Finding Peace in the Climate Crisis

By: Delilah De Kay, Intern Therapist 

Created: January 31, 2025

Date Published: February 5, 2025

Yesterday, I came across a headline that read, The Doomsday Clock has never been closer to metaphorical midnight.

What does it mean? (Green, 2025). I’ll admit, my first thought upon reading this headline was, “Actually, I really don’t want to know what it means.” And I didn’t want to know what the Doomsday Clock being closer to midnight meant because I wasn’t ready to add another drop into what often feels like an ocean of growing dread about the future of humanity, our planet, and every living being we share it with. 

                                                                                                             Source: National Geographic Society 

Crises such as natural disasters, war, political instability, and personal traumas are not new to the human experience. However, what is relatively new is the constant exposure to the suffering of other humans, animals, and our planet via social media, the 24/7 news cycle, and docuseries that highlight just how doomed we are. Don’t get me wrong— in order to make progress towards a better future, we must be informed and aware of what is happening in our world. We must know the reality of our situation, and grief, outrage, and sadness are all very sane reactions to what is happening around us. But when our consumption of information about the world’s suffering shifts from something that inspires action and change to something that provokes numbness, anxiety, or hopelessness, it doesn’t help anyone. 

There is a growing body of research regarding evidence-based ways to reduce feelings of anxiety related to climate change and crises around the world. Some are seemingly obvious (yet still can be difficult), such as reducing exposure to news and social media content that are focused on the issues that are causing feelings of anxiety and stress (van Valkengoed et. al, 2024). Creative expressions of one’s feelings around climate change, such as through art and writing, has also been shown to improve climate anxiety (van Valkengoed et. al, 2024). For example, coloring beautiful nature scenes in a coloring book, or making a vision board with images that inspire feelings of hope and positive change can both be relaxing and stress-relieving activities. Lastly, participating in therapy groups with a focus on climate change and anxiety or being around like-minded individuals that share similar worries and experiences regarding climate change can help individuals find comfort, support, and a sense of meaning (van Valkengoed et. al, 2024). Given the enormity of the challenges facing humanity and the planet, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed, but finding ways to manage our emotional responses—whether through limiting exposure to social media and news, using creative expression, or leaning on our social support systems—can help us cope with anxiety in the face of uncertainty. 

References: 

Green, S. (2025, January 29). The Doomsday Clock has never been closer to metaphorical midnight. What does it mean? NPR. 

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/29/nx-s1-5279204/doomsday-clock-2025-history

National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Ocean [Photograph]. National Geographic Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ocean/ 

van Valkengoed, A. M., & Steg, L. (2024). The climate anxiety compass: A framework to map the solution space for coping with climate anxiety. Dialogues on Climate Change, 1(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/29768659241293226

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