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Eco-Anxiety is on the rise and for valid reasons.

Not long after the devastating fires on Maui, our province of British Columbia has now declared a provincial state of emergency due to the record number of wildfires burning and the thousands of people having to evacuate.  Other provinces and territories in Canada are also experiencing record amounts of wildfires and devastation.

The trauma and devastation that these people are experiencing is beyond overwhelming.  When I checked in with a dear friend who lives on Maui, she wrote the following message which she has given me permission to share:

“The past days have been emotional, exhausting and surreal.  It is apocalyptic! Dead bodies on the streets, civilians pulling dead bodies out of the ocean, families melted in their cars trying to escape but the cars exploded.  Firefighters fighting relentlessly.  Helping, loading and unloading mass amounts of donations from my truck and moving it all to different locations however we can. Listening to terrifying survival stories, hugging strangers, friends and children who have lost it all, as they cry in your arms.  It’s hard to put it all into words what has just happened to the Island of Maui.  I am speechless. The past days our island has been taking care of what needs to be done. We are all one working together! Maui strong!  Hug and love those around you.”

(Donation links for direct donations to Maui and Kelowna listed below.)

My friend’s words give a sense of the trauma which is now happening in our province too.  If we can feel this much angst, how are our kids and teens feeling?

How to Talk to Our Kids and Teens about the Wildfires?

Before beginning a conversation, take some deep breaths in a private area so your kids don’t see you doing this.  Notice when you  feel grounded so that you feel ready to talk to them calmly.

Step One:  Inquire as to what your child or teen has heard or learned about the wildfires so you can assess if they have accurate information, how much they are processing and how they are coping.  Give them the space to talk without interjecting.  Have them lead the conversation. Ask them what their friends are saying.

Step Two: Validate their feelings.

Step Three:  Talk about the facts and brainstorm ways to help.  When we find ways to help, it rekindles a sense of hope.  (Making a donation helps lessen the feelings of hopelessness.)

Name the helpers and think of ways to show appreciation to our helpers.  Any direct action we can take, helps with the anxiety.

Brainstorm a list of ways to help take care of our planet.  For example, plant some bee-loving plants, become more minimalist, look up proactive websites for taking action against climate change.

Monitor Yourself and Your Environment

When we live in a family, we live in a family system.  We all pick up on one another’s energy.  Be aware of your energy and what you are saying about the wildfires.

Limit and monitor the media exposure and for younger children, do what you can for them to have no exposure to the news.

For highly sensitive kids and teens, the images, the stories, the numbers are all going to stay with them.  It’s hard for them to let things go.  They feel things quicker, longer and stronger.

The Connection between Covid and the Wildfires

Covid created a lot of anxiety for many kids and teens as they came to the realization that their environment is not always safe.

Now we are receiving warnings to limit outside activity. When outside, it’s recommended to wear an N95 mask due to the poor air quality.  Those with asthma and other respiratory conditions are particularly at risk.  Windows need to be kept closed.

For some, this may feel similar to the lockdown during Covid and may reactivate anxiety in the nervous system.

As parents, it’s really important to be aware that your child may not have consciously made the connection between their Covid angst and the wildfire precautions, but unconsciously their nervous system may be getting activated.

The severe air pollution is a serious health condition so we need to remain calm and proactive in order that our kids and teens see that we are managing the situation as best as we can and in a calm manner.

(Firesmoke.ca gives up-to-date information and alerts. For example, one can zoom in on your location and it will show the colour of the predicated air pollution in current time as well as the predicted air pollution levels for the upcoming hours and days.

iPhones also have a weather app which will indicate if there is a severe air quality warning.)

Reduce anxiety by spending time together as a family watching a movie or playing cards/board games.

Connect with your kids and teens so they feel your presence but without ongoing conversation about the air quality or the wildfires.

Structure and routines are especially important for the younger ones and if they haven’t heard about the wildfires then don’t bring it up.  (Any information shared should always be age-appropriate.)

Be aware of your own grief.  When we see our environment changing so rapidly, and families fleeing for their lives and trying to survive, it can feel very sad and depressing.  It’s important to feel our feelings, but again it’s important to try to not have our own grief and/or anxiety spill over onto our kids.

If you would like to make a donation, these are the resources that have been recommended to me by the friends living on Maui and in Kelowna, and of course you can research your own.

Kelowna: https://www.mamasformamas.org/kelowna/

Maui: linktr.ee/kanoepach (direct aid for Lahaina residents)

Hawaii Community Foundation – Maui Strong

https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-to-lahaina-families-affected-by-the-wildfire

Warmly,

 

 

 

Registration is now open for my September/October in-person and online anxiety management groups for children ages 7-9 yrs. and 10-12yrs.  You can find out more and register here.

Photo credit: Unsplash