There are numerous studies that show the many health benefits of interacting with nature regularly. Nature[4] has been shown to help with depression, anxiety, stress, anger, lack of inspiration, and mental focus. It has also been shown to help patients reduce perceived pain[5] as well as heal[6] faster and reduce recovery time in hospitals. Nature can be a powerful tool that lifts our spirits, strengthens[7] our bonds with others, and even lengthens[8] our life span.
Our connection is so strong that we don’t even need to be in nature to experience some of these benefits. Studies suggest that simply viewing[9] nature media (videos and photographs) is enough to trigger the physical and psychological[10] effects that being outside has on the human experience. The act of viewing nature media can be enough to mentally[11] transport us from the everyday reality of buildings, cars, and concrete to a relaxed and inspired state of mind. These nature-inspired mental breaks help replenish[12] depleted attentional resources improving our attention span and helping[13] lower stress, depression, and anxiety.
While the subject of natures influence on the human experience certainly needs more examination one thing is certain, our relationship with nature is complex. Nature appears to hold a number of secrets concerning our health and happiness.
If you haven’t done so already you can read the inspiration story about Outside Therapy Experience here. This whole concept was birthed from the idea of sharing the experiences that bring such positive energy and joy into my life with others who may not have the ability to have the same experiences. I want to access the energy and healing powers found in our natural environment and channel those energies to anyone that can benefit from them as I do. Outside Therapy Experience is an opportunity to explore and create with the wonders of nature while tuning into Gaia’s abundance of vitality and healing resources.
Disclaimer :
The content presented here is for informational and educational purposes only. None of the material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advise, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified medical or health professional with any questions or concerns you may have when it comes to your health and/or well being.
While I have made every effort to assure the information presented here and throughout the website is current and accurate, errors can occur.
The above information is just a brief overview to offer a general idea of the concepts related to the website. I recommend doing your own research and making your own conclusions based on your findings, beliefs, and life experiences. I am not a medical provider, mental health provider or spiritual teacher of any kind. By using this site you agree that I am not offering medical advise, mental health advise, or spiritual/religious advise of any kind.
Reference:
1. Sifferlin, A (2016, July 14) The Healing Power of Nature https://time.com/4405827/the-healing-power-of-nature/
2. Seymour V. (2016). The Human-Nature Relationship and Its Impact on Health: A Critical Review. Frontiers in public health, 4, 260. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00260
3. Jordan, R (2015, June 30) Stanford Researchers Find Mental Health Prescription : Nature https://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/june/hiking-mental-health-063015.html
4. Gregory N. Bratman, Christopher B. Anderson, Marc G. Berman, Bobby Cochran, Sjerp de Vries, Jon Flanders, Carl Folke, Howard Frumkin, James J. Gross, Terry Hartig, Peter H. Kahn, Jr., Ming Kuo, Joshua J. Lawler, Phillip S. Levin, Therese Lindahl, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Richard Mitchell, Zhiyun Ouyang, Jenny Roe, Lynn Scarlett, Jeffrey R. Smith, Matilda van den Bosch, Benedict W. Wheeler, Mathew P. White, Hua Zheng, Gretchen C. Daily (2019, July 24) Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0903
5. Delagran, L (n.d.) How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing? https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing
6. Franklin, D (2012, March 1) How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nature-that-nurtures/
7. Jennings, V., & Bamkole, O. (2019). The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(3), 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030452
8. DiLonardo, M (2021, February 5) Living Near Green Spaces Can Help You Live Longer https://www.treehugger.com/living-near-green-spaces-can-help-you-live-longer-4864352
9. Happy Brain Science (n.d.) 13 Science Based Reasons That Suggest Viewing Nature Scenes Can Improve Your Health. https://www.happybrainscience.com/blog/nature-brain-health/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
10. Jo, H., Song, C., & Miyazaki, Y. (2019). Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(23), 4739. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234739
11. Dockrill, P (2016, March 23) Just Looking at Photos of Nature Could Be Enough to Lower Your Work Stress Levels. https://www.sciencealert.com/just-looking-at-photos-of-nature-could-be-enough-to-lower-your-work-stress-levels
12. Gamble, K. R., Howard, J. H., Jr, & Howard, D. V. (2014). Not just scenery: viewing nature pictures improves executive attention in older adults. Experimental aging research, 40(5), 513–530. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2014.956618
13. Daniel K. Brown, Jo L. Barton, and Valerie F. Gladwell Environmental Science & Technology (2013) Viewing Nature Scenes Positively Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental Stress https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es305019p