Thursday, July 27, 2023

Climate change is changing how we dream

Plus more health news |

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
  
Climate change is changing how we dream
By Kyla Mandel
Senior Editor

I remember once dreaming about being on a metal ship in a stormy Antarctic. It was a scientific expedition looking at the glaciers. When I woke up, I had no doubt it was about climate change. How many others had had similar dreams, I wondered? To answer this question, TIME commissioned a survey with The Harris Poll. The results reveal that more than a third of people in the U.S. have dreamed about climate change at least once in their lives.

According to the data, stress and fear were among the most common emotions in people's climate dreams, and natural disasters or extreme weather were the most common imagery. There's also a generational split: The majority (57%) of Gen Z and Millennials have dreamed about climate change, compared to 35% of Gen Xers, and just 14% of Boomers. Intriguingly, though, more than anyone else, Millennials had positive, hopeful dreams.

Studying dreams can help us understand how the world affects us emotionally. This is particularly true for things outside of an individual’s control. Part of navigating the climate crisis through dreams, says Martha Crawford, a licensed clinical social worker, is being “able to come to terms with the aspects of living, the world, and our habitable environment that we do not have control over.” Understanding our dreams can also help us find a deeper connection to others or nature, and motivate us to protect the world around us.

READ MORE

Share This Story
What Else to Read
9 Ways to Squeeze in More Steps Every Day
By Angela Haupt
Stop texting the people you live with, and get (or borrow) a dog.
Read More »
Can Cannabis Help Your Gut?
By Stacey Colino
It's not a panacea for gastrointestinal disorders, but it eases some patients' symptoms. (Originally published in 2021.)
Read More »
Your Personality Could Add Years of Healthy Living
By Matt Fuchs
Recent research shows that several personality traits predict who will enjoy health into their 80s and beyond. (Originally published in 2021.)
Read More »
The Truth About Fasting and Type 2 Diabetes
By Markham Heid
With expert oversight, the eating plan can be safe for some, but there are risks to keep in mind.
Read More »
Love Languages Actually Do Improve Your Relationship
By Angela Haupt
Research links relationship satisfaction to whether partners use each other's preferred love language.
Read More »
ONE MORE READ FROM ELSEWHERE
Why your brain needs reminders

If you've ever created a to-do list or used an online calendar, you've engaged in cognitive offloading, a simple practice we all use to supplement our memory.

But while there are clear benefits to the practice, as Richard Sima explains in the Washington Post, there may be some hidden downsides as well.

Read More »

If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, click here.

Today's newsletter was written by Kyla Mandel and Oliver Staley, and edited by Angela Haupt.

 
 
 
 
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment