It’s hard not to feel a sense of anxiety about the climate crisis. Flooding, torrential rain, extreme and unseasonal hot and cold temperatures, worries about pollution and loss of biodiversity…these are just some of the challenges we face.
A survey across 10 countries, led by Bath University in 2021, found that almost 60% of 10,000 young people aged 16 to 25 felt very or extremely worried about climate change. Almost half of respondents reported that feelings about environmental issues affected their daily lives and, alarmingly, over half said that they thought humanity is doomed.
We asked hypnotherapist and psychotherapist Casey Forster, founder of Global Mind Healing, for her advice.
“Good thought processes are so important. Accepting what is in your control is a must,” Casey explains. “Next, we need to take responsibility for our own wellbeing – although we are faced with many issues every day, it is a fact that we are the only ones who can ruin our day”.
Casey, who turned to hypnotherapy when she experienced a traumatic event aged 17, helps people online and in person to “ground themselves” when the world seems to be spinning out of control. Recognising the power of your inner monologue is central to her work.
“Your inner voice must be the kindest voice you hear, we work together to make it your best friend,” she says. Still feeling that you are not doing enough to help the planet, the environment, animals?
”Stop!” Casy says, “that army commander is a bully in your head, causing you stress, all of those negative chemicals will charge around and negatively affect your energy flow and your physical and mental health.”
“I don’t go deep into negative emotions and memories with my clients. Instead I focus on asking clients ‘How do you want to feel? How much pressure are you putting on yourself?’ Then we can refocus the unnecessary guilt, stress and emotions to a more positive outcome”.
Casey’s go-to place when she is feeling the strain is a Mai Thai boxing class followed with a hot salt bath and, on her speakers, a sound bath tape which leads to a deeply meditative time out. Here’s to more of that.
Contact Casey Forster at www.globalmindhealing.com
Photo of rain on leaves by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
