What do the ailments of the eco-anxious tell us?

During the last twenty years, neologisms such as eco-anxiety, eco-depression, and solastalgia have emerged to describe emotions related to environmental upheavals. This article focuses on eco-anxiety, exploring it from the perspective of research and care experiences. The concept of eco-anxiety is relatively recent, and its definition is evolving as research progresses. At present, eco-anxiety is not recognized as a mental illness in international classifications.

In the context of anthropogenic threats leading to environmental degradation (climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources), eco-anxiety appears to be a healthy reaction. For those suffering from it, it is often accompanied by frustration, anger, and a feeling of powerlessness, particularly in the face of political inaction. In order to alleviate this environment-related pain and transform eco-anxiety into a lever for change and awareness of environmental issues, the reorientation of collective action is a necessary step that requires a transition toward more sustainable lifestyles, based on values of solidarity and empathy. The eco-therapist, by observing the intimate and profound link between anthropological and ecological wounds, can offer support to eco-anxious people, helping them to forge connections with themselves, with the living, with others, and even with something greater than themselves.