If the words “heat dome,” “mass extinction,” or “tipping point” have ever sent you spiraling, you’re not alone. Here are ten ways to help soothe your climate anxiety while staying connected to what matters.
- Acknowledge It’s Real: Don’t gaslight yourself. Climate anxiety isn’t overreacting, it’s a natural response to an actual threat. Giving yourself permission to feel it can be the first step toward calming it and can ease the pressure.
- Focus on What’s Within Your Control: You can’t reverse global warming alone. Focus on the things you can do: reduce waste, support local farmers, vote, volunteer. Even small actions, taken consistently, help shift your sense of helplessness toward one of agency.
- Limit Doomscrolling: It’s one thing to stay informed, but it’s another to be pulled into an endless vortex of terrifying headlines. Try setting boundaries with news consumption: 15 minutes a day, or a weekly newsletter that focuses on facts without sensationalism.
- Connect with Nature: Climate anxiety often comes from a place of deep care. Reconnect with what you’re trying to protect – go for a walk, swim in the ocean, plant a tree. Let nature remind you of its beauty, its resilience, and your place in it.
- Talk to Someone: Whether it’s a therapist, a friend, or a support group, talking through your anxiety can help untangle it. Climate-aware therapists are becoming more common, and even online spaces (like forums or local meetups) can make you feel less alone.
- Celebrate Progress: It’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong, but change is happening. Countries are investing in renewables. Communities are transitioning to regenerative agriculture. Individuals are making noise. Bookmark good news. Share wins.
- Join a Community or Movement: Being part of a collective effort, no matter how small, can make a huge difference to your mental state. It replaces isolation with solidarity and turns worry into momentum. Even helping with local clean-ups can help you feel connected.
- Make Space for Joy: This might feel counterintuitive, but joy is resistance. Cook a meal with friends. Dance. Read a novel. Laugh. Caring for the planet doesn’t mean giving up your happiness – it means fighting for a world where more people get to live well.
- Practice Mindfulness or Grounding Techniques: When your anxiety flares up, try something simple like deep breathing, a short meditation, or touching something solid and naming what you feel. Bringing your awareness into the present moment helps shift your brain out of panic mode.
- Remember You’re Not Alone: One of the most damaging things about climate anxiety is the belief that no one else is paying attention. But millions of people are in this with you. You are not shouting into the void. You are part of a global chorus demanding better.
Below are several .earth organizations working to help support your mental health when facing the realities of climate change:
- AllWeCanSave.Earth: This organization has resources for climate-aware resources. Learn more here.
- Atmos.Earth: In this piece, a professional, climate-aware therapist responds to questions about navigating the emotional toll of the climate crisis. Learn more here.
- Greenly.Earth: This article delves into the causes of eco-anxiety, explores its common symptoms, and discusses actionable strategies to reduce its psychological burden. Learn more here.
- GoGently.Earth: This article is a good starting point on how to even begin to address your mental health when feeling overwhelmed. Learn more here.
Do you have strategies to help deal with climate anxiety? The .earth web domain is ideal for enhancing your brands and communicating your mission of creating a safer planet through platforms for social and environmental activism.
To learn more about the .earth domain, visit Voices.Earth. In addition, many organizations and individuals are sharing their voices about the benefits of a .earth domain in our Voices.Earth podcast series.
