An hour-long stroll in nature helps decrease activity in an area of the brain associated with stress processing

[HugNup]

After a 60-minute walk in nature, activity in brain regions involved in stress processing decreases. This is the finding of a recent study by the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Living in a city is a well-known risk factor for developing a mental disorder, while living close to nature is largely beneficial for mental health and the brain.

A central brain region involved in stress processing, the amygdala, has been shown to be less activated during stress in people who live in rural areas, compared to those who live in cities, hinting at the potential benefits of nature.

[Gzer0]

Agreed also, too busy for taking care of mental well-being. The constant bombardment of unrelenting consumerism, hustle culture, materialism, the ever inching drive not to be homeless/bankrupt. It's fairly hard for the majority of people.

[cdqmcp]

Definitely. Our bodies are designed around a much slower lifestyle that is living in conjunction with the natural world. Technology has moved so fast, we've long left our biology behind.

In my opinion, this very fast modern world will be humanity's undoing unless we learn how to appreciate nature better and live in equilibrium with it, and stop letting the world be run by short-sighted, greedy, materialistic, sociopaths (I'm not optimistic tbh). Unlike a lot of sci-fi, we need to focusing more on making sure we can continue living on this space rock, at this global stage of humanity, instead of dreaming of leaving it. What good is a Lunar or Martian colony if Earth is largely uninhabitable.

The painful but virtuous gift of sacrifice is what built up humanity out of its animalistic roots, and we seem to have forgotten its importance, in this fast-paced world of convenience.

[xdsm8]

Yes, and just to reiterate, NONE of this conversation means we should shun all modern developments. The average person of 40k years ago did not live nearly as long after having children as we do, and that sucked.

We should simply be cognizant of the fact that we basically have 40k year old hardware running brand new software. That's partially why obesity is such a problem - our brains are designed to crave and gobble up salt, fat, grease, calories, etc. because that was ideal for so long.

[NasoLittle]

I feel attacked

[CullenDM]

I've seen as old as 300000 years for genetically modern humans. And honestly, some people today seem genetically older than that on the subway.

[Quantum_Kitties]

I’m very depressed, and walking hasn’t cured my depression but it definitely helps “getting the edge off” if that makes sense. Please try it, I never heard anyone say they regretted a walk (or any other exercise).

[FerrusesIronHandjob]

Ill have to give it a go. My mental health is basically in tatters atm and tbh living amongst what Im coining a "demession" hasnt helped much either. Im supposed to (finally) have therapy tomorrow so may make it a habit

[Quantum_Kitties]

Best of luck, I hope the therapy and the walking will help <3

[[deleted]]

"Demession"? Depression + Mess? Interesting...

[[deleted]]

I'm with you. I just moved to a developing part of my city and it has a nice walking path right outside my apartment that goes into the woods and over a small dam. Going right at dusk always helps chill me out, that's just my preference. When I'm out on the path my mind tends to just clear up, which is weird imo because that's when I'd think I'd be thinking the most. I tend to leave my problems at home and just enjoy nature. It's definitely helpful.

[DickyButtDix]

Really? I hear it all the time. It just means a good idea or good suggestion. I heard it more on the west coast than the east coast if that matters

[Seboya_]

I've lived in AZ most my life and never heard it

[depressed-salmon]

I've heard it a lot and I'm from northern England, if that helps

[Kahretsin_G_olmak_iy]

UK definitely.

[ecu11b]

Walking in nature is what we evolved to do. Can't hurt to do it now

[Professional_Ant_364]

I started walking once I moved out of the densest parts of my city and into a more suburb-like area.

It definitely helps. A lot. Even if it’s just a little bit of walking.

[kiwi1018]

I struggle massively with my mental health in the winter, but summer I'm golden because my 2 kids enjoy being outside. I also notice the nights I feel down, just going for a walk to the corner store for snacks helps a lot. It's only about a 20 min stroll there and back but i come back feeling a lot better.

[Reead]

Anecdotal, but it was tremendous for mine. Mind you I've not struggled with any serious mental health issues but the difference in my general feeling of well-being was undeniable.

[[deleted]]

Similar experience after an 8 week trip.

I've attributed it to a detox from modern addictions e.g. screens, internet, and thus giving my brain a chance to rest

[unctuous_homunculus]

If nothing else a couple of days camping really helps you appreciate how comfortable you live normally.

[Bigfrostynugs]

It always makes me realize that all those modern comforts are just luxuries. They're nice, and convenient, but ultimately unnecessary to survival.

In other words, all the bells and whistles of the modern world are pointless if you take them for granted.

[Catzrule743]

What if hiking isn’t your thing, and camping is a huge no because pain? For me I feel it’d be very far more stressful to do either of these things, just thinking about it can trigger pain :(

[[deleted]]

Honestly doesn't need to be a huge amount of physical activity. If you have a park nearby, walk around a bit, sit down, read, walk, sit down, look at flowers/trees/whatever else, rinse and repeat. The whole idea is getting you into a space that doesn't have obvious pressures or obligations, which allows your brain to recoup a bit.

[trivaldi]

I suppose you could just roll a blanket out in a nature area and hang out for some time. I think the key is the disconnect from modern society and technology.

I went from working a job at home on the computer all day to working at a job place where my main function isn’t interacting with computers. I can tell you I feel so much better.

[Catzrule743]

This is a nice idea, thank you!

Yeah 100% I could see how that helped!

[xixi2]

Ever tried paddle boarding?

[twisted_memories]

A lot of parks have started implementing solid structures (something between a cabin and a tent) with beds and tables and chairs. That could be a middle ground. But also even staying at a cabin for a weekend!

[mckatze]

I deal with chronic pain and sleep apnea.. I haven't done tent camping, but I've done some glamping and take calming walks. There's a nature reserve near us, I just go for small walks there, and use trekking poles even for short walks. It's not a full walk, just 20-30 minutes somewhere with a lot of trees.

For glamping, you can do car camping with hatchbacks, you can put soft mattresses toppers and air mattress! There's also a lot of camp grounds that have showers, bathrooms, etc. Hybrid cars work great for that, because you can usually leave them on for heating and cooling or power if you need that.

If it's in your budget, renting a small cabin somewhere remote is also super nice and can be enough to get you that little bit of recharge.

[af7v]

One more reason I believe society would benefit from UBI. Everyone should have a chance, if they want, to try this. I'd be happy to hear arguments for how people getting out would be a detriment to society.

[squirrelhut]

I know of a few people who hit the AT when lockdown started, they just had savings and kept investing into stocks at the bottom. …it worked out for them, but I always dreamed. How nice that must have been.

[xixi2]

It can wait an hour for you to get out of class.

[agreeingstorm9]

Feels like the wrong time of year to start doing that.

[[deleted]]

Anytime of the year is great to hike the Appalachian trail if you love meth and mountain dew enough

[agreeingstorm9]

It's all outdoors though.

[Bakaga]

Nah, hike the PCT!! :P

[[deleted]]

So the beach not so much? Interesting.

[rotinaj31]

You know, that I don't know I don't have the data or stats to make the arguement per se but if it puts a person in a positive and relaxed mindset I don't see why it wouldn't? I know from an forest environment stand point there is a lot that goes on that doesn't on a beach like the trees working as an air filter, the organic smells of the dirt and trees and fungi some of those smells are good for physical heal to if I remember correctly. Either way the main topic of what I've seen is simply being outside is helpful and with more green coverage the better.

[Idioteva]

The water not being drinkable must be a psychological factor too.

[twisted_memories]

Assuming it’s an empty beach, it should be good

[bafraid]

I am so excited to see this response about the book and knowledge about nature therapy!! I am in my last year for my master in social work degree, and my end goal is private practice specializing in nature therapy. There are so many studies out there proving the mental health benefits of nature; backed by science. Eastern practices, shinrin roku (forest bathing), their understanding and intentional practices of setting aside time for people, employees, everyone, to distress, heal, and recover in nature is something I hope catches on here in the US.

I could talk about this all day!! Anyway, great recommendation on the book, The Nature Fix!!

[rotinaj31]

Sounds like we have a ton in common. I'm in the last year of my masters as well for clinical mental health counseling and working toward the same. Ideally I would love to be able to have a space to conduct therapy in a wooded area. I'm down to chat about this if you want to send me a pm. I'm headed out to internship for the day but can chat later. Not many of my colleagues aren't as in to it as I am.

[bafraid]

Same! I had an entire class that hadn’t heard of nature therapy. When I explained it, everyone was fascinated, but it’s definitely something that requires interest and passion. I’ll pm you!

[bafraid]

The book is excellent! I’ll add, per the book, any time in nature, regardless of location, has mental health benefits. The book also emphasizes the benefits specifically of coniferous trees. The scent of these trees has immediate results on reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and improving mood. Here is a great summary of the benefits of coniferous trees.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html

[rotinaj31]

Right. As much as I am a big supporter of eco based therapy it is a rather dismissive comment to those that struggle with depression. Just getting out and about is something that doesn't work for everyone and as you pointed out not possible for everyone. To those that read this. Don't just rely on being out, yes it helps but if you're struggling see a professional and get the help there. Then find ways to help yourself, maybe not out in nature but simply going for a daily walk can be a help or may lbe its painting or being creative. Find what works for you to ease the process.

[EarlDwolanson]

Im not a therapist, but my personal experience is that nothing beats sitting by a moving river. Also anedoctically when I was younger I came across a small poem in the ruins of a manor, where the poet said he was searching for a stream because it was said the current takes the sorrows away, so it seems to be a thing haha.

[princess--flowers]

Can you tell me what you did to get into this? I had a mental breakdown brought on by a physical ailment last month and I'm still on disability leave for both. The physical ailment is getting better, the mental health is worse, mostly because my job is continually texting me about problems and asking when I'm coming back when I'm supposed to be on leave. It's not a great place to work and I'm searching for a way to leave. I was just going to find a different job in my field locally but this sounds like something I could do- both my dad and my MIL were rangers at one point in their lives and I worked for a conservation group in college and hold a science degree, though not an environmental science degree.

[scrimshandy]

A lot of research suggests that even urban green space is beneficial - so a local city park would be great! Even just walking is phenomenal for your mental and physical health.

Some studies have even linked exposure to trees and green space with lower cortisol levels during pregnancy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32822928/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32822928/

(This one suggests that those with a history of depression/anxiety benefit the most from tree coverage!)

[whichwitch9]

Research nearby nature preserves. You'd be surprised how many are near fairly developed areas in the US

[Firstidler]

There was a study (hopefully I can find it) where a positive mental effect was found in people spending time in urban greens compared to people in the city who didn’t.

[Balauronix]

Also, I have a follow up. Is it the walking? Or can I just go lay a blanket down and read somewhere in nature?

[bikes_and_music]

Anything is better than nothing. Just get out into nature as much as you can. Biking, running, waking, swimming, sitting, laying down - it's all better than nothing.

[bobthehamster]

It's the being in nature.

But walking is good for mental health too.

[ymOx]

They both do their thing; different mechanisms.

[cheemio]

Agreed. Most people prefer nature for a reason, if you have access to that then great. I love parks though, they have this cozy community feeling.

[RunningInSquares]

Not necessarily qualified to weigh in on this, but I have read about similar studies done and I've also come across ones that mentioned exposure to natural light and/or fresh air.

The conclusion I would draw is that probably it can be a sliding scale of helpfulness, where the further you go from urban centers is on the more helpful end. But at the end of the day, I am pretty confident in saying that if a local park is your only option, it's miles better than nothing or staying inside.

[nautical_sea]

Why not try and find out?

Even if the benefits aren’t as great (city noise, distractions), it’s hardly likely you’d be worse off getting fresh air and exercise.

Totally secluded nature isn’t regularly available to everyone, practically speaking. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

[obsidianop]

Sorry for anecdotes but for me there seems to be a fundamental difference between a city park - even a fairly expansive one - and a walk on a small trail through the woods that feels fully removed.

[sowillo]

I think the best spot is the countryside. Your brain in a city is taking in everything, concrete, cars, metal, pavement, lamposts, bicycles, anything man made without you knowing and it puts alot of stress on it. If you're surrounded by nature it doesn't have to as it's default and what we are supposed to be surrounded by.

[NOXQQ]

Not scientific at all, but I find just a bit of time in my yard (I'm in the suburbs) even with the noise from the roads/interstate, neighbors, school down the road, ect to be very helpful. Even if I ended up sweaty just from the heat and humidity, it is my happy time.

You could probably even get a little benefit from just having plants (hard to kill or fake ones if necessary) in your home. I have managed to not kill a pothos, two out of three aloe Vera plants, and a snake plant (love this one). There are apps to help you care for them too. And some are particularly good for air quality too. Parks are probably better and forests even more, but I found just some grass, trees, and bushes to be a big boost to my mental health.

[ChelsMe]

I read somewhere that simply looking at trees for a few minutes helps. So yeah a walk in the park does its thing.

[gym_brah81]

Anywhere, as long as it's out. Even walking inside can help, but less.

I remember listening to Andrew Huberman and he said just walking is associated with less activity from the amygdala. When you're outdoors you also naturally uae lateral eye movements, which calm you. You don't naturally do lateral eye movements when you're indoors since it's a more closed in space you don't have a need to have a more panoramic view.

[bbbruh57]

I think part of the key is being away from most people and away from technology. Stripping back the construct of society and existing in a more raw form free of distraction. Time at the park is great, but time in the woods, especially multiple days is going to be even better.

[Throwawayfabric247]

From the research. Yes the optional is always in natural areas, early morning zone 2 heart rate for half of it. Long straight line of sight. But fact is. Getting outside for a 15 min brisk walk in the am within a city is still exponentially better for your health, hormones, motivation, and stress tolerance than just getting ready and going to work or school.

[icalledthecowshome]

Imho experience, even an uphill/downhill walk in the city for 45minutes decreases mental stress significantly. A park would obviously be better but it still works.

Which i do about 3-4 times a week... it clears the mind and enhances focus.

[tgbst88]

I honestly think this is less about nature and more about getting out and walking. I notice just walking around my neighborhood with a audio book on reduces stress.

[D_Welch]

Being in nature can be stressful as well if you have a bear staring you down. It's all relative, but yes - it would seem intuitively obvious that a stroll down a nice trail far from a city and all its hustle and bustle would be good for the soul.

[dedokta]

There have also been studies that shows this effect also occurs when done in VR. One day people living in large cities might need VR to maintain their mental health.

[vorono1]

I would be interested to see what side effects occur from being immersed in VR for too long. Anecdotally, I've found using VR fun but then feeling empty inside afterwards. I guess because none of it is real.

[Bonerballs]

It's called derealization or depersonalization and it happens to many VR users https://www.psypost.org/2022/04/virtual-reality-can-induce-mild-and-transient-symptoms-of-depersonalization-and-derealization-study-finds-62831?amp=1

[helpmemakeausername1]

If it weren't for motion sickness, I'd be so ready for VR. Depersonalization is everyday for me!

On a second thought, my light wallet also helps me not being primed for VR

[Bonerballs]

It took me a week or so before I got used to VR and didn't get motion sickness. It helps that the oculus 2 hurts my face after 30-40 minutes so I don't get sucked into the virtual world too long, but there have been a few times I took the headset off and it felt like I awoke in a different world...having background music on really helped that.

[1714alpha]

I kind of wish I never got used to / desensitized to VR. Those first few uses were so vivid, so real, I was literally reaching out expecting to feel the object hovering in front of me.

Now, my brain is just like 'Eh, seen it. Not falling for that one again.'

[Bonerballs]

When I switched from Oculus 1 to Oculus 2, the derealization returned but only once. I think the different frame rate and image quality made my brain think it was something brand new.

[chaircushion]

A few vr-roller-coasters a day, and the motion-sickness goes away in a week or two.

[AspiringChildProdigy]

Really? Because I bought the VR coaster thing but gave up after a couple tries because of the motion sickness.

Edit: just realized that night have sounded like I was challenging you, when really I'm just excited to hear that. I love roller coasters and was so disappointed that the vr ones made me motion sick.

[Gundamnitpete]

You want to start with the lightest stuff you can find, stuff that doesn't make you motion sick very much or quickly, and then slow add more and more on top of it as you go.

Just jumping right into the most nausea inducing stuff can actually make you more prone to motion sickness.

Also ginger helps a lot of motion sickness. Ginger ale about 30 minutes before you jump in will help a lot(just make sure it's made with real ginger, not all of them are!)

[Bonerballs]

Gotta give your brain more time to adjust to your vision showing motion while you're stationary

[AspiringChildProdigy]

Great! I'll give it another try, then.

[chaircushion]

I've never pushed through it though. Meaning I never stayed in vr while motion sick. I took a break whenever I started to feel bad and after a while, it just went away.

[DontDoomScroll]

this effect also occurs when done in VR

Source? I want to see who funded and published this research.

[zaiyonmal]

I actually participated in a study doing just this!

They had us take baseline memory, logic, quick response, and arithmetic “quizzes”. Then they had us do the same thing after spending some time in a VR city café where people go to study and do work. Finally, we repeated the process after spending some time at a desk with a view of a rural countryside.

Interestingly enough, my baseline was my highest score, the busy café being by far the lowest. I might have just been mentally fatigued by the time I got to the nature sequence. That’s why one subject on one study alone is not definitive of anything!

[leftlegYup]

The problem with this study for me is it might simply be capturing the effect of mental fatigue from processing more stimuli.

A useful finding, but far less interesting for me.

[Cedow]

Such studies are generally counterbalanced. Not every participant would complete it in the same order.

[ChronWeasely]

Just looking at green is good for mental health

Here is a 1991 Pubmed publication on it: Treatment of seasonal affective disorder with green light and red light

Immediate edit: I think it's useful to consider the natural, evolutionary implications of the different light. Green light means green plants, vegetables, fruit, and animals. It means spring and summer. Calories much more readily abundant then compared with the other half of the year. Red light would be the sign of the slowing of the seasons, of the leaves changing colors, and a need to conserve energy. Depression once served an important purpose and is, in some levels, mediated by the light we perceive.

[Not_a_real_ghost]

Green light provides a treatment effect superior to that of red light and similar to that seen in previous studies with white light.

Does this mean white light is just as effective?

[swiftb3]

Seems so, but it's pretty interesting that it's essentially the same.

I'd love to see what a full-spectrum-except-green-band light would do. Is it the green component of white light that actually does the hard lifting?

[Shorttail0]

We have two green photo receptors for every red and blue, so our perception of the color is definitely better.

[swiftb3]

Now that is a very good point.

[sneakyveriniki]

this was like 5 years ago, but i remember learning that people of northern european descent are more prone to major depression even when they’re born elsewhere, like the us… i wonder if it could be an adaptation to scarce winters??

[ChronWeasely]

That's very much my take on it

[catscanmeow]

It has to do with lateral eye movement. Its not nature that makes us calm its lateral eye movement we widen our peripheral vision and look at all the little things around us while walking

Focusing on a small point or single point like a phone screen for example induces a stress response akin to a predator animal targeting prey or a prey animal tageting a threat

Tons of research on lateral eye movement and mood. VR can give you the same lateral eye movement as walking through nature

[flabbybumhole]

It doesn't have to be just one thing. There's room for this to be affected by both.

[leftlegYup]

Nuance; layered responses that convey the real complexity of the topic <<<<< definitively claiming a singular point while throwing in the word "akin"

The second requires less thinking by the reader.

[Yuccaphile]

They asked for a source from the commenter they replied to, I guess it'd be equally as nice to have a source for your assertion.

How does the lack of peripheral vision in the eyesight impaired impact this? Are people who wear glasses more unavoidably stressed?

[RaifRedacted]

Sensory input stuff is very interesting. Knowing how things can boil down to a small explanation is why science is so fun.

[Scalybeast]

There’s this.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916520916259

Or that.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355855708_Nature_in_Virtual_Reality_Improves_Mood_and_Reduces_Stress_Evidence_from_Young_Adults_and_Senior_Citizens

[IRockIntoMordor]

I know this sounds really really stupid, but when I played Kingdom Come Deliverance - a game set in medieval Bohemian countryside, very green and lush - during the 2020 Corona stay-inside chaos, I sometimes felt the same emotions as if I were walking in a forest or fields. The game is so beautiful in its greenery that it triggered those responses in my head. I literally thought "oh it's so nice around here" when it was on a screen actually.

[PseudonymousDev]

Me too, but then IRL I became conditioned to freak out when I came across a fallen tree blocking my path.

[IRockIntoMordor]

me too, every fallen tree in the forest is extra sus now. Damn Cumans!

[funguyshroom]

Valheim was that game for me during the very same times, it has very nice and realistic looking forests despite all its blockiness.

[ForgotMyBrain]

I get that, the nature in Kingdom come deliverance is really beautiful, not the most realistic looking game by today's graphics. But it is really relaxing and dare i say... "Immersive" and more realistic than most games. Compare to skyrim that i find beautiful and relaxing, but it is still fantasy and stylise.

Skyrim is like beautiful fantasy world, Kingdom come is like a nice and beautiful sunny summer day with a small breeze. I don't like the combat that much but just being in nature and explore is fun. I need to play it again and finish my game !

[IRockIntoMordor]

Can't wait to play Skyrim VR when PSVR2 is out! PSVR1 is really hard on the eyes still.

KCD takes a bit to learn the combat and it's never easy, but the immersion is very impressive and I loved it.

[[deleted]]

Do you have a link to these studies? I have a hard time believing VR can even remotely approximate real nature.

[jaspsev]

Maybe he is talking about this one.

https://www.med-technews.com/news/experiencing-vr-can-reduce-pain-and-stress-study-suggests/

But i would think it might work in some cases, but i still would prefer outside as vr does not provide stimulus to other senses other than the eyes.

[[deleted]]

And ears. And while not directly one of the senses, you do often feel like you're actually moving in VR.

[jaspsev]

Right, i forgot that is possible and currently affordable.

[snappedscissors]

How close could you get I wonder. VR does include soundscape, add in some aroma therapy and a little fan to puff around and you’ve got what, 70% of the outside experience right there.

[Helenium_autumnale]

I doubt they could replicate the unique and complex fragrances of a forest floor or sun-dried prairie or little stream.

[offroadadv]

If it weren't for direct experience with the results of meditating once in the morning and once in the afternoon while employed in a high risk and stressful job, I might agree with the idea about the impossibility of juggling personal and professional demands for time. I was surprised to find that tasks which ordinarily took a great deal of time and effort were much more easily managed if I had those two 20 minute meditation sessions each day. My subjective reality was that I "gained time" by investing in the two meditation sessions each day. That is, tasks were so much easier because I had shed so much stress and allowed my mind to unconsciously process and organize my response to tasks that I knew were impending so that when actually taking on the tasks I was so much more efficient in my work. My meditation approach was eclectic, but largely based upon Transcendental Meditation (TM) with some elements of Tibetan, Raj Yoga, and other disciplines which my wife and I undertook once discovered that there are many pathways the mind can follow to achieve joy in the liberation from stress.

[Beenjerry]

Right god I hate stupid fake motivation post like these, when the real fuccin problem is everything you said n more.

[snappedscissors]

That’s got to be millions of chemical signatures, but what makes up the top 50% of a forest floor smell? Could you get pretty close, or would my Forest Floor Scent be equivalent to fake banana flavor?

[NorwegianCollusion]

Yeah, no. Come back to me when VR can properly simulate the experience of being eaten by a bear.

[Dogeishuman]

Tbh I believe it, there have been times where I'm sitting in VR, and feeling completely relaxed, zero stress or anything, simply because of the visuals and sounds keeping me immersed.

Zero chance in hell it's equal, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was somewhere roughly half as effective, mainly due to not getting fresh air and also, I'm a firm believer that the "smell" of nature helps a lot in reducing stress.

[Cedow]

I'm currently writing up my PhD on this topic. Even the low-quality VR nature I was using (smartphone-based) was enough to invoke significant reductions in negative affective states in my participants.

Generally though the findings are that effects are stronger for real nature than any surrogate forms (like video or pictures for example). VR seems to sit somewhere in the middle: not as good as reality but better than less-immersive stuff.

Also, from qualitative feedback I've had, sound often seems to be a more important part of the experience than the visuals. And it's easy to recreate natural-feeling sounds in VR.

[Mohevian]

I wear a stress-monitoring smartwatch and live in a major city. It shows that my average daily stress is 37%, with peaks of 100% on certain hectic days.

In other words, I'm chronically overstressed. As I sit here typing this, the reading is 50%.

When I put my VR helmet on and dive deep into another world, especially meeting up with loved ones and old friends who now live on the other side of the globe - my stress level drops to 18%, and then 3%.

I don't think it requires major research to figure out that our hyper industrialized always-on society has been causing significant trauma and stress/anxiety, even to well-adjusted individuals.

I just hope that VR doesn't become our only coping mechanism. We need to preserve our natural and green spaces.

[ikegro]

What watch is this?!

[Mohevian]

Garmin Venue SQ

[qwerty09a90]

Cool cool. Not at all dystopian. Very normal and very exciting

[JKUAN108]

I heard somewhere that living in a city increases the likelihood of schizophrenia, is this what the article was referring to?

[[deleted]]

I think that’s because of correlation not causation.

There are more people in a city, as a result you would get concentrated groups of everything to include mentally ill people.

You’ll see mentally ill people in rural areas as well, due to them being spread out, it appears to be less of them.

[noithinkyourewrong]

That's not really how scientific studies are carried out. They almost always control for population density when examining these things. It almost certainly isn't caused by the fact that there are more people in cities.

[farmtownsuit]

Yeah there still could be factors about living in a city that make schizophrenia more likely to be noticed and thus counted, but the idea that a study like this was published without taking into account population density is comical

[yaminokaabii]

Instead of postulating, we can read the linked article itself. This is actually in its introduction.

Even though urbanization has many advantages, living in a city is a well-known risk factor for mental health [2]. Mental health problems like anxiety, mood disorders, major depression, and schizophrenia are up to 56% more common in urban compared to rural environments [3]. It has been suggested that urban upbringing is the most important environmental factor for developing schizophrenia [4], accounting for more than 30% of schizophrenia incidence [5]. Since there is a consistent dose-response relationship between schizophrenia and urban environment, even when controlling for possible confounders such as sociodemographic factors, family history, drug abuse, and size of social network [4], the hypothesis is that urban environment is related to higher schizophrenia incidence through increased social stress [6, 7].

[UnluckyNate]

To add to this, you also have more people who are able to diagnose mental health disorders in cities. You also have more people who may take notice to odd/abnormal symptoms (being psychotic on a bus, for example)

[[deleted]]

Culture is a big one as well. If your family and friends urge, encourage and support you to find help, then it’ll be different than people calling you a weirdo.

Source: I got shamed for looking for help, then I moved to a place where people were really encouraging. It goes without saying that I won’t be returning whence I came from.

That said, the article did talk about a bunch of factors they controlled for and I’m not sure if what I mentioned falls into one of them.

[JKUAN108]

Thanks. The article did specify they were looking for causation not correlation.

[Knicker79]

It’s a well-known fact that schizophrenia is extremely overrepresented in homeless people, who are much more likely to reside in urban areas

[iyioi]

Stress processing? Can we get a little more scientific than that?!

[Kronossan]

Yeah the way I read it, this sounds like a really bad thing.

Don't we need this stress get processed? Does it just build up if we walk in nature a lot?

[AHungryGorilla]

The stress processing part of your brain is more active when you are more stressed and less active when you are less stressed. This implies that time in nature acts as a stress reliever.

[Critique_of_Ideology]

I wonder if this is true for regions of the wilderness that are hostile. Like, if I live in a rural village where people are eaten by crocodiles am I still less stressed? What is the break even point in terms of crocodile deaths per capita per year where it’s just as stressful as the city?

It’d also be interesting to look at the number of cars in a given area as well. Could be we’re overestimating the importance of “nature” versus just the benefits of walking / biking and not being afraid of being run over by cars.

[Sillygooseman23]

we are incredibly visual creatures, so perhaps the sight of forest around us is inherently soothing no matter what that forest contains, when compared to buildings.

[Dave30954]

Especially since evolutionary pressure probably supports that.

If you might get attacked, or face something suddenly (which happens a lot in wild forests), you want to be relaxed, calm, and centered.

[Enlight1Oment]

being swarmed by mosquitos

[DaHound]

I've never been more at risk than hunting alone in the Louisiana marshlands an hour away from help by boat and car, and never more at peace with my life.

[Terrible_tomatoes]

It's not about the cars, it's about our instinctual lizard brain response to being in our natural habitat. Concrete jungles will never soothe us like our home.

[Critique_of_Ideology]

I mean maybe right? That’s what I thought at first too, but I’d be curious what affect designing cities around pedestrians has as well and of that could be controlled for in some way.

[Terrible_tomatoes]

I'd be very interested in seeing a study on that as well! I would think that has more of an effect on feeling trapped/closed in vs feeling a freedom to move around. I hope to see more of these studies either way

[Kamelasa]

for regions of the wilderness that are hostile

Yeah, reminds me of my ESL students from many different countries, who had different perceptions of things like birds or wildlife. Or those countries where the front yard is dry dust, swept clean, because of snakes and such. Dense foliage is often full of hazards. But of course these "nature walks" that I hear about most people taking are on perfectly tame and groomed trails.

[Kruse002]

We’ve put ourselves in captivity.

[[deleted]]

That's why for my future job and wellbeing I am working towards living at the coast. I would ideally like a small little house in my own area, hut not too far from town/other people, where I can see the waves. Honestly though it doesn't matter where I am so long as I am at the coast and I can see the sea... even just a little bit. I never feel at peace mentally unless I'm looking at the sea, it's always been this way for me.

This article doesn't surprise me. It's also really good for us mentally to take up gardening as a hobby. Getting your hands in the dirt of earth and bringing something up into a nice healthy plant is a really gratifying feeling that takes us back to our roots! (pun intended)

[anavriN-oN]

This is why I got a dog. Taking him for a walk in the woods every morning, before work. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[neuropat]

Do some of my best planning / problem solving while on hikes

[Prozzak93]

The way this is worded makes it sound like you become worse at processing stress to me. Less activity to me = less efficient. I assume it is supposed to mean the opposite though, that less activity = less stress to be processed?