If you are a young adult with a deep sense of worry, dread, or helplessness about the future of our planet, you’re not alone. Climate anxiety is on the rise, particularly among young adults. Many are concerned about an uncertain future.

This isn’t just about being “worried about the environment.” Climate anxiety is tough. It impacts mental health and daily life. It can even influence choices about work, relationships, and family planning. But there are ways to navigate this kind of anxiety, find relief, and turn these feelings into meaningful action. Keep reading to find out!

First: What Is the Definition of Climate Anxiety?

Yale Experts in Sustainability and Public Health define Climate Anxiety as a deep worry about climate change that affects both the environment and human life. This can show up as intrusive thoughts or worries about future disasters. It also includes concerns about the long-term future of humanity and the world, especially for one's own descendants. Climate anxiety has two parts. First, there’s the physiological side, which includes a racing heart and shortness of breath. Then, there’s the behavioral side. This happens when anxiety affects social relationships or makes it hard to function at work or school.

Why Is Climate Anxiety So Common in Young Adults?

Today, young adults are more informed than ever about the realities of climate change. News about extreme weather, melting glaciers, and policy debates is everywhere. It’s no wonder many young adults feel a strong emotional reaction! I see this emotional response in my clients. That’s  precisely what inspired me to write this blog post.

Here is a break down of the main emotional factors I observe in my work with young adults:

• A Loss of Control: The scale of climate change can feel too big to fix, leading to a sense of helplessness.

• Uncertainty About the Future: Many young adults wonder if they should start a family, where to live, or how to plan for an unpredictable future.

• Moral Distress: Guilt about ethical choices, like cutting waste or skipping fast fashion, can create pressure. 

• Eco-Grief: Seeing environmental harm can make us feel sad and lost, like losing someone we love.

How Climate Anxiety Can Affect the Mental Health of Young Adults?

For some people, climate anxiety is a mild stress. It stays in the background and doesn't greatly impact mental health. For others, it can lead to:

• Difficulty sleeping or racing thoughts about the future.

• Feelings of hopelessness or despair.

• Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, racing heart, shortness of breath or fatigue.

• Avoidance of conversations or media about climate change.

• Social Isolation.

• Increased Depression and Anxiety symptoms.

How Therapy Can Help with Climate Anxiety?

If climate anxiety is causing some of the symptoms I mentioned above, then therapy can be a powerful tool for young adults to find relief. Here’s how:

• Processing Feelings Without Judgment: A therapist helps you explore your emotions in a safe space. They validate your concerns and assist you in managing overwhelming distress.

• Building Coping Strategies: Techniques such as mindfulness, breathwork, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help change anxious thoughts. They also make stress easier to handle.

• Reframing Your Role in Climate Action: Therapy can help you find a balance between staying informed and avoiding burnout. You don’t have to feel powerless. Focus on what you can control. This might be community engagement, advocacy, or changes in your lifestyle.

• Reduce Perfectionism & Guilt: Many people with climate anxiety worry they aren't doing "enough." Therapy can change this. It helps turn guilt into self-compassion and offers realistic steps to take.

Tips to Ease Climate Anxiety for Young Adults

In addition to therapy, here are a few strategies that can help:

• Set Healthy Boundaries with Climate News: Staying informed is important, but doom-scrolling for hours won’t help. Limit your exposure and seek out stories of positive change and solutions.

• Find Community: Connecting with like-minded people can reduce feelings of isolation. Look for local climate groups, online communities, or advocacy opportunities.

• Focus on Small, Impactful Actions: No one person can solve climate change alone, but collective action matters. Pick sustainable habits that fit your life. You can reduce waste, support ethical brands, or vote for climate-friendly policies.

• Spend Time in Nature: To ease climate anxiety, reconnect with the very thing you’re worried about. Whether it’s a walk in the park, gardening, or hiking, nature can be a grounding and healing force.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone in This

Climate anxiety is real, valid, and understandable—but it doesn’t have to consume you! Therapy for Anxiety can offer tools, compassion, and the support that you need to understand your emotions better. This way, you can feel empowered to take action without getting lost in fear about the future.

If you’re struggling with climate anxiety, we want to hear from you! We care deeply about helping young adults with climate anxiety. Our goal is to guide them in reclaiming their peace of mind. Reach out to schedule a free, zero pressure, phone consultation to see if we feel like the right fit for you. You deserve to feel grounded and hopeful. You can navigate the future’s uncertainty with resilience.