From Psyche Guides: While anxiety about the climate crisis can be rational and even adaptive for most people, sometimes it can become pervasive and incapacitating. This burdensome form of climate anxiety can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, causing intense suffering and potentially even deterring one from taking action in pursuit of climate solutions (what some have called 'eco-paralysis'). Structural change is the real solution for climate anxiety, but as people work together to achieve that, we can also focus on building emotional resilience. Strategies include getting a better understanding of what you're feeling, calming your body when it's in a state of alarm, tackling unhelpful thoughts and media usage, seeking safe spaces to explore feelings, and taking collective action and building community.
How to cope with climate anxiety and take action
From Psyche Guides: While anxiety about the climate crisis can be rational and even adaptive for most people, sometimes it can become pervasive and incapacitating. This burdensome form of climate anxiety can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, causing intense suffering and potentially even deterring one from taking action in pursuit of climate solutions (what some have called 'eco-paralysis'). Structural change is the real solution for climate anxiety, but as people work together to achieve that, we can also focus on building emotional resilience. Strategies include getting a better understanding of what you're feeling, calming your body when it's in a state of alarm, tackling unhelpful thoughts and media usage, seeking safe spaces to explore feelings, and taking collective action and building community.
Lucia Tecuta
I am both a psychotherapist and researcher deeply concerned about the ecological and climate crisis who tries to bring a nuanced approach to my work, integrating clinical cognitive behavioral skills with an eco and climate conscious approach and trauma-informed lens. I view climate emotions as precious signals and messengers of our sense of care for others and the world, that nonetheless can become in some cases debilitating and needing of understanding and extra support to get "unstuck". Feeling and holding space for our grief, learning to manage our anxiety, and reaching for resiliently cautious hope are my go-tos. I am fully trained and licensed as a clinical psychologist (PhD) in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies, eco and climate-conscious therapy, and psychotraumatology. I also currently hold a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna (Italy) conducting research on climate anxiety, eco-concerns, environmental identity and sustainable behaviors. I have conducted workshops for university students on climate emotions and nature connection and climate psychology workshops for local institutes of continuing education for psychologists. I have also conducted climate cafès online for the local Italian population. I am bilingual/bicultural, American and Italian, with an international background (third culture kid) with a personal understanding of the cultural aspects that shape our views and behaviors.
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Climate and ecological emotions Reading List
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