A few years ago, I’ve heard from Mark that a colleague from the college in the UK works with people who suffer from “eco-anxiety”. It’s at least been 3 or 4 years. Back then, I was a little surprised and then I just shrugged. (Note: I don’t shrug at many things…)

I know a family member who wouldn’t have kids because they think the kids are going to suffer on this planet, again this was quite a few years back, yes they still don’t have kids today. I personally consider this aspect too whenever I think about having children.

As far as 12 or 13 years ago, I have a German friend who wouldn’t purchase the Kinder Bueno chocolate wafer bar at Tesco due to the wrapping, how each of them is wrapped, and then a pair of them is wrapped in yet another plastic. She would just get the bar of chocolate, all 100g in one wrap, even if she likes the Kinder Bueno.

I find myself being very conscious about plastics, anything that’s single use and disposable. I had my struggle when I came to live in Singapore. As a proud Selangorian, our grocery stores stopped giving out plastic bags 5 or more years ago, polystyrene has also been banned, I hardly see them in my daily life. But plastic bags and polystyrene are here everywhere in Singapore.

Fast forward one year living here, I realised that the climate and environmental related issues have crossed my mind much less than before. When I watch news of disasters, especially due to extreme weather, I still think about it, but then I consciously distract myself. Perhaps I’m denying it. I’m not sure if I will become quite anxious too if I go deeper to contemplate it.

But this post is to acknowledge the start of an era for us psychologists and therapists to learn about the matter, because I have seen two clients who came to me due to eco-anxiety in the past two months, both scored relatively high on the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale. However, it’s important to note that we shouldn’t be pathologising a normal concern or worry. At the moment eco-anxiety is not listed in the DSM-5, and I don’t think that it should. The reason people should seek help is when the anxiety gets persistent and overwhelming, and that it starts to affect their normal functioning and daily lives. The thing is, of course, if it’s affecting them in a positive way (e.g. being conscious about carbon footprint and plastic uses that the person stops flying on a plane or buying chocolate in a plastic wrap), then we would need to reconsider the person’s emotional state and perceived wellbeing when leading such a life. I remember my university international office lady that I used to work for doesn’t take flights, she would take trains to go anywhere she wants, however far it is. And I’d say she enjoys it, and it enhances her general wellbeing doing so.

However, here is some countries, it’s quite a struggle for the people who are environmentally conscious to live in a first world country who isn’t doing much, yet. Even the people and small business-owners are doing much more than the government I’d say.

Anyway, it’s a long journey. Any step is a step. I might write more about my clients when I have their permission to do so.