Our mental health is like a deeply personal experience, but it is profoundly impacted by the overall state of our planet. What happens socially, politically and environmentally affects each of us individually.
The fundamental relationship between humans and the environment is being mapped by a pioneering field of psychology: ecological psychology. This discipline says that we cannot heal our inner world without considering the effects of the natural world.
From a psychological perspective, the stresses of modern life – overwork, overstimulation, city noise, pollution, lack of social connection – are negatively impacting mental health. our own, leading to anxiety, depression, addiction, burnout, and feelings of emptiness and existence. bewilderment.
Research supports that, the more isolated we are from the natural world, the more our mental health suffers. We begin to believe in the illusion of separation, that we are human beings separate from nature “out there”. This type of thinking also contributes to the perceived separation between us as human beings, creates a sense of disconnection and leads to a psyche between us and us that seems to justify the lack of respect. important to each other. Our close relationship with the natural world helps us to see the connection between all life, human to human and human to plant and animal.
How can we connect with the natural world, and how can this connection improve our health?
Ecotherapy (applied ecology) has the answer. This nature-centered form of therapy encourages us to engage with nature in simple yet profound ways to benefit our mental, physical, spiritual, and spiritual well-being. :
Get some sunshine
Even a few minutes of sunlight on your skin can have a beneficial effect. Sunlight plays a direct role in the production of mood-regulating serotonin and stabilizing the “happy hormone”. You can easily get more sunlight by taking a stroll through your neighborhood or a local park, soaking up the sun’s rays.
Invite plants into your home
According to researchers, having plants in the room not only helps to clean the air in the house, but also helps to increase energy, think more positively and reduce anxiety levels. Studies show that vegetable oil vapors can boost the production of the calming brain chemical, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and also boost serotonin.
Exercising outdoors for extra benefits
Benefit from nature by incorporating your exercise routine or taking your existing routine to a local park. In one study, jogging outdoors as opposed to an indoor treadmill was associated with less fatigue, less anxious thoughts, less hostility, and more positive thinking and increased energy.
Cuddling with your pet
Humans have evolved along with animals. We have an innate inclination to connect with nature and different forms of life. And so it’s no surprise that interacting with dogs increases oxytocin, a hormone that enhances social connection and altruistic behavior, while reducing stress and fear.
Eat closer to the earth
Research shows that mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are linked to an overproduction of inflammatory chemicals. One way to reduce inflammation in the body is to eat a diet rich in whole foods, foods in their most natural, unprocessed state. Adding seasonal fruits and vegetables to our meals boosts our fitness. In a spiritual sense, this practice connects us to the earth in that we are receiving energy, the calorific fuel, from the earth from which these foods come.
Do your leisure activities outdoors
If you enjoy reading, journaling, or meditating, why not take one such self-care activity to a green space to boost your health? Access to green spaces – lawns, trees and vegetation – safeguards against stress. Just spending a short amount of time in nature or looking at it lowers the stress hormone cortisol and improves immunity.
These are the available ways we can cultivate our connection with the natural world, opening us up to a greater sense of belonging. In the midst of the chaos of everyday life, we often forget that we are part of something greater outside of ourselves. We belong to a vast network of bonds, from breathing in the oxygen created by trees to the emotional bonds we share with our beloved human community.
Ecotherapy can be incorporated into traditional talk therapy to help remind us of our place in the planetary community. A nature-centered therapist will help you identify ways that modern life is impacting your emotional, physical, and mental health. By assessing how your most essential and natural needs are being met, a nature-based therapist can help you realize ways of living that are closer to the natural rhythms of the planet. Helps create a sense of balance and calm in the face of the rush of life.
