Starting to panic about climate change

[DorothyL]

I keep reading how climate change is getting really bad and how we're reaching the tipping point/point of no return. It keeps me awake at night and makes me feel so anxious and worried for my children. I struggle to feel happy because I keep thinking that we're literally facing the apocalypse. How can I deal with this?

I think you may be over anxious and I would think a trip to see your GP might help. Anxiety and being unable to sleep is horrible and debilitating.

Your day time tiredness would be far more of a threat to your children to be honest.

In the movie "Bridge of Spies", Tom Hanks plays a lawyer defending a Russian spy.

James Donovan: I have a mandate to serve you. Nobody else does. Quite frankly, everybody else has an interest in sending you to the electric chair.
Rudolf Abel: All right...
James Donovan: You don't seem alarmed.
Rudolf Abel: Would it help?

It would be ok to not worry if there was a chance of a good outcome at least but I feel there really isn't

I agree it is very worrying, although recent threads have suggested that many people just don't think about it very much, or if they do it's along the lines of "well the sun is going to burn up in 5 billion years anyway". Would reading some articles with a more positive angle help, for example about renewable energy, energy efficiency, or measures people are taking to reduce CO2 emissions? Or about climate change adaptation (this seems to be the theme of a James Lovelock book I've just started reading).

I would suggest a trip to the GP. It really isn't normal to feel like you do, not to the point you struggle to feel happy.

I do worry, and I think the way we're going our children and grandchildren will have a hard time surviving.

Hopeful bump

Theoretician is right about panic/alarm.

But if you're concerned you can become an activist. Anyone can. There are lots of ways to campaign.

Doing something constructive is good for worry as well as being good just for being constructive

It's not normal for this to be affecting your life to such a level. You sound like you have anxiety and should see your GP.

In addition, do your bit where possible to slow down climate change but realise that we are on the tail end of an ice age and the world is naturally warming. Whilst we can slow it down and make a difference when it comes to emissions etc, the earth has historically and constantly gone through periods of temperature fluctuations and changes to sea level and will continue to do so regardless of what we do. We can't stop it and that is fact.

Bloody well said. That's my view as well. Our records are simply a flyspeck on the life of this planet.. We don't have enough data to go on what's normal, really we don't. I used to worry about it, but I can no more stop it than I can pole dance... And even if I went carbon zero, there are so many others out there who won't, it's an insignificant speck on an insignificant speck. I do worry on behalf of my kids, but civilisation will adapt.. It has to.

we are on the tail end of an ice age and the world is naturally warming. Whilst we can slow it down and make a difference when it comes to emissions etc, the earth has historically and constantly gone through periods of temperature fluctuations and changes to sea level and will continue to do so regardless of what we do

This is bollocks. The earth has never warned so much, so quickly. We are also in the middle of a mass extinction which many people need to not realise. The OP should worry and feel anxious for her children (although they are probably OK, her grandchildren may have issues)

We have fucked the planet, probably beyond the point of no return. This is pretty bloody catastrophic, however humans are ingenious and the wealthy will be in a position to cope with the changes. OP is right to be concerned, however, she does need to find a way to manage that concern.

Is it bollocks? Are you consulting Met Office records back to the Big Bang? .

Anyway OP, it won't be climate change that gets us. It will be starvation when there are no fossil fuels left and all the bees are gone. So if you wanted something to worry about......:

its completely shit, but i think WW3 will wipe us all out before global warming

This is bollocks. The earth has never warned so much, so quickly. We are also in the middle of a mass extinction which many people need to not realise. The OP should worry and feel anxious for her children (although they are probably OK, her grandchildren may have issues)We have fucked the planet, probably beyond the point of no return. This is pretty bloody catastrophic, however humans are ingenious and the wealthy will be in a position to cope with the changes. OP is right to be concerned, however, she does need to find a way to manage that concern.

Hear, hear. I don't think some people have the first clue how serious the current issues are. It's terrifying and Trump is a non-believer. He's gonna realise it's not like bloody Santa Claus!

Emerging Viruses & antibiotic resistance are top of my list for apocalyptic scenarios. Trying not to think about who will be "the leader of the free world" in 2 months, too. tbf, there is quite a fair range of stuff to seriously worry about.

I worry about this too! But I have awful anxiety. I don't know what to do either, sorry.

I'm not an anxious person but I'm worried about this too, and it does keep me up at night. I read way, way, way too much about climate change, which doesn't help.

This century is going to be a tricky one for us humans. The renewable revolution is in full swing, but I don't think it will be enough to tip the scales back enough. I am worried for my children, who will reach their 30s around the time we pass into the "danger" zone of climate change.

I think the wealthy will be insulated to a degree, but in the end we'll all be affected - whether by grain shortages, weather events, whatever.

Yes, Brexit, Trump, antibiotic resistance, bees dying out , worry about all that too.

Plus worry about my son's future as he has health issues.

Aaargh I was really hoping I'd feel better after posting

Your anxiety is completely justified, OP.

We are on the brink of catastrophic environmental collapse. Desertification and soil degradation, mass extinction, loss of pollinators, ocean acidification and on and on and on. None of these things are controversial ideas in environmental science. We KNOW it is happening, right now. And it's actually terrifying. Well and truly terrifying.

We only have 60 years of farming left if soil degradation continues at its current rate.

60 years! What will our children eat? What will our grandchildren eat? This is the reality we are facing, and soil degradation is just ONE issue. I think most people just ignore all the doom and gloom headlines, and try not to think about it. But ignoring the issue (including trying to dull the anxiety with therapy and/or medication) doesn't make it go away.

OP, I am in the same position as you. These problems cause me much anxiety too. I've only just started to really think about these things so I don't have any strategies to share, but I'm looking into how I can make a difference, and start some activism. I think that will help somewhat for the anxiety as I will know I am doing something instead of doing nothing at all.

I do think there are massive strides being made in technology that will help us. New methods of farming, for example. Lab-grown meat - imagine the impact that will have on our climate and the problems mentioned in the post above.

The mass extinction that's going on is also very alarming, we're set to lose something like 75% of all the planet's animals (since 1970) within about five years.

I believe we're at an environmental tipping point. But with enough awareness and action we could save ourselves.

Don't worry op I've lit a huge fire and burnt an effigy to the gods to cool the earth should help the carbon footprint.