Understanding the emotional impacts of climate change. Human activities disrupt the earth’s climate. Climate change has several impacts, such as changes in sea level, rising temperatures, and severe weather. Typically, scientists study the environmental and scientific effects of this change.

However, we can’t forget about the emotional side effects. Climate change has an effect on the well-being and mental health of people in impacted communities. Understanding the emotional impact of climate change and developing a supportive environment are important to solving the issue.

Anxiety and fear

Climate change takes a significant emotional toll, causing anxiety. People may feel vulnerable and uncertain because of unpredictable or more severe weather patterns. The scarcity of supplies is another factor. Who wouldn’t feel uneasy knowing they may not be able to get the groceries they need?

Climate change also increases the frequency of natural disasters like storms, wildfires, and floods. Once set in motion, these disasters are unstoppable. As a result, at-risk communities worry about the future. Their families, homes, careers, and life as they know it may be at risk, not to mention the environmental impact. Even the younger generation feels the toll, causing severe anxiety.

Eco-anxiety is a deep emotional pain or worry over ecological problems and uncertainties brought on by climate change. This anxiety occurs in response to the planet’s situation and how it may impact present and future generations.

Understanding the emotional impacts of climate change

Many people experience this feeling; in 2020, two-thirds of the U.S. population reported feeling some level of eco-anxiety. That may be due to a feeling of accountability for the health of the planet. When the planet suffers, they feel helpless, lost, and downhearted.

People who are anxious about the environment may have a variety of emotional and cognitive reactions. It might manifest as an obsession with environmental issues and seeking solutions. In others, the stress could cause sleeping disorders, impatience, and focus problems. These problems may last only a few weeks or stick around for a long time. Suffering from long-term anxiety may cause mental health issues such as depression or anxiety disorders.

Read more at sustainability-times.com

Photo: sustainability-times.com