Guest Contributor – Dale Vernor

Introduction

If readers would like to contribute an article for the Guest Contributor page heading please contact me, my email address appears on the About Me page heading.  The only two things I ask is that the article should be hill related and importantly I should not end up in court through its publication!  Otherwise the choice of subject matter is down to the Guest Contributor.

About the Author; Dale Vernor

DALE VERNOR is a writer and researcher in the fields of mental health and substance abuse. After a brief struggle with addiction Dale was able to earn his Bachelor's degree and find a job doing what he enjoys.  After finding sobriety Dale has developed a passion for the outdoors and tries to be in nature and see new sights as often as possible. 

The Great Outdoors and its Impact on Mental Health

It is an undeniable fact that mental health issues affect many people around the world.  Then again, despite this fact, it is still overwhelming to know that in the United States alone, the number is very high.

In the recent report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the following statistics were revealed:

● Almost 44 million of the adult American population are presently going through some kind of mental illness;

●  Nearly 20% of adults have experienced anxiety;

●  Almost 26% of children have, or are, experiencing anxiety; and

● Almost 10% of the American children have suffered, or are currently suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), while 1 in every 50 children end up diagnosed with Autism.

With all these facts and statistics, it is safe to assume that the prevalence of mental health problems among Americans has increased tremendously.  As a matter of fact, the number of people being admitted to ambulatory centres, residential facilities, and psychiatric hubs rose by almost 5 times compared to that in the mid-1950s.  Now, it can be said that almost 40 in 100 Americans are receiving mental health care.  This tremendous rise in mental health problems is actually considered as an epidemic by some scholars and researchers.

The truth behind the Nature Deficit Disorder

Up until now, there is no single cause that can explain why mental health issue occurs.  However, there’s a new concept introduced by Richard Louv in his book named “Last Child in the Woods.” Here, Louv suggested that because we spend fewer hours outdoor, we sacrifice our mental and physical well-being.

Though nature deficit disorder is not considered as a formal medical diagnosis, it is a good way to explain the cognitive, physical, and psychological repercussions brought by human beings’ alienation of nature.  These repercussions are strongly experienced during one’s younger years.  Richard Louv explained that our alienation from nature led us to develop negative feelings and moods.  This also decreased our attention span, said Louv.

According to Dr. Ross Cameron of the Sheffield University in his interview with BBC News, nature deficit disorder can be considered as a symptom of the current sedentary lifestyle of people.  He even explained further that because we are so glued to our gadgets, devices, and other products of modern technology, we become less and less perceptive of nature and we learn about the wild from TV than from exploring the woods.

In Dr. Cameron’s lecture at the Royal Horticultural Society, he mentioned that NDD is used to describe the entire phenomenon where we become less and less attached to the natural processes and to the natural experiences offered by life.  He ended his lecture by suggesting ways on how we can bring nature back into our lives, and consequently, help increase our attention span and improve our mental health.

These are his suggestions:

● To bring nature into our lives, we can try by adding any kind of green into our spaces.  We can start by putting weeds or potted plants in our living room or in our patio.  These can attract wildlife and can help expose people to the positive effects of nature.

● We can also try bringing in some Junipers of Scots pine because these can capture air pollutants, thus, improving the quality of air circulating in our spaces.

● We can also grow Catalpa or Paulownia since these can lock up excess nitrates from the soil.

 

Benefits of Outdoor Activities to our Mental Health

As a support to the concept of nature deficit disorder, the 2012 review of scientists from Stanford revealed that there are actually numerous studies highlighting the benefits of spending more time outdoors.  In the said review, a study on the effects of spending time outdoors was highlighted.  In the said study, people of different ages were taken as respondents.  They are divided into two groups.  The first group of respondents was tasked to spend more time outdoors, while the second group was left to spend their time indoors.

The results of the study revealed that those who spent more time with nature ended up feeling joyful, having more self-esteem, improving their memory, and lessening their stress-levels.  Also, these positive effects of nature exposure were not just felt but were also seen in physical and mental health.  The participants who were exposed to nature had decreased blood pressure, better heart rates, and improved brain activities.

According to a study published in the JAMA Network, it was revealed that mountain climbing, along with other outdoor activities, offers a lot of benefits.  Physically, such activities are equivalent to a full body workout, hence, can greatly improve blood circulation and cardiovascular health.  If you do it on a regular basis, it can help you lose weight and body fat.  It can also help you tone your muscles.

On the psychological level, conquering a mountain or finishing a difficult trail can be very rewarding, thus, making the person experience euphoria.  The panoramic views can also make the person feel happy, calm, and more in tune with nature.

Unfortunately, though, despite the positive physical and mental effects of nature exposure, there is still a steady decline in the rate of physical and outdoor activities engaged by most people.  In the same study conducted by the scientists from Stanford, it was revealed that on the average, an American adult remains sedentary in almost 8 hours, while an American child from 0 to 12 only spend a maximum of 40 minutes a week for doing outdoor activities.  Also, this finding is supported by the fact that since 1988, almost 20% decline in the per capita visitors of the National Park System.

 

Outdoor Activities for those in Addiction Recovery

For those in addiction recovery, especially those with co-occurring conditions, attending holistic addiction treatment allows you to spend more time with nature would help the individual heal, not only from the physical effects of addiction but also find healing for his overall well-being.

A time spent with nature like mountain hiking, rock climbing, or a simple trekking can help us get the physical exercise our bodies need while we also reconnect with nature and improve our mental health.  A visit to the mountain where it’s serene and calm could help us heal from the daily anxiety and stresses brought by life and other circumstances.

Most of the time, especially when city life gets very demanding and stressful, retreating to the mountains can give us the feeling of finally being able to find refuge or a sanctuary where we can rest our bodies and our minds.  A little peace and quiet, along with magnificent scenery and fresh air could help remind us that no matter where life takes us or how difficult things may become, we can always retreat for a while, relax, recharge, and get ready to fight again. These are the feelings and realizations outdoor activities can give us. 

Other Benefits of Outdoor Nature Exposure

When we go out of our comfort zones to experience nature, we might also be lucky to meet other people who share the same motivations or passions with us.  If we’re lucky, we might be able to find life-long friends while enjoying fresh mountain air or while struggling with the challenging mountain trail.

Our chances of finding and discovering exciting people are more if we decide to ditch our sedentary lifestyle and try some outdoor activities.  Who knows, you might even find the love of your life while you’re on that trek.

 

Where can I find rock climbing and hiking activities?

For individuals struggling with addiction who wants to try addiction treatment programs that would allow them to spend some time outdoors, you can inquire about different holistic treatment approaches by addiction rehab centres.  If you want to get to know more about this option, you can visit the nearest addiction rehab facility near you and speak to an Addiction Specialist.

For those who are not on rehab but want to join hiking and rock climbing activities, you can check out local hiking and trekking tour groups.  These groups usually plan an itinerary ahead and gather people who want to join them on their guided trek.  These treks are usually accompanied by an expert so you can be sure that you’re safe.

If you want to be more adventurous though, you can gather your own friends and plan a mountain climbing activity. Before you do this, make sure though that you know the trail well, that you are physically fit to go on with the climb, and that you are mentally prepared for it.

If you want to read tips and stories about hiking, mountain climbing, and outdoor experiences, you can check out the blogs on Mapping Mountains.  You can read a lot of stories about the different mountains climbed and explored by the author.  From these stories, you can gain a lot of valuable insights that could also help you prepare physically and mentally for your own outdoor excursions.

So, what are you waiting for?  Put that gadget down, get out, and enjoy the wonders of nature!

Dale Vernor (January 2019)