The natural world has an ability to sooth the anxious mind. Simply being in “nature” helps sooth away the stresses of the day, leaving us less anxious and more in control of our lives. Going for a walk in the natural world has an even greater effect.
The Science Behind Anxiety and Nature
Many people experience the soothing effect of walking through the countryside, in a forest or along the beach. And guess what … there is some real science behind it. There have been numerous experiments that now support this.
Trials have shown that, after doing a task that increases stress, recovery occurs more quickly in a room with views of trees through the windows, as compared with a windowless room. Another test showed that stress recovery was better if a person goes for a walk in a natural environment, as compared to going for the same length of walk in an urban environment.
There is a growing amount of scientific evidence that supports the idea that being in a natural environment is good for both your physical health and mental well-being. A few references to scientific papers are provided at the end of this article.
Why Does Being in Nature Helps Mental Health and, In Particular, Anxiety?
Think about the history of humankind. For thousands of years, men and women have lived together on this Earth. Most of that time, we have lived close to nature. Our brains are more attuned to living in a natural environment than they are to living in a city. It is only comparatively recently that so many people live in an urban environment.
That is not to say that cities are in any way a bad thing. On the contrary, they are a fundamental part of civilisation. However, we need to be aware that getting out into nature can be one factor that helps stem our stresses and anxiety.
Putting it into Practice
I am lucky enough to live within a short walk of woodland with plenty of scope for getting out for a walk on a regular basis. Not everyone is so lucky. You need to ask yourself, what is the closest to a natural environment that I can get to? It might be a beach or a local park – even in a city like London, there are many small green spaces set aside for people to wander through.
One of the studies I have looked at suggests that you should aim to spend 120 minutes a week in nature. This may not be practical for everyone – so just do what you can.
And Finally …
I often write about things that you can do yourself to help your anxiety. However, if you need help, then I am very happy to talk to you about the possibilities that hypnotherapy can give you. Contact me when you are ready to take things forward. I work in my clinic here in Fleet, Hampshire, and I also work online.
References
Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3
Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494402001093
Restorative Effects of Natural Environment Experiences
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916591231001
Photo courtesy of Mental Health Image Library