Our health and the health of the planet are interconnected; the earth provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the land we inhabit, and the materials that make and power our modern world.
Our current ways of living are not sustainable. Human behavior is impacting the earth and we have become a threat to ourselves. Eco-systems are collapsing, water sources are running dry, extreme weather events are increasing, and sea-levels are rising. These things threaten our physical health and our emotional well-being. The climate crisis is here and we are not immune.
What an immense, terrifying, and overwhelming threat! It can seem better to pretend nothing is wrong, to put the responsibility elsewhere, or to sink into despair. Sometimes that works for a while, but as the world continues to suffer, sooner or later, we find ourselves face to face with this reality once again.
Addressing this crisis requires developing the emotional tools to handle these realities. When we are able to so, our distress can become our motivation for taking action. In order to support individuals in making these changes, I developed a three part series on Coping with Eco-Anxiety for Anxiety Canada.
Part 1 - Is Eco-Anxiety a Problem? introduces eco-anxiety and answers the question: is eco-anxiety considered a mental illness? And when is it a problem?
Part 2 - Navigating the Emotional Storm: Eco-Anxiety Coping Strategies offers guidance and coping tools for those experiencing environmental anxiety.
Part 3 - Turning Eco-Anxiety into Eco-Action provides suggestions on how you can turn your environmental concerns into concrete action.
I hope that these resources provide inspiration, guidance, and hope to you. If you're still struggling with eco-distress and want additional support, contact me to inquire about setting up an appointment.