Relieving Stress in Nature

The week has been long and unforgiving. Stress is mounting, leading to anxiety, loss of focus, and the feeling of depression coming on. Now imagine a free and easy way to combat that stress. Spending time in nature can improve mental health by reducing stress, depression, and improving mental clarity.

People spend time and money to try and combat the stress of everyday life, from books to pills. By spending time in a natural, or evergreen, environment helps combat stress. The amount of stress is staying consistent with many routine or everyday triggers. This is becoming the normal of everyday life. The American Psychological Association (2017) reported “Americans’ stress levels in 2017 are consistent with those in 2016, with an average stress level of 4.8 (on a scale of 1 to 10) across both years.” (p. 4). That is a 48% stress level leading to routine stress.

Routine stress is the stress that occurs from everyday life. Influences like work, family, financial, and worrying about situations not under direct control. Routine stress is the most difficult stress to recognize. The source of the stress is a constant and starts to become chronic. The body never receives a clear signal to return to normal. Long term stress can lead to physical health issues and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Depression is one of the most common mental health issues. Brody, Pratt, Hughes (2018) cited "During 2013–2016, 8.1% of American adults had depression in a given 2-week period" (p. 5). Long term depression can lead to serious physical health issues. It will also disrupt normal everyday life causing isolation, lack of motivation, and create anxiety.

Combating routine stress and depression is as easy as going to the park. Biophilia is a term coined by E.O. Wilson. It literally means love of life or living systems, Wilson (1984). Humans subconsciously have the urge to connect with other life and the environment. Greenleaf, Bryant, and Pollock (2014) observed “Evidence of biophilia shows up everywhere in our daily lives, with computer screen savers a prime example. The popularity of sunset beaches, snowy mountains, and cascading waterfalls as our chosen screen photos indicate how intensely we seek the beauty of the natural environment, even when we cannot physically always be in its presence. (p. 1)”

Spending time in nature does not require going deep into the woods. Sitting in the backyard or even going to the local park are simple ways to get back in touch with natural surroundings. Just walk outside, close your eyes, and feel the wind caress your face. Look at the petals on a dandelion growing up through the cracks of the sidewalk. Listen to the birds sing.

All the senses come into play when submersing yourself in nature. Viewing nature has been the most researched ques in relationship to mental health. Franco, Shanahan, and Fuller (2017) cited that “Viewing nature has been repeatedly demonstrated to provide a range of benefits for human health and well-being. Benefits include reduced anxiety, reduced stress, shorter hospital stays, lower heart rate, and increased directed attention” (p. 3).

Look at the following photograph. It was taken on a hike during mid-fall. The first thing noticed are the contrast in colors. The psychology of natural color works with the emotional state. Green is a color that brings on a feeling of tranquility. The tall yellow grass in the background may bring on the feeling of being cheerful and energized. Notice the dew drops hanging from the spider web.

The sense of smell is another factor in relieving stress in nature. Aromatherapy is based upon the use of essential, or volatile, oils from plants. Oils have been used for centuries for both their physical and mental attributes.

The sense of hearing will come into play. Listening to the natural harmony of the world will both relax and energize.

Nature is simply complex. It is one organism that works together. All things in nature depend upon the rest of nature to survive and thrive. It is all connected together.

There are multiple studies regarding mental health and contact with nature. The research is showing not only benefits to mental health but also physical health. There is a direct correlation between time spent and frequency of visits. More positive results were found in more frequent visits than in time spent. So, it is more beneficial to make more visits with nature than a long day.

Cox et al (2017) asserted, “We demonstrate that nature close to the home is associated with quantifiable benefits to population health. We found measurably better mental health, social health, positive physical behavior and nature orientation with greater frequency and duration of time spent in nearby nature. We also showed lower levels of depression and greater nature orientation in people who live in greener neighborhoods” (p. 7-8).

While stress, depression, and mental clarity will continue to be an issue in everyday life research supports spending time in nature will help combat them. Go to the park for ten minutes a few times a week. Feel the grass underfoot and the birds sing. The songs will lift the spirit.

Thoreau (1854) wrote, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice [sic] resignation, unless it was quite necessary” (p. 85).

References

American Psychological Association (2017). Stress in America: The State of Our Nation. Stress in America Survey

Brody DJ, Pratt LA, Hughes J. Prevalence of depression among adults aged 20 and over: United States, 2013–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 303. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.

Cox, D. T. C., Shanahan, D. F., Hudson, H. L., Fuller, R. A., Anderson, K., Hancock, S., & Gaston, K. J. (2017). Doses of nearby nature simultaneously associated with multiple health benefits. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(2), 172.

Franco, L. S., Shanahan, D. F., & Fuller, R. A. (2017). A review of the benefits of nature experiences: More than meets the eye. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), 864.

Greenleaf, A. T., Bryant, R. M., & Pollock, J. B. (2014). Nature-based counseling: Integrating the healing benefits of nature into practice. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 36(2), 162-174

Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston, MA: Ticknor and Fields

Wilson, E.O. (1984) Biophilia: The Human Bond with Other Species. Cambridge: Harvard University Press