August 2025
It’s been a very hot summer thus far in the UK, prompting many to speculate that the human impact on our planet is causing a worsening change in climate. Along with rising temperatures, we’re seeing an increase in levels of so-called climate anxiety…
What is climate anxiety?
Climate change is no longer an abstract concept or a distant threat. It is part of the daily news cycle, woven into conversations about heatwaves, flooding, food prices, biodiversity loss and the future our children will inherit. For many people, this growing awareness comes with an emotional cost. A term that is increasingly heard in the media and in therapy rooms is climate anxiety.
Climate anxiety is not a diagnosis and it does not mean something is “wrong” with you. In fact, it is often a sign of empathy, imagination and responsibility. You care deeply about the world and your nervous system is responding to perceived threat and uncertainty. The difficulty arises when this concern begins to dominate your thoughts, disrupt sleep, fuel hopelessness or leave you feeling paralysed rather than motivated.
As a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist, I see climate anxiety not as a problem to be eliminated, but as a message to be understood and gently reshaped.
What does climate anxiety feel like?
People experience climate anxiety in different ways. For some, it shows up as a low-level hum of worry that never quite switches off. For others, it arrives in waves: a sudden tightness in the chest after reading a headline, a sense of dread about the future or intrusive thoughts about worst-case scenarios.
Common experiences include:
- Persistent worry about environmental collapse or societal breakdown
- Feelings of grief or loss for ecosystems, animals or ways of life that are already changing
- Guilt about personal lifestyle choices, even when making conscious efforts
- Anger or frustration at governments, corporations or previous generations
- A sense of powerlessness or “what’s the point?” thinking
These responses make sense. The human brain evolved to scan for danger and protect us from threat. Climate change, however, is a complex, long-term issue that the brain struggles to process. There is no single enemy to fight or immediate action that guarantees safety, so the nervous system can stay stuck in a heightened state of alert.
When anxiety stops being helpful
A certain level of concern can be useful. It can inspire learning, compassion and positive action. Anxiety becomes unhelpful when it tips into chronic stress, rumination or avoidance.
You might notice yourself:
- Doom-scrolling, despite knowing it makes you feel worse
- Avoiding news altogether because it feels too much
- Feeling responsible for outcomes far beyond your control
- Struggling to enjoy the present because the future feels unsafe
From a solution-focused perspective, the key question is not “Why do I feel like this?” but “What would help this feeling to loosen its grip a little?”
A solution-focused way of looking at climate anxiety
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy does not encourage you to deny the reality of climate change, nor does it minimise genuine concerns. Instead, it shifts attention toward resilience, resources and small, meaningful changes.
Rather than asking, “How do I stop feeling anxious about the climate?” we might explore:
- When is the anxiety less intense?
- What are you doing differently in those moments?
- What does coping well already look like for you, even on hard days?
This approach recognises that you already have skills and strengths that can be built upon. Climate anxiety often convinces people that they are fragile or failing, when in fact they are responding in a very human way to uncertainty.
The role of the subconscious mind
Much of climate anxiety operates below conscious awareness. You may rationally understand that you are recycling, reducing consumption or staying informed, yet still feel a deep sense of unease. This is where hypnotherapy can be particularly helpful.
The subconscious mind responds more to imagery, emotion and repetition than to logic alone. Constant exposure to catastrophic images and language can teach the mind that danger is imminent and inescapable. Over time, the nervous system reacts as though the threat is immediate, even when you are physically safe in the present moment.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works by helping the subconscious mind access calmer states, widen perspectives and reconnect with a sense of agency and stability. It does not aim to make you indifferent, but to help you hold concern without being consumed by it.
Reclaiming a sense of agency
One of the most painful aspects of climate anxiety is the feeling of powerlessness. The problems can feel too big, too political, too entrenched. Hypnotherapy and solution-focused work can help separate what is within your influence from what is beyond your control.
This might involve:
- Strengthening your ability to return to the present moment
- Letting go of unrealistic responsibility for global outcomes
- Clarifying what “enough” looks like in terms of personal action
- Reconnecting with values such as care, community and conservation
When people feel grounded, they often discover that they can engage with climate issues in a more sustainable way – one that supports mental health rather than eroding it.
Finding hope without denial
Hope does not mean pretending everything will be fine. It also does not require constant optimism. In therapeutic work, hope often shows up quietly: in the ability to rest, to enjoy nature, to connect with others or to imagine a future that still contains meaning and beauty.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help you notice and expand these moments. Even small shifts matter. A nervous system that feels calmer is better able to think clearly, make choices aligned with values and stay engaged over the longer term.
It is worth remembering that burnout and despair do not help the planet. Caring for your mental wellbeing is not selfish – it enables you to sustainably engage with a challenging world.
A gentle invitation
If climate anxiety is affecting your sleep, mood or ability to enjoy life, you do not have to manage it alone. Support does not mean you care less. Often, it means you are learning how to care without overwhelming yourself.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy offers a compassionate, practical space to explore what helps you feel steadier, calmer and more hopeful – not by ignoring reality, but by strengthening your capacity to live well within it.
You can care deeply about the future and still allow yourself moments of peace. Both can exist together.
If you would like help addressing climate anxiety, why not book a free consultation.