Nature the outdoors and mental health

Posted on May 22, 2020 by ianc

I have written about this subject in the past the power of Nature the outdoors and mental health. We are living in very strange times. Nature the outdoors and mental health, my medicine, my antidepressants, my therapy room and all free of cost to myself and the NHS.

I have suffered from mental health issues for longer than I have ever admitted to anyone. The first time I saw a doctor regarding my mental health was over 20 years ago, I was prescribed antidepressants and signed off work. As with every other time I have talked with anyone I sort of brushed it aside, never took the meds and self-medicated in one way or another with drink and drugs.

I have drunk since I was a teen and at times taken various recreational drugs. Along with smoking, I have not touched any form of drug in well over 15 years and in that time I have had no desire or need to use them since. I have gone periods of time without drink be that at times in the army where it was not permitted and other times I have chosen to myself. The thing is I always drift back to it starting with the odd beer and escalating to binge drinking anything and everything that has been in the house, the last time that was 6 beers, 2.5 bottles of wine and half a bottle of gin. My theory if I drink it all then there’s none here for me to drink.

The Outdoors

There is one constant throughout my whole life, when I get down, feel shit or need time then it is the outdoors I go to. Ever since I was a child I have loved the outdoors and in particular water, I tend to gravitate towards water. When I was younger it would be fishing, swimming in the brook, the acid pool or riding our homemade bikes to gypos tump a spot on the river Usk where we would spend the day. We would be out from the time we got up until shouts rang out around the streets of mum’s calling us in. Back then I doubt any of us or many others realised the benefits of nature the outdoors and mental health.

Taken from MIND the mental health charity.

Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. For example, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects. It can:

improve your mood
reduce feelings of stress or anger
help you take time out and feel more relaxed
improve your physical health
improve your confidence and self-esteem
help you be more active
help you make new connections
provide peer support.

My escape

Every day I give gratitude for having easy access to green spaces, from my door I can walk into the Brecon Beacons national park along the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, walk the other way and I can walk the Usk Valley Walk. This super waterside walk follows the River Usk, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal and the Brecon and Newport Canal from Caerleon to Brecon. The walk passes through Abergavenny and Usk and is enclosed by beautiful hills for the whole of its length. There are numerous woodland walks within easy access as well. There are numerous images of my walks in the gallery of my photography. My other escape in normal times outside these crazy pandemic times is the coast, I love the sea be it being by the sea or in and on the water. West Wales is my spiritual home and has a special draw for me.

My medicine

I have no doubt that being outdoors boosts my mental health and well being. The boost to my vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Physical benefits to health be it from walking, riding my bike or doing things in and on the water. There are of course numerous benefits to mental health from exercise. I have never enjoyed running even when I was fit and healthy it is not the exercise for me, I can walk for miles, ride my bike for hours (after I get the bum accustomed to the saddle again).

During this episode of poor mental health and this crazy period in our lives. I have got out for my walks when at my lowest, spent time along the canal and river. Foraged wild garlic on the banks of the Usk while observing nature that seems to be in abundance right now, down to the millions of tadpoles in the canal right now. I have sat in the woods meditating while squirrels run less than 6foot from me going about their daily business.

Nature and the outdoors are truly remarkable in the power they have to ground us and change our whole physiology in such a short space of time.

I realise not everybody has access to such amazing green spaces such as I do. We all, in general, have access to some green space. I grew up on one of Newport’s toughest estates but still spent time in nature. Escaping the urban concrete jungle to spend time in the woods, fields, streams and ponds. Give it a go and get outdoors you will not regret it.

Until next time take care and love to you all.