EH

1. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
   I'm starting my 11th year working on climate change, including the last 4 in daily journalism. Today I went to see a counselor about it. 1/15

 

 

 

 

1. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

   I'm saying this b/c I know many ppl feel deep despair about climate, especially post-election. I struggle every day. You are not alone.    

    
2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

   There are days where I literally can't work. I'll read a story & shut down for rest of the day. Not much helps besides exercise & time. 3/
3. 890 likes
    
4.      Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

             

    

     
5. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

   The counselor said: "Do what you can", which I think is simple & powerful advice. I'm going to start working a lot more on mindfulness. 4/

   28 replies 154 retweets 913 likes

    
7. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

   Despair is natural when there's objective evidence of a shared existential problem we're not addressing adequately. You feel alone. 5/

   9 replies 263 retweets 947 likes

    
9. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

   You feel powerless. You feel like nothing matters. Your relationships suffer. You feel guilty for "not doing more" 6/

   11 replies 137 retweets 684 likes
10.  
11. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

    But what the hell am I supposed to do? Write another blog post? Our secretary of state is the fucking Exxon CEO. 7/
14. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
15. Last year we lost a huge chunk of the Great Barrier Reef. We are literally ending existence of animals that were here for millions of yrs 8/
16. 5 replies 284 retweets 849 likes

2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
3. We don't deserve this planet. There are (many) days when I think it would be better off without us. 9/
4. 59 replies 253 retweets 1,040 likes

2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
3. How am I supposed to do my job—literally to chronicle planetary suicide—w/o experiencing deep existential despair myself? Impossible 10/
4. 32 replies 246 retweets 909 likes

 

2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
3. To me, our emotional/psychological response is *the* story on climate change. It defines how (and if) we will solve the problem. 11/
4. 8 replies 185 retweets 668 likes

 

2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
3. The number one comment I get is "we're fucked". That's not totally true. In order to "save the planet" we have to confront this despair. 12/
4. 25 replies 172 retweets 655 likes

 

2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago
3. Climate despair, on its own, isn't bad. It's a sign you care. It's just hard to function when you feel weight of the world crashing down.13/
4. 7 replies 173 retweets 665 likes

2. Eric Holthaus ‏@EricHolthaus 6h6 hours ago

   The more I talk about my despair, the more I realize other ppl feel same thing. That makes me hopeful—we are more powerful than we think.14/

I don't have an answer for where to go from here. That's why I'm in counseling. But part of the answer is: don't be afraid to talk. 15