Nature journaling, forest bathing, ecotherapy, tree climbing, hiking – we’ve all heard that time spent in nature is good for our mental health. Scientists have even examined saliva samples and found a 20 percent reduction in stress hormones after spending just 20 minutes in nature. But why exactly is spending time outdoors so good for relieving anxiety and depression? And are some outdoor activities better than others for stress relief?
I recently got to pose these questions to Dr Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, an Integrative Medicine Physician who, among other things, is also a forest therapy guide, the Chief Medical Advisor for AllTrails and the author of several books, including The Outdoor Adventurer’s Guide to Forest Bathing. Hackenmiller became convinced of the benefits of nature therapy after losing her husband to cancer and raising a child on the autism spectrum, experiences that left her disillusioned with the conventional approach to medicine.
