Ecological Grief: Is it different for people who are neurodivergent?

The following is not based on current research, but is arising from trends we are seeing with some of our teen and young adult clients who are neurodivergent and who may be expressing anxiety about the many changes occurring in our world.   

Ecological grief is a relatively new term used in discussions about the environment. It describes the emotional and psychological toll that individuals experience as a result of the worsening state of the environment. While this concept affects people of all ages, its impact is particularly significant for teenagers and young adults. These groups are coming to terms with the understanding that the world they will inherit is facing increasing challenges from climate change, deforestation, and the loss of diverse plant and animal species, creating a deep sense of loss and anxiety.

Observation #1

For youth and young adults who are neurodivergent, the impact can be amplified.  Autistic individuals often display a deep sense of fairness and justice. This unwavering commitment stems from a strong reliance on logic and a keen sense of right and wrong.

As social justice issues come to the forefront, those on the autism spectrum may act as advocates, driven by a sincere desire to create a more equitable and inclusive society. However, it can also create a greater sense of urgency and much heightened anxiety and that loss and sadness associated with climate change can feel overwhelming for some.

Observation #2

Neurodivergent individuals can have sensory processing differences that make climate change even more difficult to deal with on a personal level. Some people are highly sensitive to heat or to cold, or even to the fluctuations that occur between different settings. Some are sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressures. More extreme weather events can be physically distressing for people who are neurodivergent.

Observation #3

For those who have direct experience with the disasters that have arisen from climate change, such as floods, fires, the anxiety associated with evacuation alerts and orders can be extremely dysregulating.  It disrupts closely held routines and can bring real and imagined fears to light.  The stress of those around the neurodivergent individual can also increase their anxiety to very overwhelming levels. 

"Beneath everything, grief is a sign of deep attachment and connection." -Jennifer Atkinson, Associate Professor, University of Washington.

The consequences of ecological grief on the mental health of young people are complex. The imminent threats of climate change can trigger feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness, leading to elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression. Recognizing the ecological challenges also brings about a unique form of grief, not only mourning the natural world but also grieving for the future they had envisioned. As this generation confronts the pressing environmental issues, dealing with ecological grief becomes crucial for building resilience and empowering young minds to actively participate in sustainable practices and advocate for a healthier planet.  It will be important to ensure that diverse voices have a place in that work.  It is equally important to recognize that for some, that ecological grief can be compounded by how they experience and perceive the world in general.

Tips

It is important to know that grief is not something that needs to be fixed or diminished. It is not a way of accepting loss. It is a way of processing loss. Processing climate change and loss is a complex form of grief. With absolute loss, such as someone passing away, the loss is more contained and some can recognize it as part of the life cycle, although this is not meant to minimize that losing our loved ones is painful. Climate change and loss is something that is not natural, is not contained, and it is presently ongoing and unresolved.

Tip #1

Focusing on solutions first may compound the sense of loss.

Acknowledge and validate your loved one's distress and concern. Give permission for seeing, feeling, knowing that loss.

Offering space to experience the emotions associated with that grief may later create the capacity to support change and participate in action.

Tip #2

Addressing ecological grief might take time.

Addressing the grief, sadness, anger and sense of powerless involves exploring what the impact is for that individual, while beginning to identify some ways of managing expectations and managing emotions.  Counselling can allow the person to develop some tools to deal with the distress that arises from change and perhaps build capacity to be a part of solutions. Counselling might also provide some sense of control and belonging, as in "I'm not the only person who is feeling like this". For the person who is neurodivergent, understanding more about why their experience of grief might look different from others around them can feel less isolating.

What's next?

If you are reading this, you probably already have a sense that climate change can have strong impacts on people's emotions and ability to cope. Having context for how others with dynamic ways of perceiving the world might be affected can also be good information to support loved ones. "Knowledge is Power" as they say.

If you, or someone you care about is struggling to cope, is fixating in a way that seems to be interfering with other aspects of their life, getting help from a counsellor or therapist can provide the opportunity to manage expectations and emotions while learning new tools to deal with the distress that arises.