How many schools tried to scare kids by showing them Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”? The same Al Gore who thought Florida would be underwater by now. And personally, give me a break with the heartbreaking footage of the polar bear “stranded” on an ice floe. First, polar bears can swim, really well. Second, the polar bear must have a path back if a camera crew was able to get close enough to photograph it. Third, if the climate does change, the polar bears will move. Enough with the stupid polar bear — it’s fine.
NPR has been looking after both adults and children with climate anxiety for years now, offering advice and comfort:
Anxiety is a normal response to the climate crisis, and while the feelings aren't going to go away, here are 5 ways to manage them. https://t.co/Kn4KCD5d04
— NPR (@NPR) November 15, 2021
Psychologists say "climate grief" — or feelings of anxiety and powerlessness about the state of our planet — can feel similar to other kinds of grieving.
Here are some tips for processing when you feel overwhelmed ⬇️https://t.co/pHYDXyRLSP
— NPR (@NPR) April 22, 2020
Climate grief can manifest as dysthymia, in which sadness about the state of the world contributes to anxiety and depression. The climate crisis is a common source of distress for young kids — who have the most to lose.https://t.co/pY7Xus6zGU
— NPR (@NPR) September 3, 2022
Recommended
And now:
Climate anxiety is on the rise for younger generations.
We asked kids how they cope with those feelings, and if they had advice for other kids. https://t.co/3kke5RCH3d
— NPR (@NPR) November 17, 2022
Lauren Sommer reports:
Kids across the world are increasingly facing the impacts of climate change, from losing homes in disasters to having recess canceled due to extreme heat waves. Climate anxiety is on the rise, as a younger generation confronts inheriting a much hotter world.
“Many young people are experiencing grief and frustration and anxiety and elements of betrayal by adults and other generations,” says Dr. Kelsey Hudson, a clinical psychologist who specializes in climate change.
In coping with those feelings, many young people are figuring out ways to find meaning and purpose. Here’s some of their advice.
“A much hotter world”? How much hotter? You’re the experts on this stuff. Well, 15-year-old Tanish Doshi moved to Tuscon where “it feels like your skin is on fire.”
Here’s the kids’ advice:
- Talk to a friend about what’s up
- Get out in nature
- Join people doing something in your community
- Don’t be too intimidated to speak out
Five: Don’t watch cable news (or listen to NPR). Remember when, during the 2020 Democratic primary, CNN held a “climate town hall” with the candidates? And then MSNBC outdid them by holding a two-day climate change forum?
C'mon. This is silly.
— Curtis Lanoue (@CurtisEyiogbe) November 17, 2022
Why is the new generation so emotionally weak?
— Cassidy Larsen 🇺🇸 (@CassidyKLarsen) November 17, 2022
In most cases probably their parents.
— Dreadpiratec (@dreadpiratec) November 17, 2022
Pointing out how effective the unfounded brainwashing is going isn't the win you think it is.
— THE OCpatriot™ (@OCpatriot_) November 17, 2022
Maybe media IS the enemy of the people.
— MerchantWerks (@MerchantWerks) November 17, 2022
The media is in the business of fear news. The climate hoax is one to keep youth on edge.
— Mike (@Mike_Cycles) November 17, 2022
Climate anxiety is 100% created by the media. If not for all the hysteria, they wouldn't even be aware of it.
— Questionable Results (@sspock2) November 17, 2022
The Left beats the drum of OMG climate change is destroying the earth on the daily
Also the Left: OMG kids are suffering from climate anxiety
Gee I wonder how the kids became anxious over the climate 🤔
— Itsthewife (@Itsthewife3) November 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/InindyMike/status/1593279980968022018
Media and controlling leadership continues to pump a narrative in fragile minds and this is what they churn out.
— John Taliaferro Prince (@johnhprince1) November 17, 2022
Advice? Stop listening to the media's propaganda, especially NPR
— Dre 🇵🇹🏳️🌈 (@drept85) November 17, 2022
If that doesn’t work, just remind the kids that President Joe Biden just spent “a billion a trillion 750 million dollars billion dollars” to fight climate change.
Related:
Doctors for Extinction Rebellion do a dance number and then tend to those who died from climate change https://t.co/TWEMo7iegA
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 22, 2022
