Climate Anxiety in 2025
Understanding the Crisis and How to Cope
5 Minute Read
What Is Climate Anxiety?
Climate anxiety, sometimes referred to as eco-anxiety, is the chronic fear of environmental doom brought on by climate change. In 2025, this phenomenon has become a defining mental health issue, particularly for younger generations facing an uncertain ecological future.
A 2021 global survey published in Lancet Planetary Health found that 60 percent of people aged 16 to 25 reported being “very worried” about climate change, and nearly half said this worry negatively affects their daily functioning. From insomnia and panic attacks to depression and existential dread, the emotional burden is growing heavier each year.
This anxiety is not irrational. According to child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky of Massachusetts General Hospital, anxiety about climate change is often a healthy, constructive response to a real and worsening threat. The question is not whether climate anxiety is legitimate — it’s how to cope with it.
Why Climate Anxiety Is Rising in 2025
The effects of climate change are no longer projections for a distant future. The global temperature is on pace to exceed a 2.7°F rise above pre-industrial levels by 2030, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As the frequency and severity of natural disasters increase — alongside food insecurity, forced migration, and political instability — so too does emotional stress, particularly among those who expect to live longest with the consequences.
In addition to experiencing direct trauma from events like floods or wildfires, many young people report a pervasive sense of abandonment by older generations. This perception of intergenerational injustice contributes to feelings of hopelessness, anger, and grief.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Climate Anxiety
The psychological toll of climate change can mirror symptoms of clinical anxiety disorders. Common manifestations include:
• Constant worry about environmental collapse
• Panic attacks or chronic stress
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Obsessive consumption of climate-related news
• Feelings of helplessness, despair, or guilt
• Loss of motivation about future goals, parenting, or careers
These symptoms are especially common among people who already live with mood or anxiety disorders, making climate change a compounding factor in their overall mental health.
Coping Strategies: What Works — and What Doesn’t
Mental health experts categorize responses to climate anxiety into three major coping strategies.
• Problem-Focused Coping: This strategy involves taking action: protesting, voting, reducing personal carbon footprints, or participating in environmental advocacy. While it can be empowering, overreliance on action can lead to burnout, especially when individuals feel their efforts are insufficient to meet the scale of the crisis.
• Emotion-Focused Coping: This approach centers on avoidance or denial — such as avoiding climate news or convincing oneself the problem is exaggerated. Though it may offer temporary relief, it often results in disconnection, cynicism, and inaction.
• Meaning-Focused Coping: Meaning-focused coping encourages individuals to acknowledge distress while also cultivating purpose and resilience. Psychologist, Maria Ojala, describes this as the most sustainable approach, where people find meaning in their actions and draw strength from collective efforts, even amid uncertainty.
Validating emotions is essential before moving into problem-solving. Without first addressing the grief, fear, or rage, individuals often default to maladaptive behaviors or emotional shutdown.
Practical Ways to Manage Climate Anxiety
For individuals experiencing climate anxiety, the following strategies can help reduce emotional distress:
1. Validate Your Feelings: Acknowledge that fear and sadness about the climate are rational. Processing these emotions through journaling, conversation, or therapy can reduce emotional overload.
2. Find Community: Connecting with others who share your concerns can provide both social support and a renewed sense of hope. Many climate organizations offer peer support or discussion groups.
3. Focus on Agency: Taking small, manageable steps — whether changing daily habits or engaging in policy advocacy — can help restore a sense of control and direction.
4. Balance News Consumption: Stay informed, but avoid doomscrolling. Curate reliable sources and take intentional breaks from the news cycle when needed.
5. Work with Climate-Aware Therapists: Groups like the Climate Psychiatry Alliance and the Climate Psychology Alliance provide directories for therapists trained in eco-distress and related issues.
Climate Anxiety and Clinical Anxiety Disorders
Exploring TMS Therapy as a Treatment for Climate-Related Anxiety
While climate anxiety is an expected reaction to an unprecedented global crisis, it can also exacerbate clinical mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression.
For those whose climate anxiety escalates into debilitating or treatment-resistant mental health conditions, a promising clinical option is emerging: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
What Is TMS Therapy?
A Contemporary Solution for a Contemporary Problem
While TMS cannot resolve the external threat of climate change, it can address the internal symptoms that prevent individuals from functioning: constant rumination, panic attacks, or emotional paralysis. For individuals with co-occurring anxiety or depression, TMS offers a way to break through symptoms that interfere with daily life or engagement in meaningful action.
TMS is typically administered over several weeks in a clinical setting and is considered safe and well-tolerated by almost all patients.
From Despair to Resilience
Climate anxiety is not a pathology; it is a powerful emotional response to an unprecedented crisis. As the world grapples with environmental changes, individuals must also grapple with their emotional responses. Doing so with compassion, knowledge, and the right support systems can transform despair into agency.
Cutting-edge treatments like TMS, when paired with meaningful engagement and strong mental health support, offer hope for navigating an uncertain future. Understanding and addressing climate anxiety now is a critical part of building both personal and planetary resilience.