{"id":8280,"date":"2023-10-21T20:22:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T13:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8280"},"modified":"2023-10-21T20:22:23","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T13:22:23","slug":"how-climate-change-affects-sex-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8280","title":{"rendered":"How Climate Change Affects Sex Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">O<\/span>n a planetary scale, it\u2019s getting hot in here\u2014and not in a fun, Nelly-inspired way. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the earth\u2019s temperature has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/climate-change-global-temperature#:~:text=According%20to%20NOAA%27s%202021%20Annual,0.18%20%C2%B0C)%20per%20decade.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/climate-change-global-temperature#:~:text=According%20to%20NOAA%27s%202021%20Annual,0.18%20%C2%B0C)%20per%20decade.\">increased twice as fast per decade<\/a> since 1981 than in the prior 100 years. Those rising temperatures, caused <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climate-indicators\/greenhouse-gases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climate-indicators\/greenhouse-gases\">primarily by human-made greenhouse gas emissions<\/a>, hit home this past summer, when <a href=\"https:\/\/climate.copernicus.eu\/summer-2023-hottest-record\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/climate.copernicus.eu\/summer-2023-hottest-record\">worldwide heatwaves shattered records<\/a>. Increasing planetary temps also disrupt weather patterns to ensure that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/stories\/are-effects-global-warming-really-bad#:~:text=Higher%20temperatures%20are%20worsening%20many,wetter%20and%20dry%20areas%20drier.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/stories\/are-effects-global-warming-really-bad#:~:text=Higher%20temperatures%20are%20worsening%20many,wetter%20and%20dry%20areas%20drier.\">all types of natural disasters<\/a>\u2014like heat waves, floods, and droughts \u2014 will become more prevalent.<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<hr\/>\n<div class=\"experts-in-article noskim py-[24px] px-[40px]\">\n<p>Experts In This Article<\/p>\n<ul class=\"!ml-[18px]\">\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ioes.ucla.edu\/person\/alan-barreca\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ioes.ucla.edu\/person\/alan-barreca\/\">Alan Barreca, PhD<\/a>, associate professor, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.torontowellnesscounselling.com\/about-amy\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.torontowellnesscounselling.com\/about-amy\">Amy Deacon, MSW, RSW<\/a>, CEO and founder, Toronto Wellness Counselling <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<p>The climate crisis already impacts an estimated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41558-021-01168-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41558-021-01168-6\">85 percent of the world\u2019s population<\/a>, and will shape every aspect of our lives. You\u2019re likely familiar with some of those changes, like the aforementioned extreme weather events, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/climate-change-food-prices-inflation-3-percent-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/climate-change-food-prices-inflation-3-percent-study\/\">soaring prices of food<\/a> due to droughts and shortages. But there\u2019s one aspect of your everyday existence that is secretly a victim to the climate crisis, too: your sex life.<\/p>\n<p>At first glance, focusing on sex may seem trivial, considering the other critical issues created or exacerbated by the climate crisis. But for most people, sex is a key aspect of our health. Not only does sex <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sex-good-for-you-without-orgasm\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sex-good-for-you-without-orgasm\/\">support your emotional health<\/a>, but it\u2019s also been linked to improved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohsu.edu\/womens-health\/benefits-healthy-sex-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ohsu.edu\/womens-health\/benefits-healthy-sex-life\">sleep, cardiovascular health, immunity, stress, blood pressure<\/a>, and more. And anything threatening our ability to have or enjoy sex is worth taking seriously.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/climate-change-affects-sex-lives\/\" current-title=\"Turns Out the Climate Crisis Is Disrupting Our Sex Lives, Too\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WG_Editorial_Climate-change-x-Sex-lives-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-04-21\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/climate-change-affects-sex-lives\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/climate-change-affects-sex-lives\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/climate-change-affects-sex-lives\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As the planet continues to propel towards an unsustainable future\u2014whether that&#8217;s the physical heat, the air pollution from wildfires, or anxiety about climate change\u2014experts say that climate change affects our sex lives, too. And if our libido is at risk, so is our overall well-being.<\/p>\n<h2>Why hotter isn&#8217;t always better for your sex life<\/h2>\n<p>As mentioned, the world is getting hotter, which directly translates to hotter days and nights. Some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-clocks-july-2023-as-hottest-month-on-record-ever-since-1880\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-clocks-july-2023-as-hottest-month-on-record-ever-since-1880\/\">hottest days recorded in history<\/a> have occurred this year, with Arizona hospitals <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2023\/jul\/21\/burns-cases-excessive-heat-arizona-nevada\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2023\/jul\/21\/burns-cases-excessive-heat-arizona-nevada\">filled with people burnt from asphalt sidewalks<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldweatherattribution.org\/extreme-heat-in-north-america-europe-and-china-in-july-2023-made-much-more-likely-by-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.worldweatherattribution.org\/extreme-heat-in-north-america-europe-and-china-in-july-2023-made-much-more-likely-by-climate-change\/\">thousands of people dying worldwide<\/a> from extreme heat exposure. City dwellers are particularly impacted by heat thanks to the &#8220;urban heat island effect,&#8221; a phenomenon that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/green-infrastructure\/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/green-infrastructure\/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect\">occurs when green space is replaced with roads and buildings<\/a>\u2014trapping and absorbing heat to increase temperatures even further in those areas.<\/p>\n<p>There is some interesting evidence that extremely warm temperatures (like what we\u2019re experiencing with climate change) can negatively impact one\u2019s sex life. A 2015 study published in the journal <em>Demography<\/em> explored how seasonal \u201ctemperature shocks&#8221; impacted annual birth rates in the U.S. between 1931 and 2010. The researchers found that years with extra days above 80 degrees Fahrenheit were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w21681\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w21681\">associated with a decline in birth rates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy research showed that hot weather leads to fewer births 9 to 10 months later,\u201d says lead author <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ioes.ucla.edu\/person\/alan-barreca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ioes.ucla.edu\/person\/alan-barreca\/\">Alan Berecca, PhD<\/a>, a professor at the Institute of the Environment &amp; Sustainability at UCLA. He and his fellow study authors also suggest that with global temperatures rising due to the climate crisis, the world\u2019s population may be reduced in the coming century.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We need to remember that our emotional state greatly impacts our ability to feel sexual arousal and desire.&#8221; \u2014Amy Deacon, MSW<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>To be sure, birth rates aren\u2019t a perfect metric for understanding sexual patterns and habits. People get busy for many more reasons than procreation, and contraception exists. But considering that the majority of pregnancies happen from, well, sex, surges and dips in birth rates can be an interesting indicator of how much sex people (at least, heterosexual people) are having. And Dr. Berecca\u2019s study seems to suggest that fewer people are getting busy when it\u2019s very hot.<\/p>\n<p>However, the reasons why aren\u2019t entirely clear\u2014research isn\u2019t robust in this area\u2014but there are certainly a few potential possibilities. Typically warmer months tend to correspond to <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12843149\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12843149\/\">lower testosterone levels in men<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3494403\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3494403\/\">women<\/a> (even those on hormonal birth control). Testosterone plays a key role in our libido; with less testosterone, you might be less likely to be in the mood. (But again, we don\u2019t know <em>why <\/em>warmer weather results in less testosterone.)<\/p>\n<p>Warmer weather can also have some direct impacts on reproductive health, adding to our woes in the bedroom. Research shows, for example, that fall and summer, where temperatures are typically warmer on average, is <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2003.tb02666\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2003.tb02666\">associated with lower sperm concentration and more sperm defects<\/a> compared to sperm collected in the winter months. (Defective sperm can lead to fertility issues and make it harder to conceive.)<\/p>\n<p>Heat also has indirect effects on our sex lives. &#8220;There\u2019s research showing that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/effect-climate-change-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/effect-climate-change-sleep\/\">hot weather causes sleep problems<\/a>, which is bad for people\u2019s health and, in turn, their reproductive health,&#8221; says Dr. Beracca. A 2022 study in the journal <em>One Earth<\/em> found that people worldwide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2590332222002093#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2590332222002093#\">lose 44 hours of sleep per year<\/a> due to hotter weather. And not getting enough sleep is associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/physical-health\/sex-sleep#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/physical-health\/sex-sleep#\">reduced desire and arousal in women<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you do somehow feel in the mood, having sex in swampy temperatures is no joke. In the 2018 heat wave in Columbia, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2018\/08\/17\/639473686\/colombia-health-official-gives-tips-to-get-through-a-heat-wave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2018\/08\/17\/639473686\/colombia-health-official-gives-tips-to-get-through-a-heat-wave\">health secretary of Santa Mara<\/a> actually advised residents to refrain from sex due to overheating and dehydration.<\/p>\n<h2>The potential impact of air quality on sexual health<\/h2>\n<p>Excessive heat is not the only byproduct of the climate crisis. Changing weather patterns fueled by global warming creates the perfect environment for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/noaa-wildfire\/wildfire-climate-connection#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20changes%20in,fuels%20during%20the%20fire%20season.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/noaa-wildfire\/wildfire-climate-connection#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20changes%20in,fuels%20during%20the%20fire%20season.\">more active (and intense) wildfires<\/a>. Take the fires in the summer of 2023 that devastated Greece, Canada, and Hawai&#8217;i\u2014and contributed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/air-purifier-sale\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/air-purifier-sale\/\">poor air quality<\/a> that impacts the heart, brain, and lungs. Even short-term particle pollution from wildfires can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/wildfire-smoke-course\/health-effects-attributed-wildfire-smoke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/wildfire-smoke-course\/health-effects-attributed-wildfire-smoke\">according to the EPA<\/a>. There are mental health impacts, too: A 2022 study published in <em>Environmental Health<\/em> found that long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and black carbon (which are found in wildfire smoke as well as fossil fuel emissions) <a href=\"https:\/\/ehjournal.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12940-022-00839-x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/ehjournal.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12940-022-00839-x\">contributed to anxiety and depressive disorders<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, there are potential consequences to your sexual well-being, too. Air pollution from wildfires, fossil fuel emissions, and other sources have been associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2022.1037098\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2022.1037098\/full\">abnormal testosterone levels in men<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36583940\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36583940\/\">estrogen levels in women<\/a>. This may have big implications for reproductive health\u2014since testosterone and estrogen play key roles with libido and fertility\u2014although exactly <em>what<\/em> needs to be studied further. There\u2019s also some evidence that air pollutant exposure is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5316194\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5316194\/\">associated with erectile dysfunction in older men<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are lots of indirect effects from being constantly exposed to air pollution, too. For example, decades of research has shown that air pollution not only exacerbates existing asthma cases, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7503605\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7503605\/\">may trigger new cases of it as well<\/a>. And studies suggest that there is a link between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6424302\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6424302\/\">severe asthma and a loss of sexual desire<\/a>. One small 2007 study in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that women with asthma were <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18204179\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18204179\/\">more likely to have issues with arousal, lubrication, and orgasm<\/a> compared to women without it.<\/p>\n<h2>Climate anxiety can hamper sexual desire and pleasure, too<\/h2>\n<p>The climate crisis is an existential threat to life on Earth, and coping with that threat (or thinking about it at all) can have a huge impact on your mental health. A 2021 study published in <em>Lancet Planet Health<\/em> found that <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34895496\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34895496\/\">50 percent of people<\/a> had feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, and guilt regarding climate change. These feelings are so prevalent that they have a name. &#8220;Eco-grief,&#8221; also known as &#8220;eco-anxiety\u201d or \u201cclimate anxiety,\u201d is defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as \u201ca chronic fear of environmental doom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Environmental grief, like other forms of grief, can render a person feeling helpless and hopeless,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.torontowellnesscounselling.com\/about-amy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.torontowellnesscounselling.com\/about-amy\">Amy Deacon, MSW, RSW<\/a>, a registered social worker, psychotherapist, and founder of Toronto Wellness Counselling. \u201cIt is easy to feel overwhelmed with uncertainty, not knowing what the future and the health of our climate will look like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Deacon says that this type of stress, depression, and grief can present itself in many ways. For some, they may become angry, while others can see an issue in the bedroom. Depression is linked to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5900810\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5900810\/\">low arousal and sex drive<\/a>, especially in women. In fact, one study found that women with depression (whether it was considered mild, moderate, or severe) were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6970310\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6970310\/#\">significantly more likely to experience sexual dysfunction<\/a> than women who did not have any kind of depression.<\/p>\n<p>Deacon says that climate anxiety, like other types of anxiety, can also cause heart palpitations, shortness of breath, muscle tension, insomnia, and panic. These physical and mental disruptions all have a link to <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23356511\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23356511\/\">lowered libido and sexual dysfunction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We need to remember that our emotional state greatly impacts our ability to feel sexual arousal and desire. Therefore, when we are mentally or emotionally stressed, it\u2019s very common that our desire for sex and intimacy will decline,&#8221; says Deacon.<\/p>\n<h2>Is it possible to address how climate change affects our sex lives?<\/h2>\n<p>Just because the climate crisis is trying to ruin our sex lives (along with everything else) doesn\u2019t mean we just have to accept it. There are certainly things in your direct control to protect your health and well-being on a changing planet. For example, having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/best-air-purifiers\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/best-air-purifiers\/\">air purifiers in your home<\/a> can help clean up your air indoors, while fans, air conditioning and lightweight clothing can help make hot-weather sex more enjoyable.<\/p>\n<p>For the emotional aspect of climate change, Deacon suggests cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for those struggling with eco-anxiety. This is a form of talk therapy that has people manage <a href=\"https:\/\/focus.psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/10.1176\/appi.focus.20200045\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/focus.psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/10.1176\/appi.focus.20200045\">anxiety<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7001356\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7001356\/\">depression<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/ptsd-guideline\/patients-and-families\/cognitive-behavioral\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/ptsd-guideline\/patients-and-families\/cognitive-behavioral\">addressing problematic thoughts and behavior patterns<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a good idea to be mindful of how much news you consume (enough with the doom scrolling already!) and nurturing yourself by exercising and eating a nutritious diet. Deacon also recommends that people &#8220;practice gratitude, and create moments of stillness, whether through meditation, mindfulness or prayer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t underestimate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/community-activism-climate-anxiety\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/community-activism-climate-anxiety\/\">power of activism<\/a>, either, for mitigating eco-anxiety. Research shows that participating in collective action to combat climate change (rather than just individual-focused stuff) <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s12144-022-02735-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s12144-022-02735-6\">significantly reduced symptoms of depression<\/a> in people with climate anxiety. Not only does working with others help you feel more connected and validated, but you\u2019re also working to address the many systemic issues that contribute to the climate crisis. Talk about a win-win.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the climate crisis is very real, and we\u2019re already living with the consequences. But Deacon says we are a &#8220;resilient species,&#8221; and protecting our humanity\u2014and our sexuality\u2014is possible.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On a planetary scale, it\u2019s getting hot in here\u2014and not in a fun, Nelly-inspired way. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the earth\u2019s temperature has increased twice as fast per decade since 1981 than in the prior 100 years. Those rising temperatures, caused primarily by human-made greenhouse gas emissions, hit home this &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}