(Which one do we choose?! Kill a tree with paper or litter the oceans with plastic? This was the existential dilemma I faced on EVERY shopping trip before reusable bags.)
Eco-anxiety?! It’s a real thing!!!
Image Details for “I’m Trying, Mother Nature”
- Framed photo – I walked along the South Carolina coast in May and photographed trash I found on the shore which included a tampon, a floppy disk, a leaky battery, and an old detergent bottle.
- Outfit and Decor – Dress made from paper towels, hat from a Target bag and newspaper, pillows made from packing materials and Walmart bags, lamp made from a pizza box
Eco-Anxiety – What is it?
(Bad Dad jokes are listed below the serious stuff to lighten the mood so keep reading. Laughter is good for mental health!)
(From a report sponsored by the American Psychological Association, Climate For Health, and ecoAmerica Source)
“When you think about climate change, mental health might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Americans are beginning to grow familiar with climate change and its health impacts: worsening asthma and allergies; heat-related stress; foodborne, waterborne,
and vector-borne diseases; illness and injury related to storms; and floods and droughts. However, the connections with mental health are not often part of the discussion.
It is time to expand information and action on climate and health, including mental health. The health, economic, political, and environmental implications of climate change affect all of us. The tolls on our mental health are far reaching. They induce stress, depression,
and anxiety; strain social and community relationships; and have been linked to increases in aggression, violence, and crime. Children and communities with few resources to deal with the impacts of climate change are those most impacted.
To compound the issue, the psychological responses to climate change, such as conflict avoidance, fatalism, fear, helplessness, and resignation are growing. These responses are keeping us, and our nation, from properly addressing the core causes of and solutions for our changing climate, and from building and supporting psychological resiliency.” Read more
So how do we handle Eco-Anxiety?!!!
- Do one small thing…and then another. Recognize you’re not powerless and you can make a difference even with just a small change like saying no to plastic straws or eating less meat and. more veggies.
- Connect with nature. Outside – good. Fresh air – good.
- Connect with others. Join a group of like-minded individuals who care about the environment. Sharing concerns and fears with others can be cathartic.
- Support local and state initiatives. Vote for candidates who have a strong environmental agenda.
- Empower your child to help ease their fears. It’s harder for younger children to understand abstract concepts and are more likely to remember terrifying soundbites like, “the world is going to end.” Listen to your child’s concerns and stay positive. Give them hope by steering them towards environmentally-focused activities.
- Know when to seek help. If your eco-anxiety is extreme or debilitating, seek professional help. There is no shame in asking for help.
Six Tips from Green That Life
And finally – Bad Dad Jokes about Climate Change
- How do you know that Climate change is a joke?
Even the Antarctic ice sheets are cracking up. - What’s the only animal unaffected by climate change?
Egyptian Crocodiles because they live in Da Nile. - Do you know that we haven’t found a solution for climate change yet? But we’re definitely getting warmer.
- Why did the Earth blush?
It saw the climate changing. - What do you call it when it rains quarters?
Climate Change.
Katie Linsky Shaw, Photographer, Photojournalist
Youth Mental Health Crisis – An ongoing photography and story-telling project