Eco-anxiety - How to Cope with your Stress about Climate Change
Summary
Hosts Helen and Kat explore climate anxiety with psychotherapist Caroline Hickman, who leads the world’s largest study on the topic. They discuss how eco-anxiety differs from other fears, its global impact on youth mental health, and why it is a rational response to crisis. The episode offers strategies for building resilience, emphasizing the importance of validating feelings, taking action, and using imagination to envision a hopeful future.
Topics discussed
Introduction and defining climate anxiety
Impact on mental health and reproductive choices
Statistics on anxiety and introducing expert Caroline Hickman
Why climate anxiety is unique and unprecedented
Validating emotions and avoiding pathologization
Levels of severity and relational betrayal
Global study findings on youth despair and doomism
The importance of listening and not dismissing concerns
Building resilience through action and accepting failure
Using imagination to envision a better future
Key takeaways and resources for further reading
Weekly updates: Gum health, anxiety tools, and running
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