Now is a moment to celebrate the advancements we’ve made in the fight against climate change. Just this week, American scientists achieved a groundbreaking milestone in nuclear fusion, a reaction that holds the potential to unlock affordable, clean, and boundless energy. However, those who constantly catastrophize about climate change might overlook this significant achievement. The issue of “eco-anxiety” is so pervasive that even PBS Newshour recently featured climate psychology therapist Leslie Davenport to discuss strategies for combatting it. Davenport explains that eco-anxiety can grow to the point where it interferes with daily functioning, disrupts sleep, and becomes the primary concern in life. She highlights symptoms such as physiological distress, racing hearts, and intrusive thoughts.
In addition to eco-anxiety, there are numerous other mental conditions arising from climate change, including climate grief, environmental melancholia, and pre-traumatic stress disorder, as mentioned in Clayton Page Aldern’s upcoming book, “The Weight of Nature.” Leslie Davenport, a climate psychologist, refers to climate psychology as an emerging field in her interview with PBS Newshour. Davenport’s clinic has experienced such overwhelming demand that she is currently unable to accept new clients. She also notes that in the past five years, there has been a substantial increase in demand, primarily driven by young people.
A survey conducted among 16 to 25-year-olds reveals that two-thirds of them feel sad and afraid due to climate change, and an astonishing 45% state that climate worries disrupt their daily lives. As a member of Generation Z, I can personally attest to having experienced similar emotions. I remember feeling a sense of despair, with my stomach dropping and palms sweating during science classes in middle and high school, where I was taught that climate change had reached a point of no return. It seemed as though the world was ending, and there was no hope. My generation is growing up burdened by a paralyzing fear, as young individuals worldwide are being told that they are living in the end times.
The hashtag #EcoAnxiety on TikTok has garnered over 48.5 million views, indicating the prevalence of this issue. Popular content creators on TikTok often make alarming claims about imminent doom, such as TikToker Coyote Annie, whose video about having an hour-long panic attack over climate change received half a million likes. Despair is evident in the comments section, with many expressing that “WE ARE DYING.” One TikTok user, jessiewickham, shares the sentiment that it feels like the government is condemning them and future generations, causing daily tears. Another user, Anissa_riviere, recalls being told at the age of six that her generation would have to fix the world, leading to unavoidable climate anxiety. Kaylamint3 claims to have experienced “literally crippling” climate anxiety since the third grade. TikTok has become a platform for Zoomers to openly discuss their climate anxiety or “eco-anxiety.”
It is disheartening to witness how social media and a constant barrage of alarming headlines on smartphones have shaped the worldview of Generation Z, inundating them with apocalyptic climate dread. Greta Thunberg has become the face of climate alarmism for this generation, famously stating that world leaders have “stolen her dreams” and that “we are in the beginning of mass extinction.” AOC, four years ago, declared that the world would end in 12 years if climate change wasn’t addressed. Even Vice President Kamala Harris recently addressed climate anxiety during an event, further fueling it by stating that “The clock is not just ticking; it is banging.” However, those truly invested in creating a better future should refrain from instilling doom and gloom in our youth. Zoomers must confront the issue of climate change head-on and develop solutions instead of succumbing to despair and “eco-anxiety.” Climate alarmism only disempowers the younger generation, who should be inspired by the remarkable breakthroughs happening in their lifetime. After all, Elon Musk has made electric vehicles trendy, economic growth is becoming less reliant on fossil fuels, and scientists are actively redefining the possibilities of nuclear energy. The key to a greener future lies in an inspired generation of innovators, rather than a generation paralyzed by eco-anxiety.
It is crucial for the relentless rhetoric of climate catastrophe to cease, both for the sake of Generation Z’s mental well-being and for the well-being of our planet.
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