yet another gem from foxnews (why the heck do I torture myself I dont know). Long story short people are developing anxiety about global warming and pollution. Nice how fox points the blame for the neurosis on going green rather than the pollution in their headline.
Since I probably fall into that diagnosis I have a plan for people suffering form this malais du jour.
DO SOMETHING.
chances are, if you are suffering from eco-anxiety, then you are generally prone to generalized anxiety. Anxiety demands a fight or flight response, anxiety is tension....so... release that tension and decide on fight or flight. (preferrably fight)
Rather than go to one of the growing number of therapists who suddenly specialize in ecoanxiety, spend that time and money actually doing something about the thing you fear.
Anxiety is a natural human response to a threat, if we try to philosophize, minimize, or convince ourselves that we are just crazy we ignore the thing that bothers us. Anxiety can be crippling (believe me I know) or it can be a powerful tool. Look at what bothers you, and use that unresolved tension that pulls on you, and put that energy to work.
Take the permaculture approach to anxiety, its only a waste if you cannot find a way for the system to reuse it.
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This is an intresting topic to me, I thought I was the only one. lol.
I guess I could be diagnosed as having eco-anxiety too, but it's not because I'm not doing anything to be greener, it's because the people I live with (my family) don't understand why it's so important to me and it takes me forever just to teach them a single new way of doing something, in the process they forget ALL the time so I have to keep begging and beggin them to do something until I snap and yell at them about it.
I just feel like their messing up what I've accomplished, maybe my case is more like eco-rage...lol.
Shoot, I have a hard time getting them to grasp the concept of rinsing out tin cans and other dirty recyclables and putting them on the counter, thats all I ask of them, I'm the one that goes outside and puts them in the recycle barrel. But NOOO~~, they spend the same amount of energy they would doing that by walking over to the trash can and throwing them away. I get sooo pissed when I see stuff that can be recycled in the trash when we have a large recycle barrel outside.
My mom is the worst, she still thinks this is the 60's and 70's or something and you can only recycle a few types of things. Our city recycles more than paper, glass, plastic bottles , and cans now. She just doesn't want to change, and my brother is just as stubborn (even though not as old) as she is. My sister (the slob) usally collects all her drink bottles and recyclables from her room ( I can't believe she even eats and drinks in her room, I don't in mine, thats so gross) and puts them in a grocery bag and throws them in a corner in the kitchen. lol. At least she has the idea, but that just creates extra work for me because I have to take them out of the bag because the city doesn't accept plastic bags just yet.
That is just one example of how they piss me off, and that's the most simplest thing anyone should be doing anyways, and some say just recycling isn't good enough, that's why I'm pissed. I'm trying to move on to new things and they keep me on the same endeavour...lol.
/end long rant
Agree that the anger and frustration are very much related. For that I cannot recommend enough the presence of a hammock in the yard and a glass of iced tea in the hand. Like any permaculture feature its functions will stack, the hammock will destress you, and it will invite your family to spend more time outside. And as we know spending time outside listening to the birds and such leads to all things crunchy. lol.
Just remember that people plug their ears when the screaming gets to loud. Even if they won't listen, they can't ignore living with a good example.
All things in time.
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