 Feelings of stress and dread over climate change are very common, and should probably be even more so. A survey by Gumtree found that, of 2,000 British participants, 74% said they feel climate anxiety. This anxiety is particularly strong among 18-24-year-olds, with 51% saying they felt they weren't doing enough to be sustainable. But what is living under this constant – and very justifiable – stress doing to our brains? Broadcaster and author Britt Wray, who has a PhD in science communication, tells us climate change is 'a kind of trauma that threatens our ability to feel safe in the world'. 'It is a kind of existential pressure,' she says. 'It can manifest in many different ways, from very severe and chronic distress to fleeting feelings of worry and overwhelm that one cycles through. 'It can affect one's personal relationships, their ability to sleep or work, and the decisions one makes, like whether or not to have a child, or where to move to (in order to get out of the way of extreme weather events, like recurring wildfires, for example), what food to buy, and how to get around (no more flying or only electric cars).' And these anxieties can manifest in a host of different ways. Seattle-based therapist Andrew Bryant manages a site called Climate & Mind, which seeks to 'explore how climate change impacts our thoughts, emotions, and behavior'. He tells us: 'Everyone, I think, experiences [climate anxiety] differently. For some it can be nervous avoidance; for others, it can be manic action that can lead to burn-out. 'Others experience it more as a depression about the world, a hopelessness and sense of defeat. Others get caught up in the news cycle and social media, constantly checking for the next piece of terrible news about the planet. 'Many feel guilty for existing, for not doing more, for having kids, and so on. And many of us are simply in denial, which I think takes a lot of ment){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Feelings of stress and dread over climate change are very common, and should probably be even more so.
A survey by Gumtree found that, of 2,000 British participants, 74% said they feel climate anxiety.
This anxiety is particularly strong among 18-24-year-olds, with 51% saying they felt they weren’t doing enough to be sustainable.
But what is living under this constant – and very justifiable – stress doing to our brains?