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Consequences of natural disaster - If you or someone you know has been affected by a natural disaster, you may be familiar with the deep sadness that can develop during the aftermath.

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Complete destruction - Indeed, when homes and communities are destroyed by a flood or a fire, people have to rebuild their lives, while at the same time coming to terms with what they’ve lost.

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Introducing solastalgia - The depression people often slip into during this period has a technical name: solastalgia. It overlaps with nostalgia, but it’s not quite the same.

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Coining the term -

The term was first coined by environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht in the early 2000s to describe the unique mental suffering caused by experiencing negative environmental change.

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What it covers - It is not only victims of natural disasters who develop solastalgia. The term can also be used to describe the chronic trauma of witnessing your home being threatened by climate change.

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Overlap with other conditions - There are various symptoms of solastalgia, many of which are also associated with other mental health conditions.

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Signs and symptoms -

Common signs and symptoms of this condition include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, fatigue, grief, feelings of helplessness, and loss of identity.

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Individual experience -

It is important to remember that this condition often presents itself differently in different people, not least because it can arise from a variety of different circumstances.

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Severity and longevity -

The severity and longevity of symptoms may vary from person to person, too. Some people experience very debilitating symptoms over a long period, while others have milder symptoms that come and go.

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Solastalgia vs. nostalgia - Note, however, that the symptoms of solastalgia are not alleviated quickly like nostalgia. There is no quick fix for solastalgia, since the home the person longs for no longer exists.

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Diagnosing solastalgia -

If your doctor thinks you may be suffering from solastalgia, they will evaluate your symptoms and medical history alongside your specific environmental situation.

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The full picture -

They will take into account any preexisting and comorbid (i.e. the simultaneous presence of two or more medical issues) conditions, such as anxiety disorders and depression, in order to reach the right diagnosis.

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Links with PTSD - Your medical health professional will also be on the lookout for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a distinct but related mental health condition.

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What is PTSD? -

PTSD is caused by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events of all kinds, including, but not limited to, war, sexual violence, and acts of terrorism.

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Hand in hand -

An experienced mental health professional is able to ascertain whether a person may be suffering from either solastalgia or PTSD, or both.

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Who is at risk? - Since we all live on a planet that is undergoing significant environmental changes, everyone is susceptible to this condition to some extent.

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High-risk groups -

However, people living in areas that are particularly prone to natural disaster, or that are under threat of a traumatic event, may be more likely to develop solastalgia. 

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Example - For example, there is likely to be a huge earthquake in the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years. Worrying about this impending disaster may trigger solastalgia in some people.

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Marginalized communities -

Moreover, research suggests that concerns about climate change tend to disproportionately affect people in marginalized communities.

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Double burden -

People living in underserved communities may be at greater risk of developing solastalgia, as well as not being treated properly if it does occur.

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Treatment -

Many people live with this mental health condition and do not ever seek treatment. There are effective ways to treat it though, for people who decide to seek help.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy -

On the one hand there is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a talking therapy based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and actions are all interconnected.

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Preferred treatment -

CBT has been proven effective in treating anxiety and depression, and it is the first-choice treatment for people suffering from solastalgia.

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Medication - Medical professionals may also prescribe medications to help solastalgia patients deal with their symptoms. Typically, medications are used in conjunction with talk therapy.

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Taking back control -

One of the biggest challenges with solastalgia is that its cause is outside of our personal control. In treatment, solastalgia sufferers work on taking back their sense of control.

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Ways to help yourself -

If you think you may be suffering from solastalgia and are looking for ways to alleviate your symptoms, remember that it is important to validate your feelings of loss.

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Validate your feelings -

Talk about your loss and seek help wherever needed. Accepting that environmental changes can have a big impact on our mental health is an important first step.

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Make plans for the future -

It is also helpful to make plans for the future, and some people find that transforming their home is a good way to do this.

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Transform your home -

The ultimate aim is to transform your home back into a place of comfort, whether that be by moving to a new place altogether or simply redecorating your bedroom.

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In conclusion -

Dealing with solastalgia can be tricky, particularly for people highly susceptible to the symptoms. With the right treatment, however, you can start to feel better. 

Sources: (Verywell Mind) (Climate Psychiatry Alliance)

See also: How rising temperatures could worsen mental health

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