Concern about the future of the planet can stop being an occasional fear and start persistently interfering with daily life. The fear of another storm, the feeling of lack of control in the face of extreme events, or the anguish caused by environmental changes can affect mental health. When this suffering becomes frequent and begins to compromise daily routine, specialists associate this condition with ecoanxiety.
Ecoanxiety is a term used to describe the emotional impacts related to the climate crisis and its consequences. However, it is not a clinical diagnosis or a specific disorder recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the main reference for the classification of psychiatric conditions.
Although it is not officially classified as a disorder, ecoanxiety can cause significant distress and symptoms such as anguish, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and anxiety or panic attacks. The term has gained ground in recent years as the effects of climate change become more visible and frequent.
