How to combat eco-anxiety

How to combat eco-anxiety

Between the doomsday headlines, empty promises, rising protests and “last chance” cries for action, it’s no wonder that many of us are left feeling anxious about the state of our world, but how can we channel that anxiety into positive action for our planet?

Amongst the daily onslaught of climate discussion and tweets coming out of the current COP26 in Glasgow, it’s possible that many of us will be feeling more anxious about the impacts of climate change than ever before.

What is eco-anxiety?

In its broadest terms, ‘eco-anxiety’ can be defined as: “a state of distress caused by concern about damage to the environment.”

Eco-anxiety is an area of growing research and not yet classed as a specific mental health diagnosis, however, during a recent YouGov poll conducted in October 2021, 78 per cent of the 2,130 people surveyed reported some level of eco-anxiety.

According to Young Upstart: “If you’re worried about the impacts of climate change, global ecological disaster or a specific extreme weather event, if such worries and fears are either constant or temporarily overwhelming, if they affect your daily life so much that, for example, you have difficulty sleeping, or you have panic attacks, or you’re unable to focus on other important things like your relationships or your schoolwork, then you might be suffering from eco-anxiety.”

How to cope with eco-anxiety

A pair of hands holding soil and an emerging young plant

Take action into your own hands

Simple lifestyle changes and swaps make a huge difference, no matter how small they may seem. Not only that, but taking action into your own hands is also hugely empowering.

A great place to start is on your own doorstep. Download our free wildlife gardening guide for lots of tips on how you can encourage more wildlife into your space, no matter how big or small. You could also try to cut down on single-use plastic, go peat free or change your diet. 

Workplace Wellbeing at Brockholes

Cain Scringemour

Volunteer to support nature’s recovery

From outdoor practical conservation to office-based support, we simply could not function without our dedicated volunteers and the knowledge, skills and time they share with us.

Whether you join us on one of our reserves, a site that we help to manage or at one of our offices, you’ll be standing alongside over 32,500 other Wildlife Trust volunteers across the UK, helping to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. From Manchester’s parks to the Irish Sea, join us as a volunteer today.

An empty armchair, lamp and stool

Become an armchair activist

The term ‘armchair activism’ is often used as an insult to describe someone who is active on social media about causes and campaigns but who never leaves the comfort of their home - the metaphorical ‘armchair’ - to actually do anything about it.

More recently, likely exacerbated by the pandemic which forced us all to spend much more time inside, the term is being reclaimed, opening up discussions around armchair activism and the positive impact it can have, as well as it’s accessibility.

For some people, perhaps due to disability, mental health struggles or other constraints such as carer responsibilities, armchair activism may be the only form of activism a person can take (if at all) and we all know that lobbying government, signing petitions and sharing knowledge can all have a huge impact on the state of the world. Take a look at our current campaigns to see how you can get involved in some armchair activism.

A bittern in reeds and grasses at the side of a pool

Bittern by Jamie Hall

Know that there is hope

Countless organisations (like The Wildlife Trusts), individuals and community groups are working tirelessly to reverse the worst effects of climate change and put nature back into recovery, claiming some huge wins for the natural world over recent years.

Some examples of good news stories we’ve been celebrating this year include: 

To help you find even more news to make you smile or feel hopeful, we’ve created a new ‘good news’ tag on our news webpage – take a look!

Workplace Wellbeing at Brockholes

Cain Scringemour

Take a break when you need to

As great as it is to turn your anxiety into positive action, it’s also really important to take time to relax, process your emotions and do something that brings you joy. Feeling anxious can also take a huge toll on your physical health – disrupting sleep, changing your appetite or triggering headaches, to name a few.

Taking a moment to be outside, in the fresh air, can have so many fantastic benefits for your wellbeing. Here at The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, our dedicated wellbeing projects, Myplace and The Bay, offer free wellbeing sessions, both online and in-person, helping people to re-connect with the natural world in a relaxed and therapeutic way. Fill out our online self-referral form to take part,

Have you ever experienced eco-anxiety? Do you have any tips for helping to alleviate your anxious thoughts? Click on one of the social media icons below to join the discussion online.