Essay by Eric Worrall
Don’t forget the lightning bugs.
Climate change takes an emotional toll. Here’s how to manage anxiety
Anxiety, grief, sadness, anger
By LEANNE ITALIE AP lifestyles writer
June 25, 2025, 2:00 PMNEW YORK — Anxiety, grief, anger, fear, helplessness. The emotional toll of climate change is broad-ranging, especially for young people.
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Activists, climate psychologists and others in the fight against climate change have a range of ways to build resilience and help manage emotions. Some ideas:
Feeling isolated? Find ways to connect with like-minded people and help nature, said climate psychologist Laura Robinson in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There are many ways to get involved.
Work locally to convince more residents to give up grass lawns and increase biodiversity with native plants, for instance. Help establish new green spaces, join projects to protect water, develop wildlife corridors, or decrease pesticide use to save frogs, insects and birds. Work to get the word out on turning down nighttime lighting to help birds and lightning bugs.
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You could suggest climate panicked kids try all of this. Or you could try demanding teachers focus on providing an education, instead of stoking adolescent climate anxiety and mental illness with a nonstop stream of toxic green propaganda.
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