Sense of Place, Solastalgia, Eco-Anxiety and You

When I was growing up in Northern New York, getting out and immersing yourself into nature was fairly common. With that being said, one place in particular comes to mind when I think of my sense of place. It was this small creek that was tucked away into the woods in a town called Parishville. It was truly a phenomenal place, it was like stepping out of New York and entering a rainforest in the Pacific northwest. The creek itself was riddled with waterfalls and moss covered rocks. I regularly hiked back to this creek to fish for brook trout as a kid. It was a great way to just disconnect from the rest of the world and feel at peace.

Solastalgia is a term used to describe the pain experiences when there is recognition that the place where one resides and that one loves is under immediate assault. I currently experience Solastalgia when thinking about this magical place that I once cherished. The last time I had hiked back into this area, I was surprised to find that moonshiners had set up camp on the creek. It was now littered with PVC piping and trash left behind from those who had other intentions for this area. When you see an area that you once loved be negatively impacted in this manor, it truly does give you a sense of uneasiness.

Solastalga has not altered my mental health in any way, but it did make me uncomfortable for a short time. I think it is imperative that those who are experiencing mental health issues should address them as they arise. As our climate and our world begins to change, Solastalgia is going to become more common place. This may have lasting mental impacts for some. The best thing that most can do is to just be kind to one another.

Thanks for reading!