You’re familiar with anxiety disorders, but have you heard of eco-anxiety? It’s a relatively new type of anxiety, first coined in 2017. Indeed, it’s a novel term that the American Psychiatric Association has not yet added to the DSM-5.
However, due to the overwhelming amount of folks who live in chronic fear of doom in their environment, it’s become a disorder that warrants further investigation. Eco-anxiety is a term that many psychologists and psychiatrists use. It describes people who are anxious and worrying continually about the world around them.
It falls within the ecopsychology field and significantly impacts one’s overall health. Many folks are drastically affected by the changes in the climate, the significant food shortages, and a broken medical system that causes many to be unable to get care. Eco-anxiety goes far beyond just being worried and anxious like you see with traditional nervousness, as it leads to severe problems with your health and well-being.
Many experts believe that the ongoing influences of climate change are to blame for this condition. The sea levels are slowly rising due to glaciers melting in the artic. As the water levels increase, it changes the weather patterns.
The climate has become quite harsh at times, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It’s only standard for people to feel these atmospheric pressure changes impacting their mental health.
8 Signs of Eco-Anxiety Most People Don’t Realize
Are you anxious and worried about the environment more than you should? The American Psychiatric Association conducted a study in 2020 to see how many people are affected by this new form of anxiety, and the numbers were staggering.
They discovered that 67 percent of the population is affected by the environmental changes around them. Are you one of these people? Some signs indicate that you have this radical new form of anxiety.
1. Overwhelmed By the Need to Build Eco-Friendly Habits
You’re spastic about creating eco-friendly habits that can help to save Mother Earth. You’re so overwhelmed by it that it makes you angry when others are lackluster with their efforts, like recycling.
You want to reduce your carbon footprint, and with every step you take, you have preservation in mind. It’s consuming your life, and you can’t be too careful as worrying about the planet has become who you are. Others may think you’re unbalanced but on a mission to help.
2. Extreme Weather Terrifies You
While most folks worry about wildfires and floods, it’s become a phobia for you. You need to know what’s happening with the weather where you live and around the globe.
Many people prefer to listen to the regular news, but you can’t help but focus on the weather aspects. If there’s a hurricane, major snowstorm, or tsunami, you find yourself glued to the TV or other electronics, waiting for new developments.
3. Anticipatory Anxiety is Common With Eco-Anxiety
You have a primal instinct inside you to feel safe. You become hypervigilant when you think there’s a threat to your overall well-being. You’re constantly observing and on guard, looking for changes.
It’s called anticipatory anxiety and its fear of future impending doom. Your sympathetic nervous system kicks into high gear, and you’re in fear of things that haven’t occurred yet.
4. The Effects of Ecological Change on Wildlife Causes Meltdowns
You’re an animal lover, and the thoughts of what climate change is doing to these defenseless creatures send your anxiety skyrocketing. The barrage of agonizing information that scrolls on the TV and social media cause you to have anxious symptoms just by seeing it. Not only are …
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