Hi everyone! My name is Alyssa and I am CCL’s Resilience and Education Intern this fall. I wanted to share a resource that you may find helpful if, like me, you're dealing with anxiety surrounding upcoming elections and what their results might mean for climate issues.
It’s easy to become anxious, disheartened, or overwhelmed by elections since they have immense consequences on our daily lives but can feel largely out of our control. I know I’ve experienced many of these emotions, which are only heightened by concern for how this election will affect the future of our climate. For those of us who are working to address climate change and may already experience climate anxiety, election season can take a heightened mental and physical toll. I recently attended a CCL webinar on Navigating Climate and Election Anxiety presented by Tamara Staton, CCL’s Education and Resilience Coordinator. In this webinar, Tamara explains the causes and signs of climate and election anxiety, then presents the Five Steps to Personal Resilience. When I'm feeling anxious, using these steps helps me reframe my challenging feelings into a more grounded and positive mindset. While this workshop focuses specifically on the intersection of climate and election anxiety, these strategies can help you build your overall personal resilience and better deal with many types of challenges so you can sustain your work and passions, including climate advocacy!
Share down below: Do you experience election or climate anxiety, and what strategies do you use to navigate it? For more resources on climate anxiety and building personal resilience, check out the CCL Resilience Hub!
@Alyssa Vandenberg I've been struggling a lot with both election and climate anxiety. Not really sure how to handle it though….
@Jordan Teicher Thanks so much for sharing, you're definitely not alone in those feelings. Some strategies I like to use when I'm feeling anxious, especially about climate/election issues, are going for a walk, practicing mindfulness and yoga, taking breaks from social media and the news, and learning to accept that while I cannot control the behavior of others, I can take action in ways that make me feel fulfilled.
If you haven't already, I recommend watching the Navigating Climate and Election Anxiety webinar or reading through the presentation slides. These resources offer a more in-depth framework for dealing with these feelings. Wishing you the best!
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