Mental Health & Nature Therapy

Sooo many of us suffer from anxiety and depression, and often it seems that they are symptoms of a bigger problem - the culture we live in. We are over stimulated. Too much screen time, not enough time off. We spend 8 hours a day sitting inside. It's affecting our posture, digestion, and nervous system.

Spending time outside and creating a deeper relationship with nature can help to ease feelings of being disoriented, overwhelmed, and depressed by the pace of life. How much time do you spend outside each day? Something about being outside changes the physical expression of stress in the body.

Japanese researchers at the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences found that walks in the forest were associated with decreased levels of anxiety and bad moods, and that outdoor walks could be "useful clinically as a supplement to existing treatments" for major depressive disorders. The presence of water made the positive effects even stronger.

Your time with nature could be something as simple as a daily walk in the park, gentle yoga in your backyard, gardening, or simply sitting at the beach. You can even try to combine your nature outings with your regular exercise by running or cycling outdoors.

Anxiety and depression can also be caused by underlying infections, heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional trauma. For more detailed information about these diagnoses, check out @dr.jess.md. She’s a doctor passionate about teaching people to take control of their own healthcare - and an amazing resource for all things holistic health, I highly recommend.