New York therapists see surge in eco-anxiety as smoke fills skies: ‘Every client addresses it’

Canada wildfires drive home catastrophe among patients grappling with fears of a new normal'

As Kim Saira scrolled through TikToks showing a curtain of yellow smoke descending over New York, she felt a panic attack coming on. Though she lives an entire coast away from the crisis, Saira began to fear for her parents, who are essential workers in Queens.

I had to completely turn off my phone, because I was getting so anxious," said Saira, a Los Angeles-based healing coach. My chest hurt, I felt like I couldn't sit still, and I started pacing around. I couldn't do any work."