As Record-Breaking Heat Waves Grip Texas, Climate Anxiety Reaches Critical Levels Among Residents Seeking Mental Health Support

Texas is experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis as residents grapple with the psychological toll of extreme weather events, record-breaking temperatures, and the looming threat of climate change. The latest Texas Trends survey by the University of Houston reveals that Texans are increasingly feeling the impact of climate change, with researchers noting that “Texans are waking up to the reality of hotter summers and the broader implications of climate change.”

2024 was the warmest year since humans started keeping records, with the 10 warmest years on record all occurring in the past decade. For many Texans, this isn’t just a statistic—it’s a daily reality that’s triggering widespread climate anxiety, also known as eco-anxiety, which affects their mental health and overall well-being.

Understanding Climate Anxiety: More Than Just Weather Worries

Climate anxiety, also called eco-anxiety, refers to distressing feelings related to climate change impacts. This type of distress is often rooted in feelings of uncertainty, lack of control and concerns over well-being or safety. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, more than two-thirds of Americans experience some climate anxiety, with a study published by The Lancet finding that 84% of children and young adults ages 16 to 25 are at least moderately worried about climate change.

Many Texans find themselves worrying about how to grapple with the long term impacts of climate change on their health and household. The symptoms can manifest as intrusive thoughts about environmental destruction, feelings of helplessness about the future, and physical symptoms like sleep disturbances and panic attacks when confronted with climate-related news or extreme weather events.

Texas-Specific Climate Stressors Intensifying Mental Health Challenges

In recent years, Texans have come face-to-face with the realities of a warming climate, sweating through record-breaking heat waves and lengthy droughts. State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon noted that “During the past couple of years, we’ve gone through two of the hottest summers on record,” which “has altered the trend of 100-degree days, making the increase even more dramatic than it had been.”

The survey found that nearly 47.5% of respondents with two or more blackouts believe this summer is hotter, compared to just 37.6% of those who haven’t experienced an outage, with researchers noting that “This correlation between power outages and the perception of heat underscores the need for better infrastructure and communication about relief resources.”

Like many other Texans, residents experience “grid-failure trauma from 2021’s Winter Storm Uri” that “resurfaces every time ERCOT issues an energy conservation alert.” This ongoing stress compounds climate anxiety, creating a cycle of worry and hypervigilance about weather conditions and infrastructure reliability.

Evidence-Based Coping Strategies for Climate Anxiety

Mental health professionals recommend several evidence-based approaches to managing climate anxiety:

Focus on What You Can Control

Climate change cannot be solved by any one person, organization or government on their own. While this may feel disheartening, it’s also a good reminder to focus on what is within your control rather than what isn’t. Staying focused on what you are able to control can reduce feelings of helplessness when thinking about climate change. Some direct actions you could take as an individual are: being more mindful about your energy use, using more eco-friendly transportation options, or writing to your legislators to encourage them to make change.

Take Meaningful Action

As uncertainty and a loss of control characterize climate anxiety, the best treatment is to take action. On an individual level, it’s therapeutic to share your worries and fears with trusted friends, a therapist, or by joining a support group. Emerging evidence suggests that climate-induced distress can be a motivator for adopting problem-solving attitudes, pro-environmental behaviors and collective action, which may act as a buffer against poor mental health outcomes.

Practice Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation

By transforming anxiety into proactive behaviour, interventions such as mindfulness, cognitive reframing and encouraging environmental engagement could assist individuals in navigating the emotional toll of climate change. Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Activities like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing can help reduce anxiety and improve mental clarity.

Limit Media Consumption Strategically

Stay informed, but set limits: Stay updated on environmental issues without overwhelming yourself. Limit your news consumption to reliable sources and take breaks when needed. Limit social media & news consumption – Too much news about the negative impacts of climate change can have a negative impact on your mental health. Set a limit for yourself and stick to it.

Professional Treatment Options for Climate Anxiety

When climate anxiety becomes overwhelming and interferes with daily functioning, professional mental health support becomes essential. A counselor can help you identify specific stressors and thought patterns that worsen your climate anxiety, and help you learn to mitigate your body’s response through behavioral therapy, relaxation, and other techniques.

Individual counseling through Cognitive behavioral therapy and other strategies can help individuals learn how to identify and reframe thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes related to eco-anxiety. For Texans seeking specialized support, Anxiety Therapy in Houston Texas offers comprehensive treatment approaches that address the complex intersection of environmental concerns and mental health.

If your client is struggling with climate anxiety, eco-therapy can be a powerful tool to help them cope, with nature walks being one of the simplest yet most effective ways to help patients address their climate anxiety. Eco-therapy approaches — such as nature walks, gardening, and animal-assisted therapy — can help alleviate climate anxiety and enhance overall mental well-being.

Building Community Resilience

Building community focused on environmental causes is a powerful way to cultivate resilience. Join a support group, spiritual community or advocacy organization to find like-minded peers and work on an issue you care about. This can help you feel less alone and find a sense of purpose, both of which can improve your mental health.

To cope with feelings of climate anxiety, we need acknowledgement from others, a sense of purpose, and a sense of connection to other people (as through support groups) and other living things, as well as to nature. They also emphasize the importance of laughter.

Moving Forward with Hope and Action

While climate anxiety is a natural response to the environmental challenges facing Texas, it doesn’t have to control your life. Although these strategies are not a solution to the climate crisis itself, they are adaptative strategies that equip individuals and communities with the means to cope with climate-related challenges more effectively and take positive actions.

Climate anxiety is rife with uncertainty, but taking action may help you feel in control. Talk with others, join forces, and make lifestyle changes based on your values. By combining professional mental health support with practical coping strategies and community engagement, Texans can build resilience while working toward meaningful climate solutions.

If you’re experiencing overwhelming climate anxiety, remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Professional therapists trained in anxiety disorders can provide the tools and support needed to transform climate concerns into constructive action while maintaining your mental well-being.