The hidden mental health crisis: Eco-anxiety and digital burnout in 2025

You're scrolling through your phone at 11 PM, seeing another devastating climate report mixed with endless notifications, and suddenly your chest feels tight. Your mind races between worrying about the planet's future and the overwhelming digital noise that never seems to stop. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone: and you're definitely not overreacting.

We're facing two interconnected mental health crises that often go unrecognized: eco-anxiety and digital burnout. These aren't just trendy terms or temporary stress responses. They're real, widespread conditions affecting millions of people worldwide, yet they remain largely invisible in traditional mental health conversations.

Understanding Eco-Anxiety: More Than Just Environmental Concern

Eco-anxiety, also known as climate anxiety, goes far beyond caring about the environment. It's a chronic emotional response to environmental degradation and climate change that significantly impacts daily functioning. Unlike occasional worry about recycling or energy use, eco-anxiety involves persistent distress that can interfere with sleep, relationships, and overall well-being.

The numbers are staggering. In the UK, 57% of adults report that the climate crisis affects their mental health, with this figure jumping to 63% among those aged 16 to 24. Here in the United States, the American Psychiatric Association found that more than half of adults (55%) believe climate change is impacting mental health, and over 40% report personally experiencing effects on their mental health.

Even more concerning, one-third of American adults (35%) worry about climate change on a weekly basis. This isn't occasional concern: it's persistent, recurring stress that's become part of daily life for millions.

Digital Burnout: When Technology Becomes Overwhelming

While we're processing climate anxiety, we're simultaneously drowning in digital overwhelm. Digital burnout manifests as chronic exhaustion and cynicism caused by excessive technology use, constant connectivity, and information overload. It's characterized by feeling mentally drained from screen time, experiencing anxiety when disconnected, and finding it difficult to focus without digital stimulation.

The pandemic accelerated our digital dependency, and many of us never fully recovered. We're checking phones over 100 times per day, consuming news cycles that refresh every few minutes, and maintaining digital personas that require constant attention. This creates a perfect storm when combined with eco-anxiety: we're both overwhelmed by environmental doom-scrolling and unable to disconnect from the very devices feeding our anxiety.

The Hidden Nature of These Crises

Why do we call these "hidden" crises? Because they're often dismissed as generational drama, political overreaction, or simple lifestyle choices. When someone says they're anxious about climate change, they might hear "just stop watching the news." When digital burnout is mentioned, the response is often "just put your phone down."

But it's not that simple. A global meta-analysis examining over 65,000 participants found that the overall pooled mean eco-anxiety level was approximately 34.8/100, corresponding to a moderate level of eco-anxiety. This isn't mild concern: it's clinically significant distress that deserves proper attention and treatment.

Who's Most Affected?

Young people bear the heaviest burden. A landmark study in The Lancet surveying 10,000 young people aged 16 to 25 across 10 countries revealed alarming statistics:

• Nearly 60% described themselves as very or extremely worried about climate change

• Nearly 85% were at least moderately concerned

• More than 45% said these feelings adversely affected their daily functioning

• Two-thirds reported sadness related to climate change

• 67% were afraid, and only 31% felt optimistic about solutions

Perhaps most heartbreaking, approximately 20% of young people aged 16 to 24 were afraid to have children, with this number jumping to over 30% among those who had experienced severe weather events firsthand.

The digital burnout component disproportionately affects younger adults who've grown up with constant connectivity, but it's increasingly impacting older generations too as digital demands in work and daily life continue to expand.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Eco-anxiety and digital burnout often overlap and reinforce each other. Common symptoms include:

Emotional symptoms:

• Persistent worry about environmental catastrophe

• Feeling hopeless about the future

• Anxiety when disconnected from devices

• Overwhelm from constant information

• Guilt about personal environmental impact

Physical symptoms:

• Sleep disruption from late-night scrolling or climate worry

• Headaches from screen time

• Tension from news consumption

• Fatigue despite constant stimulation

Behavioral symptoms:

• Compulsive checking of climate news or environmental updates

• Difficulty focusing without digital stimulation

• Avoidance of environmental topics yet inability to stop consuming related content

• Social withdrawal or conflict over environmental issues

Practical Coping Strategies

While these challenges are real and significant, there are evidence-based ways to manage them:

For eco-anxiety:

• Set boundaries on climate-related news consumption

• Channel anxiety into meaningful action (volunteering, sustainable choices)

• Practice grounding techniques when overwhelmed by future scenarios

• Connect with others who share your concerns in constructive ways

• Focus on local, achievable environmental actions

For digital burnout:

• Implement "digital sunset" routines

• Use app time limits and notification controls

• Create phone-free zones in your home

• Practice single-tasking instead of constant multitasking

• Engage in offline activities that bring genuine joy

For both:

• Spend time in nature without devices

• Practice mindfulness and present-moment awareness

• Maintain perspective on what you can and cannot control

• Seek professional support when symptoms interfere with daily life

How Virtual Therapy Can Help

At Complexity Care Mental Health clinic, we understand that eco-anxiety and digital burnout are legitimate mental health concerns that require professional attention. These issues are complex and often intertwined with other mental health conditions like depression, generalized anxiety, or adjustment disorders.

Jacob Read, PMHNP-BC, our owner and provider, has extensive experience helping people navigate these modern mental health challenges through our virtual therapy and medication management services. Virtual therapy is particularly effective for these concerns because it allows you to:

• Access care without additional travel-related environmental stress

• Maintain your coping routines while receiving support

• Work with specialized providers who understand these emerging mental health issues

• Receive treatment in your comfortable, familiar environment

Our comprehensive services include both therapy and medication management, allowing us to address both the emotional and physiological aspects of eco-anxiety and digital burnout.

Breaking the Cycle of Silence

The first step in addressing these hidden crises is acknowledging their validity. Your climate anxiety isn't dramatic: it's a rational response to real threats. Your digital burnout isn't weakness: it's a natural result of unprecedented technological demands on the human brain.

We need to normalize conversations about these mental health challenges and recognize that seeking help isn't admitting defeat: it's taking responsible action for your well-being and future resilience.

Moving Forward with Hope and Support

While eco-anxiety and digital burnout present significant challenges, they're absolutely treatable. With proper support, coping strategies, and sometimes medication management, people can learn to manage these concerns while maintaining their values and engagement with the world.

Remember, caring deeply about the environment and feeling overwhelmed by digital demands doesn't make you fragile: it makes you human. The goal isn't to stop caring or completely disconnect, but to find sustainable ways to engage with these realities while protecting your mental health.

If you're struggling with eco-anxiety, digital burnout, or both, you don't have to navigate this alone. At Complexity Care Mental Health clinic, we're here to provide compassionate, evidence-based support that honors your concerns while helping you build resilience for the future.

These hidden mental health crises deserve attention, understanding, and proper treatment. Your mental health matters, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Ready to take the next step toward better mental health? Book your appointment now and start your journey toward managing eco-anxiety and digital burnout with professional support that truly understands these modern challenges.