October 8, 2017
Tell Depression And Anxiety To Take A Hike!
New studies are proving something we already instinctively know, take a walk in Mother Nature and you will feel better. Hiking in nature can decrease anxiety and depression at a much higher rate than walking in an urban setting. We already know that the simple act of walking can elevate your mood and give you energy but imagine doing it in a beautiful setting surrounded by trees, grass, flowers and water.
Studies have shown that the neural activity in the Subgenual Prefrontal Cortex, a brain region was turned off when walking in nature vs when walking in an urban setting. This part of the brain is active during rumination – repetitive thought focused on negative emotions. After taking a hike people found their stress and anxiety had lowed, this is probably due to many of the chemicals and hormones that are released. Some of these are:
Oxytocin
Is a hormone that is released into the blood, often when one is feeling love, touching, breast feeding in woman. Oxytocin gives us the emotional feelings associated with love, peace, nurturing, and security. Hiking and viewing nature are catalysts for such a release, This kind of warm fuzzy feeling is welcome any day!
Endorphins
Are released by the pituitary gland, and often make you feel stimulated, blocking out feelings of pain, allowing one to “get over” what they may be experiencing in their life at the time.
Dopamine
Is a neurotransmitter that controls the brains reward and pleasure feelings. Low levels of dopamine are usually associated with addiction of risk seeking behaviours.
Serotonin
Low levels of serotonin are often found in people with depression, it regulates moods, keeping them balanced. It can also effect ones sleep, social behaviour, appetite and digestion, memory and sexual desire.
These chemicals in the body are important to our wellbeing with 50 percent of the population living in urban settings the chances of them being low is already elevated. City dwellers have a 20 percent higher risk of anxiety disorders and a 40 percent higher risk of mood disorders as compared to people in rural areas. Interestingly enough people born and raised in cities are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia. This information shouldn’t be ignored.
Depression is on the rise and so are cement buildings so we need to be proactive, our happiness may depend on it. So take a hike, get outside, breathe deep, look around and be prepared to feel better.
References:
Stanford News, article by Rob Jordan
