Feeling hopeless about your own future and constantly comparing your achievements with others might not be unfamiliar to young people, especially those of you in your mid-to-late 20s or early 30s. People call it a quarter-life crisis, a phase experienced by the majority of humans transitioning into adulthood.
But have you ever felt anxious and hopeless when seeing our environment getting increasingly filled with waste, forests shrinking, pollution everywhere, and widespread hunger, to the point of thinking that the end of the world is near because Earth is no longer livable?
If you have, you’re not alone. A study published in the journal Sustainable Earth Reviews in March 2024 revealed that over 80 percent of Gen Z care deeply about environmental issues, particularly climate change, and experience anxiety as a result. This anxiety arises when we witness the real impact of climate change, yet lack sufficient ability to stop those problems.
As a generation that is aware of mental health issues, can you imagine what it feels like to be a Gen Z who is exposed almost daily to various information about the climate crisis on social media, yet feels anxious because they don't know what can be done to overcome it?
Gosh, it sounds like netizen comments! Instead of heading toward a "Golden Indonesia," it feels like heading toward an "Anxious Indonesia."
Source: globalchangeecology.com
Eco-anxiety: Fear Growing Alongside the Climate Crisis
When hearing about the climate crisis, some people might immediately picture melting ice in the Arctic, burning forests, or severe storms destroying people's homes. However, as we have discussed before, the climate crisis also carries a hidden danger that, if left unaddressed, can prove fatal to the future of both the environment and humanity.
One invisible impact of the climate crisis is the emergence of eco-anxiety—a chronic fear or anxiety related to climate change and environmental destruction. This term was first introduced by the American Psychological Association (APA), Climate for Health, and ecoAmerica to describe the psychological impacts of environmental issues.
Although not categorized as a clinical mental disorder, eco-anxiety has become a common phenomenon, especially among the younger generation who feel that their future is threatened by the climate crisis.
Source: medium.com
Eco-anxiety is not just a passing feeling, but a deep-seated anxiety stemming from uncertainty about the fate of this planet. People experiencing it often feel powerless to stop the pace of environmental destruction, despite trying various efforts to address it—ranging from reducing plastic use to choosing eco-friendly transportation and taking other climate actions.
This phenomenon can manifest in various ways, with several common symptoms including:
Persistent feelings of anxiety about climate change.
Difficulty sleeping due to worrying about the Earth's future.
Feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, and even anger toward parties perceived as unconcerned about the environment.
Avoiding discussions or news about environmental issues due to feeling overwhelmed.
In extreme cases, eco-anxiety can even trigger depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Why Does Eco-Anxiety Happen?
There are many reasons why this phenomenon occurs, one of which is information overload. In a single day, we might read countless news stories about the climate crisis—and almost all of them contain bad news. Not to mention, if you are active on social media, you are likely frequently exposed to posts about pollution, forest fires, natural disasters, or other climate impacts.
Processing this vast and rapid influx of information can be difficult, resulting in emotional responses such as anger, fear, frustration, hopelessness, avoidance, anxiety, depression, guilt, and even shame, rather than actionable ideas. Ultimately, this makes it hard to sleep, lose appetite, and struggle with concentration.
Another reason is powerlessness. You might feel like you've done small things, such as carrying a tumbler everywhere, using cloth shopping bags, or sorting trash at home. However, when seeing environmental damage on a large scale, all of that feels meaningless. It feels like throwing a bucket of water into the ocean.
In addition, there are personal factors that can cause someone to experience eco-anxiety. People who have directly seen or experienced disasters caused by the climate crisis tend to feel a deeper connection to nature, making it easier for them to feel loss when witnessing environmental destruction. For them, environmental damage is not just a global issue, but a deeply personal experience.
Is There Still Hope?
Erin Seaton, a senior lecturer at Tufts University in the US who focuses on mental health education, explained that the eco-anxiety experienced by the younger generation can be debilitating, paralyzing, and exacerbate existing mental health conditions if not addressed promptly.
Therefore, Seaton and her team are striving to transform climate change anxiety into concrete action. That way, we not only gain insight into the impacts of climate change, but also learn actionable steps we can take together to overcome it.
1. Emotion Validation and Regulation
Before determining steps to address the climate crisis, it is important for anyone involved in climate action to validate what they feel, including eco-anxiety. By acknowledging and becoming aware of our emotional condition, the process of taking next steps becomes easier. Ann Ward, an education specialist at Tufts University, studied how young activists in Boston—such as members of the Sunrise Movement, a youth organization driving real action on climate change—manage their emotions regarding this issue.
2. Manage Information Intake
News about the climate crisis is indeed important, but that doesn't mean you have to consume everything. Limit the time spent reading news or look for sources that also present solutions and innovations, not just problems. By receiving information effectively, our minds can more easily distinguish between issues we can address ourselves and those we need to communicate to other parties to find solutions.
3. Build Communication and Connections
In addition to validating negative emotions, it is crucial to discuss them openly to gain support from others who share similar concerns. Engaging in discussions with people who have the same worries can be an effective way to build communication and connections, which ultimately helps us take real action.
4. Celebrate Small Wins
Celebrating every action you take is not an exaggeration. If you can only take one concrete step to support the Earth in facing the climate crisis, that is completely fine. You can still celebrate your real action in supporting the Earth to stay motivated to go further. Come on, let's take care of the Earth together!
References:
Acaroglu, L. (2024). Part 1: The Rising Peak of Climate and Eco-Anxiety. Accessed from
[https://medium.com/disruptive-design/the-rising-peak-of-climate-and-eco-anxiety-b2f9d6ac9045](https://medium.com/disruptive-design/the-rising-peak-of-climate-and-eco-anxiety-b2f9d6ac9045)on December 23, 2024, at 15:49 WIB.American Psychological Association, Climate for Health, & ecoAmerica. (2017). Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance. Accessed from
[https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf)Arif, A. (2024). Mengubah Kecemasan Gen Z Menjadi Aksi Iklim. Accessed from
[https://www.kompas.id/baca/humaniora/2024/06/30/mengubah-kecemasan-gen-z-menjadi-aksi-iklim](https://www.kompas.id/baca/humaniora/2024/06/30/mengubah-kecemasan-gen-z-menjadi-aksi-iklim)on December 23, 2024, at 11:51 WIB.Mujianto, M. (2024). Eco-Anxiety: Coping with Anxiety Related to Climate Change. Accessed from
[https://relungindonesia.org/en/2024/05/eco-anxiety-coping-with-anxiety-related-to-climate-change/](https://relungindonesia.org/en/2024/05/eco-anxiety-coping-with-anxiety-related-to-climate-change/)on December 23, 2024, at 13:00 WIB.
