Understanding Maternal Ecodistress: A Pathway to Resilience and Ecological Awareness

The journey into motherhood reshapes how we perceive the world around us. As we care for our children, an acute awareness of environmental challenges often awakens within us—a phenomenon that Dr. Aurelie Athan and I have called maternal ecodistress. Rooted in the growing recognition of ecological instability, maternal ecodistress represents both a deeply personal concern and an ethical shift, prompting mothers to reflect on the world they are nurturing for their children.

This concept of maternal ecodistress reflects an emotional and cognitive response not just to individual anxieties but to the shared, existential challenges of climate change. My 2023 study with Dr. Aurélie Athan’s KHORA Lab at Teacher’s College explores this phenomenon through the lens of maternal ecopsychology, examining how motherhood catalyzes a transition from an individualistic worldview to one that embraces interconnectedness and ecological responsibility.

Maternal ecopsychology reframes ecodistress not as a pathology, but as a developmentally appropriate response during matrescence—the transition into motherhood. Like adolescence, matrescence entails a reorientation of identity. For many mothers, this involves confronting climate anxiety or ecological grief, especially as they recognize the fragility of the world their children will inherit. Our research suggests that, rather than labeling ecodistress as “disordered,” it can be viewed as part of a mother’s natural movement toward ecoconsciousness, a perspective that embraces interconnectedness with all living beings  .

In The Mother Tree Method®, we create a supportive space where ecodistress is understood and transformed. We encourage mothers to explore simple grounding practices, from connecting with nature to mindfulness, allowing these practices to serve as pathways back to resilience. Through these connections, ecodistress can become a powerful force for ecological stewardship, nurturing mothers’ capacity to embody sustainable values and to teach their children by example.

Maternal ecopsychology also reveals how this ecodistress can lead to posttraumatic growth.

Supported by community and ecotherapeutic practices, mothers can transform initial feelings of fear or grief into actions that resonate with their ecological values. Eco-emotions cover a full spectrum, from comforting to challenging, and by engaging with the difficult emotions, mothers open pathways to resilience and deeper connection. Whether through small shifts in daily life or broader commitments, this process nurtures both inner growth and ecological stewardship.

As we walk this path together, I invite you to explore how ecodistress can become a catalyst for purpose, for rooted connection, and for ecological consciousness. In The Mother Tree Method® mentoring, we honor these journeys, creating space for shared exploration and mutual support. Join our community to explore these emotions and foster a renewed relationship with the Earth. Together, we can transform our worries into a commitment to nurturing both our families and the Earth.