Green Daily

Ecopsychologists work with people on many issues related to the environment, including "eco-anxiety," which is worrying about the state of the environment to the point that it is causing distress. Treatments can include shopping and media fasts, as well as increasing the time spent outside, whether meditating, exercising, gardening or simply relaxing.

According to a NY Times article, some traditional therapists are highly skeptical of this approach, cautioning that worrying about the environment to the point of emotional distress may be part of a larger anxiety disorder. Scott O. Lilienfeld at Emory cautions that "there is a fine line between therapy and advocacy."

So how's your eco-anxiety level? Here is a quick quiz from the Green Guide, "What's Your Eco-Anxiety Level?" It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but worth a quick spin.

To learn more about ecopsychology, see the International Community for Ecopsychology Web site (ecopsychology.org). And of course, if you are really suffering distress from worrying about the environment, see your doctor.