Overwhelm

The climate crisis just seems too much.

Overwhelm is the feeling of having too much sensory input or other incoming information. It makes it hard to process or understand what is happening.

It’s easy to feel at least moderately overwhelmed, because the climate crisis is so vast and difficult, and understanding it can require processing a lot of data. Strong overwhelm is an extreme level of stress, to the point of being temporarily unable to function.

When feeling overwhelmed, it’s crucial to find safety and calm down one’s nervous system.

Question: How do I slow down and take time to cope?

Action

Make it smaller

You do not have to take on the whole climate crisis at once. Pick one thing you care about and take one manageable step, like joining a school project, spending time outside, or sharing a useful resource with a friend.

Why overwhelm happens

Climate change is huge, complicated, and constantly in the news. When your brain tries to process every problem at once, it can feel like too much. Breaking it into smaller pieces can make it feel more manageable.

Learn

Others feel it too

You are not the only person who sometimes wants to tune it all out. Other young people are finding ways to care without carrying everything at once. Hear how they make space for climate emotions and keep moving forward.

Stories

Overwhelm

Make it smaller

Why overwhelm happens

Others feel it too

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