What is Eco-Anxiety and How Can We Deal With It?

Eco Anxiety

Have you experienced the turmoil of “eco-anxiety“?

You are not alone.

At Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary we care deeply about the well-being of all living things.

When those things come under threat from external forces?

Naturally, we get anxious about it.

After years of battling our own shared experience, we built Columbia’s only animal sanctuary, from scratch.

Through this incredible journey, we learned that no matter what life throws at you, YOU can create your own peace.

You just simply have to take action.

Not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place…

What is Eco-Anxiety?

Panic.

Stress.

Uneasiness.

Hopelessness.

Sleepless nights.

The list goes on…

The experience can be different for everyone yet the root cause is often the same…climate change.

“Climate change is the greatest threat to our existence in our short history on this planet. Nobody’s going to buy their way out of its effects.”

Mark Ruffalo, Actor & Environmentalist

The spiralling global eco-crisis and onslaught of the media are enough to send anyone’s head into a spin.

It’s important to remember that eco-anxiety is a growing phenomenon and that the psychology community widely recognises it.

Psychotherapist Caroline Hickman argues that eco-anxiety is actually a healthy response to what’s happening in the world. 

Read that again!

Because, when I first read that I found it profoundly reassuring.

Think about it…

Those who feel no anxiety around the subject are either oblivious, ignorant, or do not care about the future state of their world.

…Perhaps because they won’t be here.

…Or perhaps because they choose not to worry about it.

Who knows.

Regardless, the key thing to remember here is that what you are feeling is completely normal and justified.

However, you feel is valid, and we are here to help.

How to Overcome Eco-Anxiety

If you feel anxious, this means that you are aware of the situation.

The key thing is to take this awareness and use it in a positive way.

As clinical psychologist Dr. Patrick Kennedy-Williams said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper in the UK;

“The positive thing from our perspective as psychologists is that we soon realized the cure to climate anxiety is the same as the cure for climate change – action. It is about getting out and doing something that helps.”

Action is what separates us from being complicit with the problem.

As much as you might wonder “does it really make a difference”.

It does.

We all have a part to play, and it is never too late!

5 Best Ways to Take Positive Environmental Action

It’s true we can’t save the planet single-handedly but there’s power in numbers, and over time, together we create long-lasting change.

It’s easy to sit, worry, and get lost in our emotions but it’s not healthy, and it won’t change anything.

At Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary we champion healthy well-being in all aspects, and we want you to feel better instantly while making a positive impact.

Because when you light up the world with your love and good intentions, it’s contagious and you will inspire others to do the same.

And thus, a movement is sparked, which without you, wouldn’t be as powerful.

 1. Get Involved With Local Initiatives

One of the most encouraging, and uplifting ways to get started is to look at joining local initiatives that protect local green spaces or wildlife.

Not only is it a great opportunity to make amazing friends, but you are also more likely to see the impact you are making.

This experience in itself is powerful.

Because when we see it, we believe it and it only drives us forward with even greater determination in our mission.

When we start out trying to make a difference by doing things such as using a wooden toothbrush, for example, although it’s beneficial to the environment, we can’t directly see the impact or difference that makes over time, and thus it’s much easier to fall off track and “give up”.

So, with that in mind,  start researching local initiatives in your area such as:

  • Tree planting
  • Picking up trash
  • Recycling
  • Volunteering with animals

And if you can’t find anything – start something yourself!

Get your friends together, fundraise,  plant trees, pick up the trash in your area…the possibilities are endless. 🙂

Just have fun with and do it with a loving heart, you can’t go wrong.

2. Go Meat-Free

At Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary we believe that all animals deserve the same freedoms as me and you.

We are proud vegans! 

Caring for the animals day in and day out you get to know them and realise that they all have a different personality.

Aside from the moral implication of eating lots of meat…Did you know that meat-eating agriculture is one of the biggest contributing factors to climate change?

For more info read this article from Greenpeace on “7 Reasons Meat is Bad for The Environment“.

The stats are shocking!

As more people become vegan, farmers are less likely to raise animals solely to feed us.

From an eco point of view, it means that farming emissions decrease too. 

Health benefits vegans enjoy include: 

  • Less risk of heart disease.
  • Healthier bones and teeth.
  • Reduction in excess fat leading to healthy weight loss.

It also a great way to actively reduce your eco-anxiety. 

You will feel more helpful knowing you’re making a difference. 

At Juliana’s Sanctuary, we protect many species of animal, including farm animals.

If you aren’t vegan yet or you are considering eating less meat then you will find tons of helpful support on this blog over the coming months.

Stay tuned for that! 🙂 

3. Switch to Green Energy

If you are in a position to do so, switch to green energy!

Renewable resources such as solar, wind, and water power are a great option for your home or business space. 

If reducing the need for fossil fuels isn’t enough reason to make the change, this type of energy is also often cheaper than traditional resources in the long run too! 

Plus, cleaner air for all? What’s not to love.

4. Walk or Cycle More

Increase your fitness and decrease your emissions by ditching the car and walking/cycling more wherever possible.

In troubling times I’ve often found exercise to be the best medicine, it’s simply an added benefit that the environment loves these modes of transportation too.

There’s nothing quite like a boost in endorphins to rid you of your eco-anxiety.

5. Donate to A Worthy Cause

Many charities or earth-friendly causes rely on donations to fund the work they do.

Donations make a difference, without them, many charities wouldn’t be able to do what they do.

Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary included!

Given the current global financial situation due to COVID-19 a great way to get involved and to facilitate change is to make a donation (if you can) to a cause you believe in.

They need it now more than ever.

About Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary

Climate change affects every living thing on this planet.

Perhaps those most vulnerable are animals.

Our wildlife has no say in the decisions we make as a civilization, but they do suffer the consequences.

We’ve all seen the heartwrenching videos of orangutans losing their homes due to deforestation, or elephants suffering in pain after being poached for their tusks.

At Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary we’ve dedicated our life’s work to protect and care for animals in need.

As the only sanctuary in Colombia, we are only too aware of how vital it is to protect our animals.

Protection is especially critical in the case of species like the Andean Condor, Andean Titi Monkey, Andean Mountain Cat, and the Yellow Tailed Wolly Monkey.

These amazing creatures are endangered! 

Of course, we don’t discriminate against the animals we help.

We provide a safe space for many different species, including dogs, rabbits, donkeys, pigs, and cows.

You can read all about our animal stories on our blog or on social media.

Donate & Get a Free Hoodie!

We need your help!

At Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary we all about having fun and spreading good vibes in uncertain times.

Prior to the pandemic, our sanctuary relied heavily on our dog kennel service to pay for animal treatment, food, and care at our sanctuary.

However, due to lockdown restrictions, most dog-owners are at home with their pets.

Thus, the need for doggy day-care has diminished.

In these harsh financial times, we had to get inventive with the ways in which we raise money…

Introducing, Cult Quotes … 🙂

Cult Quotes Feel-Good Clothing

What is Cult Quotes?

Cultquote.com is a social enterprise of Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary.

When you buy a product with us, 100% of the profits go directly to help the more than 140 protected animals that we have under our care.

So, not only will you be giving back but you will also be receiving something from us as a thank you in return.

The best part?

We Are a 501c3 Charity in The United States

Which means your payment is also tax-deductible.

A note from Juliana:

Rescuing animals is my goal in life, but it takes money to help them. Everything I do, everything I create, everything I invent is always with the maximum purpose of helping animals and making humans happy.

Products to buy include a “Draco’s Babe” hoodie for the Potterhead ladies out there.

At $43, you will be making a huge difference to the lives of animals such as Platero the Donkey and Varaha the Piggy.

Take a look around the new Cult Quotes store and find clothing inspired by some of the best TV shows, Movies, and Books out there!

How about a “Team Jedi” hoodie for the Stars Wars fans amongst us? 

Or a hoodie emblazoned with “I know what I’m doing” for X-Files enthusiasts?

We’re currently developing our products, and we’ll be giving you plenty of fun opportunities to be a part of the process along the journey. 

If you’ve got a suggestion for us already let us know in the comments section down below we would love to hear from you.

We want you to have fun and feel positive in your clothing while inspiring change in the world around us.

To show you where your money goes we’re across all of the major social media channels sharing stories, videos, clips of our day-to-day sanctuary life.

We love the animals in our care, and we know you will too.

So, what are you waiting for?

Get to know them today!

Follow Us On:

Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for life-affirming animal content and behind the scenes action here at Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary.

Don’t forget to say hi in the comments and let us know you found us via the blog.

Find Your Tribe

We created this space not only to look after and care for nature’s most precious gifts but to also grow our community of like-minded people.

We love nothing more than getting to know positive change-makers like you.

No matter where you are on your journey we’re here to support you through our blog, social media channels and of course, our sanctuary.

We want you to be a part of our incredible movement to create a brighter future for all living things.

Because there’s power in numbers!

Together, we create change.

Remember – follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter we could really use your support.

And whenever you are having a down day you can drop by our social media for some uplifting, heart-warming content and see how your donations make a difference to the 140+ under our care at the moment.

Hopefully, once COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past we would love you to visit our sanctuary and see for yourself exactly the kind of work we are doing.

If you liked this blog don’t forget to share it with your animal-loving friends and leave your thoughts with us in the comments section below, we would love to hear from you. 🙂

Additional Resources You May Find Useful

  1. Our Sanctuaries Amazon Wishlist
  2. Make a Donation to Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary
  3. Read Animal Stories On The Blog