Eco-Anxiety: Moving from Powerless to Empowered

Have you heard the term eco-anxiety? It refers to feelings of distress associated with environmental degradation or climate change, and its impact on our lives (Mento et al., 2023). It is often accompanied by a feeling that society and policies are not doing enough about it (Hickman, 2025). This can then lead to feelings of uncertainty, anger, and helplessness. Four in ten U.S. adults report having “at least some eco-anxiety,” making it an increasingly important mental health topic (Cooke, 2023).

Due to increasing research (and the recently released Netflix documentary The Plastic Detox), there is now heightened awareness around microplastics pervading our planet and bodies. Increased public awareness of this issue is a good and important thing. And to have emotions in response to it is normal; it means you care about yourself, your loved ones, and the planet. But this issue is also perfectly suited to induce eco-anxiety. Concerns of global magnitude can be very overwhelming. and lead to obsessive worry, emotional paralysis, and even guilt associated with “not doing enough” to help solve the problem. So how do we transform eco-anxiety into a catalyst for positive action? 

Here are some tips for turning feelings of powerlessness into empowerment:

• First, acknowledge that your concern is valid. It is not irrational; it is a “reasonable response to the reality of environmental decline” (Farooq, 2025). We just don’t want to let it take over your life.

• Stay informed on current issues, but don’t fixate. Having awareness, without letting it consume you, is key. Consider setting a timer for 10-15 minutes if you are reading articles or watching news clips to stay educated on environmental issues. After that, shift your focus to something else.

• Seek out good news too. There are a lot of motivated people working hard to protect the environment and coming up with new ideas all the time. This can help you keep a balanced perspective.

• Take action by implementing simple, sustainable changes in your own life. For example, to reduce your exposure and contribution to microplastic pollution, keep a set of reusable cutlery in your car rather than accumulating plasticware from take-out orders. Or get a microplastic filter for your washing machine to reduce microplastic release into waterways. Small steps add up, and they create a sense of accomplishment.

• Engage in community efforts with like-minded individuals. Participating in clean-ups or advocating for policy changes at the local level helps you to focus on what you can control rather than what you cannot. Plus, it has the added benefit of providing social support, so you don’t feel like you’re fighting a battle alon
• Practice self-care and get help to manage your anxiety. This can include meditation, getting sufficient sleep and exercise, eating healthy, and getting professional support in therapy.
  
  

References

Cooke, S.  (2025). Nearly 4-in-10 U.S. adults have at least some degree of ‘eco-anxiety. Civic Science.https://civicscience.com/nearly-4-in-10-u-s-adults-have-at-least-some-degree-of-eco-anxiety/

Farooq, A. (2025). Eco-Anxiety: The psychology of climate change stress. Psychiatry Magazine.Eco-Anxiety: The Psychology of Climate Change Stress

Hickman, C. (2025). What is eco-anxiety? Unicef. https://www.unicef.org/blog/what-is-eco-anxiety

Mento, C., Damiani, F., La Versa, M., Cedro, C., Muscatello, M. R. A., Bruno, A., Fabio, R. A., & Silvestri, M. C. (2023). Eco-Anxiety: An Evolutionary Line from Psychology to Psychopathology. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 59(12), 2053. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59122053https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10744953/