed and understand the seriousness of the situation, but it comes with a price: your serenity.”¹

The good news is that your fears can have a positive effect – they make you question certain aspects of your lifestyle.

“Eco-anxious people are the sane ones in a world full of denial.” – Charline Schmerber, psychotherapist specializing in eco-anxiety

Who can experience eco-anxiety?

Anyone can be affected by climate change anxiety. Some people, however, are more vulnerable to climate change and may feel the effects more intensely.

This can include:

• People who live in coastal communities
• People whose employment depends on the environment (fishing, tourism, agriculture, etc.)
• Indigenous communities
• First respondents and health professionals
• Children and young adults
• Migrants and displaced populations²

5 tips to ease eco-anxiety

How can you get rid of climate change anxiety? The key is not so much to eradicate this feeling, but to find methods to cope with your anxiety daily while thinking of ways to improve the planet’s condition.

Here are some tips to help you deal with the emotions of eco-anxiety you may be experiencing.

1. Take a break from social media

News concerning climate change can sometimes have a crippling effect. And since algorithms are responsible for feeding you content, the more you read these stories, the more you’ll see them.

By limiting your social media intake to 30 minutes a day, you can increase your state of well-being and reduce your feelings of distress and loneliness.³.

2. Enjoy the beauty of nature

According to research, being close to nature can elicit positive emotions such as calmness, joy, and creativity. Also, people who enjoy the outdoors more often are generally happier and less anxious.⁴

At a time when overconsumption reigns supreme and is a constant threat to our planet, there is nothing better than establishing strong ties with nature in order to protect it.

3. Surround yourself with people you love

Spending time with your friends or family can help increase your sense of belonging and safety.⁵

Surround yourself with people who, like you, want to take better care of the planet and thrive together. When we work as a team, we can accomplish great things!

4. Support the young and worried

More and more children and adolescents are suffering from eco-anxiety.⁶ After all, their future is in our hands! Let’s welcome their concerns with empathy, humility, and kindness while proving to them that the fate of the planet is important to us.

It’s the choices we make today that will guide the future generations. Lead by example and everyone will win!

5. Remember that it’s not your fault

While COP15 – the major UN summit on the future of biodiversity – was taking place in Montreal on December 7, 2022, many of us asked ourselves how this conference would help protect living species.

But some things, including the decisions made by world leaders, are out of our control.

Instead, focus on the simple actions that you can easily integrate into your daily life to reduce your eco-anxiety and help the planet.

Make a difference on your own scale

The good news is that there are several things you can do daily to calm your feelings of eco-anxiety and make a difference at a local level.

1. Buy bulk and plastic-free items to reduce packaging
2. Shop for local products rather than imported
3. Reduce your consumption of single-use plastic (utensil, bottled water, bags, etc.)
4. Travel less by car. When possible, take public transit or your bike
5. Think about upcycling before buying (for furniture, in particular!)
6. Lean more towards second-hand or sustainable clothes
7. Support brands that protect the environment

Help us transform the beauty industry

Since 2018, the US beauty industry has produced nearly 7.9 billion units of rigid plastic per year!⁷ Before buying a product, ask yourself if the brand offers solutions to reverse this nasty trend.

Is their packaging fully recyclable or biodegradable? Do they offer eco-refill options? Are their products in compliance with the strictest sustainability standards or are they taking concrete steps to reduce their carbon footprint?

Thanks to initiatives such as our reforestation program and groundbreaking plastic-free care products, we continue to push the boundaries of eco-innovation within our industry with a clear goal in mind: more trees, less plastic and zero compromise on efficiency.

It’s completely normal to feel climate change anxiety due to the flurry of news concerning the daunting ecological crisis. If the above tips don’t help soothe your feelings of distress or helplessness related to eco-anxiety, do not hesitate to talk about it or seek help from health professionals. Let’s take care of each other by taking care of our planet!

1. https://unric.org/fr/eco-anxiete-quand-les-changements-climatiques-impactent-la-sante-mentale/ (French only)
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327354#who-does-it-affect
3. https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751
4. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/nature-how-connecting-nature-benefits-our-mental-health
5. https://www.mercycare.org/bhs/employee-assistance-program/eapforemployers/resources/health-benefits-of-social-interaction/
6. https://centdegres.ca/ecoanxiete-comment-soutenir-jeunes-inquiets-avenir-planete
7. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2022/1/25/the-ugly-side-of-beauty-the-cosmetics-industrys-plastic-packaging-problem