The Connection Between Nature and Mental Health
How many times have you seen on social media (or been the person to post) about how the top of a mountain was their “happy place.”
Science says they aren’t just vying for likes—nature does make people happier. The great outdoors is great for our mental health, but to what extent?
How Connecting With Nature Affects Mood and Mental Health
We know that being outside among nature can help us in a few different ways. From simply being a change in scenery to affecting our brain and body chemistry, nature is a powerful tool for our wellbeing. Across many scientific studies, people report general improvements in their mental health after spending time in nature. and there are some specific, proven benefits.
Nature Lowers Stress
Sometimes stepping away for a second is enough for a person to take a breath and calm down. The benefits of nature on mental health can go even further.
One study in Japan found that spending time in a forest reduces stress on a physiological level—subjects who spent time in a forest had lower cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and a less active parasympathetic nervous system than their counterparts in urban environments.
Nature Helps Us Focus
Especially for those working desk jobs, inattention and lack of concentration can be problematic. Exposure to nature can improve our cognitive abilities, including attention, concentration, and memory.
Nature also offers a nice reprieve from a grueling work day. A short break outdoors can help clear your mind and reset for the rest of the day.
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Nature Helps Us Be Kinder
While better moods do tend to make us more approachable and affable, some studies say that nature’s effect on how we interact with others may happen independent of our moods.
Several studies showed that children were more generous and kind after spending time in nature compared to those who just spent time in a museum.
Why Does Nature Improve Mental Health?
So why does nature have all of these mental health benefits? The answer is that it’s not always clear. While it’s been proven that nature makes us feel better, we haven’t reached a consensus as to exactly why. However, there are a few solid ideas.
Sunshine Helps in Several Ways
It’s true, sunshine encourages our body to produce vitamin D. While vitamin D doesn’t directly improve anxiety and depression symptoms, it plays a part in serotonin synthesis. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that’s often called the “happiness hormone.” Low serotonin levels are often causes of anxiety and depression.
Natural light is also extremely important for our body’s internal clocks. Our sleep-wake schedule, even in this day and age, largely depends on being exposed to light and dark. If you find yourself stuck inside quite a bit, a foray into some sunlight can help you regulate your sleep schedule.
Exercise is Good for Mental Health
Have you ever heard of a runner’s high? During extended moderate to strenuous workouts, our brains sometimes release a flood of chemicals that cause euphoric feelings.
The good news is that even light workouts, like a walk through a park, can also cause the release of these feel-good hormones, even if not to the extent of a runner's high. These light workouts are simple enough to do outside. Stroll around the block, or ride your bike when running small errands.
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We Don’t Have All the Answers
While sunshine and exercise explain a lot of why nature is good for mental health, they don’t paint the entire picture. The simple answer is that we’re still learning. Some postulate that because humans evolved outside, we feel more comfortable outdoors. Others say that we’re inspired by the beauty of nature, which improves our mood.
Until we can answer every “why,” we can be satisfied to know just that nature makes us happy.
Any Kind of Nature is Good For You
Not only does exposure and connection to nature improve our wellbeing, we don’t have to backpack through rugged mountain terrain in order to reap the benefits.
Yes, grand landscapes are wonderful. However, even small doses of nature and greenery can improve mental health. Certain amounts of vegetation in urban settings can lead to better mental health.
You also don’t need to spend the entire day outside to improve your mental health. Harvard Health reported that 20 minutes in nature can reduce stress, while another study found that two hours per week is the magic timeframe. So even if you get out for just a little bit every day, you can improve your mood.
It’s also possible to feel these positive effects without actually going outside. One study found virtual reality exposure to nature can have similar effects as actually going outside. So if options are limited, videos of nature can boost your mood.
Why Recreational Therapy Helps
While nature has been proven to boost our moods, is it enough to help someone with severe mental health issues? That’s what recreational and experiential therapies are for.
Recreational therapy is intentional time spent outside. It can help people find joy and contentment that makes them more open during treatment. Nature can help some people gain perspectives on their problems, and exist in a peaceful and safe setting that they may struggle to find elsewhere.
Experiential therapy goes hand in hand with recreational therapy, applying the same concept of going outside. Experiential therapy will involve different activities like Yoga, art, and meditation.
Recreational Therapy at Sequoia
Sequoia Behavioral Health is located in Mesa, Arizona, surrounded by mountains and parks. We’re lucky enough to be in an area where we can get our clients outside as much as possible in order to help them heal.
We’re a mental health treatment facility providing trauma-focused care for our clients. With both inpatient and outpatient treatment options, we’re able to treat a number of mental and behavioral health issues.
Call us today to learn more about our program and get started.