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Climate Anxiety

Climate Anxiety

by | Anxiety

Hope, Action, and Climate Advocacy

“I thought I couldn’t make a difference because I was too small.”

-Greta Thunberg

 

We live in the age of information, which means it is increasingly difficult to limit one’s access to breaking news. More and more we are seeing headlines about wildfire evacuation, record flooding, and heat waves. It is well-established that climate change is a threat to our physical health, and we are starting to see data about its negative impacts on mental health.

 

The term climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, was first studied as a phenomenon in 2007, though began to receive more attention around 2017 after Greta Thunberg publicly spoke about her own anxiety relative to climate change. A September 2021 survey asked 10,000 respondents from ten countries across the world about their fears related to the environment and found that nearly 60 percent were either ‘very worried’ or ‘extremely worried’ about the climate. Climate anxiety is especially common among children and young adults. In some universities, over 70 percent of students described themselves as suffering from eco-anxiety. If this is something you have personally experienced, you are not alone.

 

Although the effects of climate change are far-reaching, it is important to note that advocacy at the individual level makes a difference. There is hope in knowing that climate anxiety is not a standalone mental health condition, largely because it is defined as an adaptable response to a distressing situation. Discomfort is a change agent and a motivator, though mindfulness is important. When anxiety turns into overwhelm, it can show up as conflict avoidance or a freeze response. This can lead to a sense of hopelessness about the future and about one’s own ability to make a difference.

 

If you are someone who experiences anxiety about the future of our home, and find yourself at a loss, below are some suggestions for sustainable advocacy –

 

1. Focus on what you can control

  • Research and participate in local organizations, initiatives, or volunteer opportunities
  • Write or call your legislators, encouraging them to act in defense of the environment
  • Consider ways you can engage in consumption more sustainably (composting/recycling)
  • Donate to organizations you care about, if you are able
  • Have conversations with your friends and family members about your thoughts and feelings
  •  

 

2. Avoid burnout

  • As stated earlier, anxiety when left uncared for can lead to overwhelm. Get curious about your own anxiety and take note of your freeze responses
  • Give yourself full permission to take breaks from the Internet to recuperate and practice self-care; this will allow you to avoid burnout and return to advocacy when you are able
  •  

 

3. Practice self-compassion

  • Remember: Your anxiety makes sense and is an adaptable response to an unsustainable situation. Consider ways you can mindfully process your emotions through journaling, talking with a therapist, physical movement, art, or gardening
  • Getting outside does wonders for our individual and collective mental health. Get curious about ways you can plant flowers, access hiking trails, or any other hobbies you enjoy that can be done outside. When you take care of yourself, you have internal resources to pull from when you feel called to take care of the world around you.
  •  

 

Ready to take the next step?

Contact us today to learn more about our Counseling services and how we can help you process climate anxiety.

 

 

 

Climate Anxiety

Climate Anxiety

by | Sep 10, 2024 |

Hope, Action, and Climate Advocacy “I thought I couldn’t make a difference because I was too small.” -Greta Thunberg   We live in the age of information, which means it is increasingly difficult to limit one’s access to breaking news. More and more we are seeing...

Window of Tolerance 101

Window of Tolerance 101

by | Aug 15, 2024 | , ,

So much of the safety that is integral in therapy, especially for those of us with trauma histories, lives in the complex balance of security in the present moment and entering into vulnerability (painful emotion). Knowing this, it's important to develop coping and...

Get Outside For Your Brain

Get Outside For Your Brain

by | May 10, 2024 | , ,

When I am among the trees, Especially the willows and the honey locust, Equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, They give off such hints of gladness I would almost say they save me, and daily. Excerpt, "When I Am Among The Trees" by Mary Oliver We live in a world...

Grief is Not Pathology

Grief is Not Pathology

by | Feb 29, 2024 |

Grief and loss, whether person or place or part of self, are inevitable. Every one of us will lose someone or something, and every one of us will need to be cared for through it; yet, our culture has no shared language for loss. Grief is a collective experience that...

Window of Tolerance 101

Window of Tolerance 101

by | PTSD, Trauma, Trauma / PTSD

Navigating Trauma with Compassion

Finding Safety in Vulnerability

So much of the safety that is integral in therapy, especially for those of us with trauma histories, lives in the complex balance of security in the present moment and entering into vulnerability (painful emotion). Knowing this, it’s important to develop coping and grounding skills for withstanding the pain. At times, skill development feels frustrating (I know I have, on a number of occasions, balked at having to develop skills to cope with pain I did not ask for).

Strengthening Coping Strategies

Widening the Window of Tolerance

The more adept we become at coping with distress, the more we strengthen our ability to experience the here-and-now sense of safety in therapy as we face our pain.
When your therapist helps you ground, develop coping skills, notice the present moment, etc., they are helping you widen what we call the ‘Window of Tolerance.’ Maximum therapeutic benefit in an appointment with your counselor (or in coping outside session) happens when you are able to maintain awareness of the both/and of pain and safety.

Practical Applications

Everyday Examples of Staying Within the Window

Remaining inside your window of tolerance doesn’t mean you don’t experience emotions. It means we minimize the distress that occurs when a painful emotion is present. Essentially, existing within that window means you can experience sadness, fear, or anger without triggering a survival (fight/flight/freeze) response. If you have ever become frustrated with a distracted driver while maintaining your ability to focus on the road, become upset with a partner and took space away to process emotions before resolving conflict, or made a mistake on a project and were able to reframe negative thoughts about yourself – You have remained within your window.

Reflections on Progress

Becoming a Harbor of Safety

Progress in therapy does not mean something isn’t sad or scary over time. It means you become your own harbor of safety and remain compassionate and present with yourself as you heal. Safety is not always necessarily the absence of danger; safety is your ability to connect with yourself, your support system, or your coping skills when danger is present.

Window of Tolerance

The Balance of Safety and Vulnerability in Therapy

In therapy, especially for those with trauma histories, safety is a delicate balance between feeling secure in the present moment and being open to vulnerability. This balance is crucial for healing and growth.

Developing Coping and Grounding Skills

Developing coping and grounding skills is essential for managing painful emotions. Although it can be frustrating to build these skills, they are vital for maintaining a sense of safety and stability during therapy.

Expanding the Window of Tolerance

When your therapist helps you ground yourself, develop coping skills, and stay present, they are helping you expand your Window of Tolerance. This allows you to experience emotions without triggering a survival response, enabling you to process and heal more effectively.

Window of Tolerance 101

Window of Tolerance 101

by | Aug 15, 2024 | , ,

So much of the safety that is integral in therapy, especially for those of us with trauma histories, lives in the complex balance of security in the present moment and entering into vulnerability (painful emotion). Knowing this, it's important to develop coping and...

A Guide to Self-Advocacy in Therapy

A Guide to Self-Advocacy in Therapy

by | Counseling, General, Mental Health

If you have been in therapy before or are currently looking for a counselor, know you are not alone if it feels like an intimidating process. The therapy world comes with many acronyms (CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, etc.) and it can be daunting to identify what it is you look for in a therapist. Research over the past 50 years has shown that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client, known as the ‘therapeutic alliance’, is the strongest predictor of successful outcomes in treatment. Given the importance of the therapeutic alliance, it is important that you feel seen, heard, and respected by any clinician you work with.
 
 
When meeting with a therapist, whether entering treatment or after care is established, you reserve the right to ask questions. Here are some you might ask to help yourself identify if they are a good fit for you:
 
  1. Do you have experience providing therapy to people with similar issues as mine?
  2. What are the different therapy approaches you practice, and which do you think will work best in our work together?
  3. How do you collaborate with your clients throughout the therapy process?
  4. How do you collaborate with other treatment team members (medication providers, case managers, etc.) when appropriate?
  5. Which types of coping skills do you normally help your clients learn and practice?
  6. How do you measure progress?
  7. What can I do if I feel the treatment isn’t working for me?
  8. How will I know when to stop or pause therapy if I am doing well?
  9. What is your training (what certifications or degrees do you hold)?
  10. Based on what you know about me so far, do you believe we’re a good fit? Why or why not?

 

 

 

Asking your therapist questions about their work to ensure goodness of fit empowers you to make an informed choice about your mental health needs. Not only does this help you decide if a therapist is right for you, you are already taking a step toward autonomy and practicing empowerment. What matters most in your mental healthcare is ensuring you feel seen and heard.
 
 
Some self-reflection in identifying if your therapist is a good fit:
  1. Do I feel respected by my therapist?
  2. Do I resonate with my therapist’s approach to treatment?
  3. Does my therapist listen attentively to me?
  4. Do I feel validated by my therapist?
  5. Is my therapist transparent with me about their treatment approach, and do I understand it?
  6. Does my therapist check in with me about progress and my experiences in treatment?
  7. Is my therapist an ally to me?
  8. Is my therapist open to my feedback about what works and what doesn’t?
  9. Is my therapist a safe person for all pieces of my identity?
  10. How am I feeling about working with my therapist so far?

 

Remember, you are the expert in how you feel. Check in with yourself often about what is going well, and what is not as helpful, as you progress in therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climate Anxiety

Climate Anxiety

by | Sep 10, 2024 |

Hope, Action, and Climate Advocacy “I thought I couldn’t make a difference because I was too small.” -Greta Thunberg   We live in the age of information, which means it is increasingly difficult to limit one’s access to breaking news. More and more we are seeing...

Get Outside For Your Brain

Get Outside For Your Brain

by | May 10, 2024 | , ,

When I am among the trees, Especially the willows and the honey locust, Equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, They give off such hints of gladness I would almost say they save me, and daily. Excerpt, "When I Am Among The Trees" by Mary Oliver We live in a world...

Get Outside For Your Brain

Get Outside For Your Brain

by | Anxiety, Coping, General

When I am among the trees,

Especially the willows and the honey locust,

Equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

They give off such hints of gladness

I would almost say they save me, and daily.

Excerpt, “When I Am Among The Trees” by Mary Oliver

We live in a world that allows us immediate, constant access to Internet spaces. This offers us accessibility, economic opportunity, entertainment, cultural exchange, education, and productivity. However, for as many benefits as there are, we’re also presented with challenges – Cognitive overwhelm, social isolation, distraction. Worldwide, we spend an average of six hours and 40 minutes per day on screens, and we average five or fewer hours in nature per week.

 

Research shares with us a wealth of information about how nature is beneficial for our emotional and cognitive health. When we disconnect and get ourselves into nature, we are happier, perform better on tasks, feel more energized, and experience real-time, literal connection to the world around us. The biophilia hypothesis (“biophilia” literally means love of life or love of living systems) suggests that humans have an innate tendency to seek connection with nature and other forms of life. This hypothesis states that spending time in nature triggers a physiological response that lowers stress levels. We have many studies that show humans perform better on cognitive tasks while listening to nature audio, pausing to view nature scenes, and green spaces adjacent to schools boost cognitive development in children. We know that adults perform better on work-related tasks when they, too, have access to green spaces.

 

Nature helps us feel joy, we become more creative, and moving our bodies further supports the metabolization of emotion. Neuroimaging studies have shown that being in nature activates regions of the brain associated with empathy and emotion regulation.

 

Back to social media for a sec – It’s important to acknowledge that we often see posts in the Internet space about folks who mountain climb, backpack across countries, and live on sailboats. It’s easy to engage in comparison and think of ourselves as not doing enough when we aren’t able to participate in viral-video-worthy feats. But, the nervous system doesn’t discriminate between the leaf on the tree at the top of the mountain and the leaf on the tree outside of your home.

 

Nature is everywhere, and can be free or low-cost to access. Some ideas, just to name a few:

  1. Sitting next to an open window
  2. Reading a book outside
  3. Picnicking with a loved one or friend
  4. Water balloon fight!
  5. Birding
  6. Journaling outside
  7. Hopscotch
  8. Disc golfing
  9. Running and/or walking
  10. Stargazing
  11. Laying in the grass and watching the clouds
  12. Gardening
 
Consider setting a goal of increasing your time spent outside by ten minutes per week, and notice what shifts. Do you have more brain space? More space in your body for your breath? Slow down and see what happens.
Climate Anxiety

Climate Anxiety

by | Sep 10, 2024 |

Hope, Action, and Climate Advocacy “I thought I couldn’t make a difference because I was too small.” -Greta Thunberg   We live in the age of information, which means it is increasingly difficult to limit one’s access to breaking news. More and more we are seeing...

Get Outside For Your Brain

Get Outside For Your Brain

by | May 10, 2024 | , ,

When I am among the trees, Especially the willows and the honey locust, Equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, They give off such hints of gladness I would almost say they save me, and daily. Excerpt, "When I Am Among The Trees" by Mary Oliver We live in a world...

The Power of Community in Trauma Survivorship

The Power of Community in Trauma Survivorship

by | PTSD, Trauma, Trauma / PTSD

sistent across human history has been the importance of community. Safety in numbers against a predator, the sharing of resources, or simply holding space for one another are all integral to our survival. Yet, largely, our individualistic culture places emphasis on autonomy and independence. Self-care is a term used often within the context of therapy and trauma healing – and self-care is a necessary step – but often we are encouraged to lean into individual healing practices when what we need is to be reminded that we belong in the world around us.
 
 
Oftentimes we walk away from a traumatic experience with more barriers to accessing ourselves than ever before. We learn to mistrust ourselves and/or those around us; shame and guilt become the forefront of our self-talk; our emotions feel too dangerous to foray into. It is confusing to be told to access self for care when, commonly, self is difficult to find internally. Research tells us that connection to others leads to positive outcomes for trauma survivors (Goodman, Dutton, Vankos, & Weinfurt, 2005), and it tells us that even brief interactions with the world around (waving hello, for example) us are reliable mood-boosters (Santos, 2023).
 
So what does community care look like, and how can we engage in this type of inter-dependence on one another?
 

Community care at the micro level:

 

  1. Saying hello to a neighbor
  2. Meal prepping/cooking with a loved one
  3. Texting a friend
  4. Carpooling with a friend or colleague
  5. Checking in with your loved ones

 

Community care at the macro level:

 

  1. Participating in a community garden
  2. Community clothing swaps
  3. Group therapy spaces for processing and healing
  4. Volunteering for a cause you care about
  5. Community book clubs
  6. Participating in social activism

  

A reminder, too, that community care works when you receive care alongside providing it. Trauma recovery makes it difficult to remember that you, as much as your neighbor, are part of this community. Not every type of community care will be a fit for you, and that’s okay. Wherever you land, you are not alone. Healing takes place in the company of those who see and are seen by you.
Window of Tolerance 101

Window of Tolerance 101

by | Aug 15, 2024 | , ,

So much of the safety that is integral in therapy, especially for those of us with trauma histories, lives in the complex balance of security in the present moment and entering into vulnerability (painful emotion). Knowing this, it's important to develop coping and...