Guilt, Grief, Trauma,
Anxiety, and Gratitude
Pollution harms mental health:
"Long-term exposure to bad air [is] associated
with depression, anxiety, and suicide risk."
"Children and adolescents, with brains still
developing, are especially vulnerable."
Anxiety:
“Eco-anxiety is a natural response to a threat."
"Climate-informed therapists … encourage activism
and time in nature as a way to cope."
PTSD:
Excessive emotional distress following suffering
- especially when one felt unable to reduce/stop the pain - is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Potential emotional responses related to trauma include:
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Grief after death or destruction
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Shame from inflicting pain on other creatures
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Fear the terrible circumstances or behavior may recur
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Panic related to the emotional turmoil
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Suicidal thoughts
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Social anxiety, etc.
Extreme-weather survivors, slaughterhouse workers, wildland firefighters, et al., face emotional after-effects.
Grief:
"Studying ecosystems … takes an emotional toll on researchers."
Elizabeth Kübler-Ross conceptualized 5 stages of grief:
Denial – people "believe the diagnosis is ... mistaken, and cling to a false, preferable reality."
Anger – "when ... denial cannot continue, they become frustrated ... 'How can this happen to me'?"
Bargaining – "involves the hope that the individual can avoid [the] cause of grief."
Depression – "'Why bother with anything?'... [one may] ... spend ... time mournful and sullen."
Acceptance --- "a person’s assent to the reality of a situation."
“'We are not going to be able to save all the things we love’." Grieving is “part of the process.”
Guilt:
"Guilt involves feeling distress and remorse ...
(e.g., 'I did something bad.').
Shame … generalizes to the whole self
(e.g., ‘I am bad because of what I did.')"
Forgiveness is recommended.
A guilt/shame “response is normal and natural.
“When it becomes extreme, it becomes a problem.”
Forgive yourself by "taking responsibility, allowing ... time to express remorse” and by "making amends."
What to do?
Crying, hugging, reaching out to others, plus taking action?
Try the Solutions. Won’t it feel good to accomplish something?
From the American Psychological Association:
“Solutions are available."
"People can … integrate [them] into their daily lives."
They “can help to curb the stress."
You are not alone.
Living like pollution is real and
we can do something about it can help shift cultural norms.
Gratitude:
If you’ve seen death and devastation, or have a sense of it,
can you find some solace in the present moment?
Pollution causes misery.
The more pollution we prevent,
the fewer will suffer.
You can do this.
To find counselors:
goodtherapy or psychologytoday.
For "climate" specialists: climatepsychology.
For treatment facilities: findtreatment.
Crisis/suicide-related: speakingofsuicide,
or call 988.