The climate is changing fast. Many people acknowledge this and are trying to change the course of our future. But some individuals are more sensitive than others. They don’t just think about the climate; they worry, get the sweats, and end up panting. This is eco-anxiety.
Funnily enough, anxiety related to climate change didn’t exist before. Studies about ecological anxiety started somewhere around 2007. This has now created a fear of a collapsing planet in some individuals, which is not true.
Learn what climate change anxiety is, what the signs are that you may have it, who may be affected by it, and some ways to cope with it.
What Is Eco-Anxiety?
Eco-anxiety, also searched as climate anxiety definition is the chronic fear, worry, or distress related to environmental decline and climate change. It reflects a real emotional response to ecological threat, not a mental disorder.
This environmental anxiety describes the psychological impact of witnessing or constantly anticipating climate disruption. The American Psychological Association links it to stress, grief, and uncertainty, while the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights growing climate change mental health risks globally.
What it includes:
- Persistent worry, guilt, or helplessness (eco-anxiety symptoms)
- Emotional responses like ecological grief or loss
- Place-based distress known as solastalgia
What it is not:
- Not a formal DSM-5 diagnosis
- Not irrational or exaggerated fear
Understanding what is eco-anxiety helps normalize the experience and opens pathways like ecotherapy or learning how to cope with climate anxiety.
Our clinical director, Dr. Sophia Brandstetter (LCSW, PSYD), provides insight and knowledge about the matter:
“Eco-anxiety often carries more than fear about the planet; it can also touch deeper feelings of helplessness, responsibility, guilt, and uncertainty about the future. In therapy, we can begin to separate what is within your control from what is not, without dismissing the reality of climate change.
The goal is not to stop caring, but to care in a way that does not consume your nervous system. When people feel supported, their anxiety can become more organized, more grounded, and more connected to meaningful action.”
Biggest Causes of Climate Change Anxiety
Eco-anxiety doesn’t come from a single source. It develops over time through repeated exposure to real-world events, information overload, and a growing sense of uncertainty around the future of climate change and mental health.
- Direct exposure to extreme weather: Experiencing disasters like floods or wildfires drives climate change anxiety; youth exposed to multiple events show 25% higher mental distress within 2 years and 20% at 5 years, with 19.8% anxiety, 21.35% depression, and 30.36% PTSD reported post-events.
- Constant climate news and social media: A 2025 study of 1,400 U.S. adults linked higher social media use to climate anxiety and “climate doom,” while doomscrolling shows a consistent positive association with anxiety levels.
- Perceived government inaction: In a 10,000-person global study, 64% said governments aren’t doing enough, and 58% felt betrayed; 6 in 10 U.S. adults report anxiety about climate response.
- Helplessness and loss of control: Nearly 60% feel very worried, 85% moderately concerned, and 45% report daily functioning impacts, reflecting core eco-anxiety symptoms.
- Scale and uncertainty: About one-third of Americans worry weekly, reinforcing persistent environmental anxiety.
Signs and Symptoms of Eco-Anxiety
Eco-anxiety symptoms include persistent worry, sleep disturbance, irritability, panic attacks, grief, helplessness, doom-scrolling behavior, and decision paralysis. These are recognized emotional responses to climate change, not signs of mental illness.
Persistent Worry
Climate anxiety often feels like a constant background dread that doesn’t fade. Unlike everyday stress, it remains because the threat is ongoing and uncertain.
Sleep Disturbance
Racing thoughts about extreme weather or the future can disrupt sleep, which then intensifies emotional reactivity and fatigue.
Irritability
Unprocessed fear can turn into frustration, showing up as short tempers, conflict, or anger toward climate inaction.
Panic Attacks
For some, eco-anxiety escalates into physical distress, including rapid heartbeat, breathlessness, and sudden fear triggered by climate-related cues.
Grief
Ecological grief, or solastalgia, reflects deep sorrow over environmental loss and is a key part of climate change mental health.
Helplessness
A sense that individual actions aren’t enough can lead to paralysis, often linked to perceived systemic inaction.
Doom-Scrolling & Decision Paralysis
Compulsive news consumption reinforces fear, while overwhelming choices can make everyday decisions feel impossible.
Who Is Most Affected by Climate Change Anxiety?
Climate change anxiety does not impact everyone equally. Research shows that certain groups experience higher levels of eco-anxiety due to direct exposure, identity, or ongoing psychological vulnerability.
- Gen Z and young adults: Consistently report the highest levels of climate anxiety, with large-scale studies showing a majority feel worried about the future and its impact on daily life.
- Climate scientists and activists: Ongoing exposure to climate data and urgency increases environmental anxiety and risk of burnout.
- Indigenous communities: Face ecological grief and solastalgia due to land loss, cultural disruption, and environmental degradation.
- People in climate-affected regions: Those experiencing floods, heatwaves, or wildfires show higher eco-anxiety symptoms and long-term distress.
- Individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions: More vulnerable to intensified climate change mental health impacts.
A 2025 meta-analysis found average eco-anxiety levels around 34.8/100, with women reporting higher levels than men, highlighting clear demographic differences in who is affected by eco-anxiety. Hence, the vulnerable population should be aware of the effects of eco-anxiety on their mental health.
5 Ways To Cope with Eco-Anxiety
Eco-anxiety can feel overwhelming, but it is also highly workable. The goal is not to eliminate concern, but to respond to climate anxiety in ways that restore agency, connection, and emotional balance. Here are some ways that can teach you how to cope with climate anxiety:
Take Meaningful Climate Action (Even Small Steps)
One of the most effective ways to understand how to cope with climate anxiety is to take action. This can look like reducing your carbon footprint, supporting climate initiatives, or advocating for policy change. Psychologists refer to this as active hope, the shift from passive fear to intentional engagement. Research shows that even small actions can reduce helplessness and improve overall climate change mental health.
Reconnect with Nature (Ecotherapy)
Spending time in nature directly counters environmental anxiety. Practices like mindful walks, gardening, or outdoor meditation help regulate the nervous system and reduce stress. Structured ecotherapy for anxiety has gained traction, alongside evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT, which help process ecological grief and solastalgia in a grounded way.
Build Community & Seek Social Support
Eco-anxiety often worsens in isolation. Connecting with others facing similar concerns can be deeply regulating. Climate Cafés, peer groups, and local sustainability communities provide space to process emotions collectively. A 2025 U.S. crisis text study identified social support as one of the most effective tools for reducing eco-distress, reinforcing that shared concern can become shared resilience.
Practice Mindfulness & Manage Your Media Diet
Many people experiencing eco-anxiety symptoms also struggle with constant exposure to distressing information. Creating a healthier “media diet” helps reduce overwhelm without disengaging entirely. Mindfulness practices such as grounding exercises, breathwork, and journaling support emotional regulation. Clinicians increasingly recommend mindfulness for climate anxiety as a way to stay present while navigating uncertainty.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
When eco-anxiety begins to interfere with daily functioning, professional support can make a meaningful difference. Therapists trained in climate change mental health, including ecotherapists, can help individuals process fear, grief, and uncertainty. Seeking therapy for eco-anxiety is not a last resort, but a proactive step toward understanding what is eco-anxiety and building sustainable coping strategies.
Starting therapy with Growth Thru Change may help you get a perspective on your fear of climate change. Our therapists in the Philadelphia office make sure you find the right comfort and are able to confront your ecological anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eco-Anxiety
Q. Is eco-anxiety a mental illness?
No, eco-anxiety is not classified as a DSM-5 disorder. It is a recognized emotional response within climate change mental health, reflecting real distress about environmental threats rather than a clinical illness.
Q. Can children experience eco-anxiety?
Yes, children and teens are highly vulnerable to climate anxiety. Research (Nature Mental Health, 2025) shows younger populations report stronger eco-anxiety symptoms, including worry, fear, and ecological grief about the future.
Q. How is eco-anxiety different from general anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is specifically linked to environmental anxiety and climate threats, while general anxiety often relates to personal or immediate stressors. It focuses on large-scale, ongoing issues like climate change rather than individual situations.
Q. What triggers eco-anxiety?
Common triggers include exposure to extreme weather, distressing climate news, perceived government inaction, and uncertainty about the future. These factors contribute to persistent worry and eco-anxiety symptoms over time.
Q. How to cope with climate anxiety?
Learning how to cope with climate anxiety involves taking action, limiting media exposure, practicing mindfulness, and seeking support. Approaches like ecotherapy and community engagement can help manage eco-anxiety in a balanced, sustainable way.
Conclusion
Eco-anxiety should be addressed and is completely valid. If you are someone who observes the changing climate and worries that it might affect you, stop the thought. First, change your ways and actually start adopting a sustainability-forward lifestyle.
Then, if you can’t seem to handle your anxiety levels even after acknowledging your fear of climate, seek therapy from Growth Thru Change. You can start with a free consultation with a therapist to understand where you stand and what helpful modalities can support your growth.
Afterwards, you can book a consultation to start your journey of healing.
If you want to start coping with eco-anxiety, now is the time!
