Solastalgia

Solastalgia describes the deep sadness and heart-ache when your home environment changes in detrimental ways. Australian philosopher, Glenn Albrecht, came up with this term in 2003. It combines "solacium," a Latin word for comfort, with "-algia," a Greek suffix meaning pain. This word captures the pain people feel when they lose comfort in familiar surroundings. Unlike nostalgia, which is about missing a place far away, solastalgia is the sorrow felt when your nearby environment changes or gets worse.

This concept has become more important because of bigger environmental issues like climate change and deforestation. People who see their beloved places change—whether through the loss of plants and animals, industrial activities, or natural disasters—often feel powerless, sad, and out of place. For example, many Minnesota's bodies of water are experiencing a range of environmental changes influenced by climate change: algal blooms, fueled by nutrient runoff from agricultural activities and exacerbated by warming temperatures. This has led to "dead zones" devoid of oxygen needed for aquatic life. Many residents who have long depended on these bodies of water confront a negatively transformed environment. Notably, Native American communities in Minnesota have a profound spiritual and cultural connection to the land, and the degradation of ancestral lands due to resource extraction, pollution, and climate change represents a deep loss of their home environment and cultural identity.

The psychological effects of solastalgia have not been given enough attention and can be serious. People may experience anxiety, depression, and a drop in overall happiness. Changes in the environment can make someone feel like they're losing a part of their identity, especially if their personal or cultural history is tied to the land.  

Understanding solastalgia can also lead to resilience and hope. Developing mindful self-compassion for these experiences is the first step to healing. Community discussions about environmental changes can help everyone understand and support each other. Getting involved in efforts to conserve or restore the local environment can empower people, turning feelings of helplessness into action.

Dr. Kodet supports clients with a supportive presence to process these painful emotions and also with therapeutic activities that reconnect people with nature such as Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapy. The result can reduce overwhelming levels of stress and develop deep purpose and a more centered ecological identity.

​Are you interested in connecting? We offer a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about working together.

reach out

Services I am unable to provide:
-  custody evaluations
-  visitation recommendations
-  disability evaluations
-  letters for Emotional Support Animals (ESA)