Grief / Gratitude

Guilt, Grief,

Anxiety, Gratitude

Pollution harms mental health:

"A 2019 review of studies...found that long- term exposure to bad air was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicide risk."

Anxiety:

“Eco-anxiety is a natural response to a threat...Climate-informed

therapists...encourage activism, and time in nature, as a way to cope."

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 – [This]...stage 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 an important part of the process.”

What to do?

Crying, hugging, and reaching out to others have helped me -

plus taking action.

Try the Solutions. Won't it feel good to accomplish something?

From the American Psychological Association:

"Climate solutions are available [that]...

people can...integrate into their daily lives.

You are not alone.

“Living like climate change is real and that

we can do something about it...can help shift cultural norms.”

Gratitude:

If you’ve already seen death and devastation,

or you have a sense of what’s coming,

why not take a moment to appreciate where you are right now?

"Guilt involves feeling distress and remorse regarding the morally injurious event (e.g., 'I did something bad.').

Shame is when the belief about the event generalizes to the whole self (e.g., 'I am bad because of what I did.')"

Forgiveness is recommended...

Besides causing death, pollution also causes

misery for the living.

The more pollution

you help prevent,

the fewer will suffer.

You can do this.

To find counselors/therapists in your area:

for "climate" specialists: climatepsychology

crisis/suicide-related: speakingofsuicide