Eco-Anxiety: When Caring About the Planet Affects Your Mental Health

8/18/26

Written By: Colleen Rice, LPC-IT

If you've ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed after reading climate news, grieving the loss of natural places and wildlife you love, or worrying about what the future holds for the next generation, you're not alone.

More people are experiencing what has become known as eco-anxiety. This is the emotional distress related to environmental change, climate change, and ecological loss. While it is not considered a mental health diagnosis, eco-anxiety is a very real experience that can affect our emotional well-being.

At the same time, the natural world can also be one of our greatest sources of healing. Nurturing our relationship with nature can help restore emotional balance and resilience.

What Is Eco-Anxiety?

Eco-anxiety refers to the fear, worry, grief, or helplessness that can arise in response to environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and extreme weather events (American Psychological Association, 2017).

These feelings often stem from genuine concerns rather than irrational fears. Many people feel caught between wanting to help and feeling powerless to create meaningful change. For some individuals, eco-anxiety may also include feelings of guilt about personal environmental choices, uncertainty about the future, or conflict over decisions such as whether to have children.

Our Well-Being Is Connected to the Natural World

Humans have always depended on nature, not only for survival but also for emotional and psychological well-being. Research consistently shows that spending time in natural environments is associated with lower stress, improved mood, increased attention, and better overall mental health (Bratman et al., 2019).

Many of us intuitively know this feeling. A walk through the woods, sitting beside a lake, tending a garden, or watching the sunset can bring a sense of calm that is difficult to replicate indoors. Nature offers opportunities to regulate our nervous system and reconnect with the present moment. Unfortunately, as environmental changes accelerate, many people also experience grief over the loss of places, species, and ecosystems that have shaped their lives.

Indigenous Perspectives: Land Connections

For many Indigenous Peoples across the world, the relationship with the land extends far beyond recreation or scenery. Land is understood as a living relative, teacher, provider, and source of identity, culture, language, and spirituality. The land is seen as an abundant, alive being.

The impacts of environmental challenges are therefore not only ecological but also deeply personal and cultural. Loss of access to traditional lands, changes to ecosystems, and climate-related disruptions can affect community wellness, cultural continuity, and intergenerational ways of knowing and being.

Many Indigenous teachings also offer valuable perspectives for healing. Rather than viewing humans as separate from nature, these worldviews emphasize reciprocity, respect, gratitude, and responsibility toward the natural world. Caring for the land and allowing the land to care for us can both support healing.

Increasingly, mental health professionals recognize that honoring cultural relationships with land can be an important part of holistic wellness, particularly when working with Indigenous individuals and communities.

How Eco-Anxiety May Show Up

Eco-anxiety looks different for everyone. Some people notice only occasional worry, while others find that environmental concerns begin to interfere with daily life.

You might notice:

● Persistent worry about climate change or environmental disasters

● Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or powerless

● Difficulty enjoying positive moments because of concerns about the future

● Guilt related to environmental choices or consumption

● Grief over the loss of wildlife, natural places, or changing seasons

● Trouble sleeping after exposure to climate-related news

● Feeling emotionally exhausted or avoiding environmental topics altogether

How Counseling Can Help

Counseling does not aim to convince someone to worry less about environmental issues. Instead, therapy provides space to explore these emotions with curiosity and compassion.

A therapist can help you:

● Process grief, fear, and uncertainty.

● Develop healthy ways to manage anxiety without becoming emotionally overwhelmed.

● Identify personal values and meaningful actions that feel sustainable.

● Build resilience during times of uncertainty.

● Practice self-compassion when feelings of guilt arise.

● Strengthen emotional regulation and coping skills.

Reconnecting with Nature as a Form of Healing

One of the most effective supports for eco-anxiety may seem very simple: spending more intentional time in nature. Research suggests that even brief periods outdoors can reduce stress and improve mood (Bratman et al., 2019). This doesn't require hiking deep into a forest. Healing can happen through small, consistent moments of connection.

Consider trying:

● Taking a mindful walk through a local park.

● Sitting quietly beneath a tree or in your yard for a few minutes.

● Gardening or caring for houseplants.

● Watching birds or other wildlife.

● Listening to nature sounds.

● Starting a nature journal.

● Spending time near water.

● Practicing gratitude for the natural world around you.

● Drawing on cultural practices that strengthen your connection with the natural world, if these are part of your traditions.

Eco-anxiety is, in many ways, a reflection of caring. It reminds us that our healing is relational, as we are connected not only to other people but also to the natural world around us. Although we cannot solve every environmental challenge on our own, we can care for ourselves, support one another, and cultivate meaningful relationships with the natural world. Through connection, community, and compassionate support, it is possible to hold concern for the future while still experiencing hope and joy in the present.

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). Mental health and our changing climate: Impacts, implications, and guidance. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf

Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B., de Vries, S., Flanders, J., Folke, C., Frumkin, H., Gross, J. J., Hartig, T., Kahn, P. H., Jr., Kuo, M., Lawler, J. J., Levin, P. S., Lindahl, T., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Mitchell, R., Ouyang, Z., Roe, J., ... Daily, G. C. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5(7), eaax0903. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903