Let's face it. Before Global Warming, Peak Oil, and the demise of bees came along, we all had plenty of other things to worry about. Now that we're in the thick of leading "greener" lives, some of the information out there can sometimes make the task a little overwhelming. Thankfully, there are those out there willing to lend a hand.
For instance, Melissa Pickett, an eco-therapist in Santa Fe, sees between 40 to 80 eco-anxious patients a month. Whoa. They complain of panic attacks, sleepless nights, weakness and "the eerie feeling that their cells are twitching." I haven't quite had that experience yet — but I can attest to the buzz of four cups of organic coffee producing similar results.
Needless to say, we all experience the highs and lows of constantly attempting to reinvent our lives (for the better) while also revisiting the question of "Is what I'm doing really making a difference?" Visiting eco websites, attending green drink parties, talking to other "positive" individuals can all help. Therapist Melissa Pickett often recommends her clients carry natural objects, like certain minerals, for a period of weeks. Hey, whatever gets your groove back, Stella.
Then again? Should we really be so worried? Dr. Gavin Schmidt, who studies climate variability at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in Manhattan, says there are "reasons to be concerned, but no scientific reason to despair… 'The fact that people don’t have a good grasp of how science thinking works,' Schmidt said, 'means they don’t have a good grasp of what they should be skeptical about."
Oh, smack! I'd be willing to challenge Gavin that even with the proper education, there's still plenty to be worried about. If you need to see an eco-therapist to inject a little sunshine into your outlook, so be it. We all have different ways of handling stress or depressing news. Just remember that there are lots of us out there going through the same thing you are. Hey, it's not easy saving the world! Keep smiling.