The Calming Effects of Nature on Trauma Survivors & PTSD
Okay, just breathe!
C'mon, you can do it. This happened a lifetime ago. What's my calming plan?!? Count backward slowly - that didn't work. Somatic breathwork?! Yeah right! What's next? I'm not calling Katie again...I can do this. Oh yeah - get outside!
If you have ever noticed the fantastic difference it makes being outside versus in our home, office, or car? If so, you are NOT alone! Maybe you've forgotten the impact of the warmth of the sun, the gentle touch of a spring breeze, songbirds calling out to one another, or the touch of your plants as you stroll through your backyard native garden. Spending time in our natural world offers tremendous opportunity for calm. Nature provides significant effects on our bodies, minds, and psyche. This post will examine nature's calming effects on our lives. Specifically, we're going to learn about how outdoor activities give us the most positive effects for healing from our PTSD and our traumas. For those seeking Nature Therapy in Kansas City, MO, exploring the natural beauty around you can be a powerful way to enhance your well-being.
Nature Heals, Connects & Calms
First, there is a growing body of research on nature therapy & how our disconnection from natural environments increases symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The disconnect can even exacerbate physical health issues such as chronic pain. Nature therapy doesn't require immediate access to green spaces or an expansive natural setting. Rather, we can access connection to nature in the most simple ways such as potting a plant, digging up weeds in our yard, and sitting outdoors listening to the leaves blow in the wind. Nature therapy's primary focus is to practice ways for us to experience and acknowledge our connection to the natural world: big or small. This can be done in urban areas, the burbs, or our more rural Missouri communities. And there are tremendous benefits to us every time we connect!
What about my trauma or PTSD?
Traumatic experiences affect us all differently. PTSD tends to occur in approximately half of folks who experience a traumatic event where they have experienced potential loss of life or witnessed this directly in others. There are so many varieties of trauma that result in trauma responses & not contained to the threat of loss of life. Vicarious trauma is a form of trauma that happens with exposure to the stories of others who have experienced traumatic events. Often, first responders, mental health professionals, teachers, police & social workers experience high levels of vicarious trauma. At any time, folks who have experienced traumatic events may start to experience PTSD symptoms. These include trauma-related intrusive thoughts, physical or emotional reactivity following a trauma trigger, and exaggerated blame or responsibility for causing the trauma. Irritability, heightened startle response, and hypervigilance regarding safety or avoidance of trauma triggers/dangers are other symptoms.
There are many different ways to heal from trauma-related experiences. Professional help from a trauma-informed therapist can help you create action plans. This helps to manage the inevitable escalation when traumatic memories & emotions overwhelm you. The intro to this post attempted to demonstrate a plan of action to self-regulate following an escalated state that folks with symptoms of PTSD experience. There are so many specific therapy trauma modalities to help guide this process. Healing your response from trauma is attainable! You can completely heal from big responses to your traumatic past & we can help!
Benefits to Nature in Finding Your Calm
The great outdoors supplements therapeutic practices in terrific ways. I've started to notice more doctors around the world are prescribing natural activities to their patients to assist in mood, pain & anxiety management. Several negative emotions are diminished when we're outside! There is even evidence of boosts to the immune system following time with nature. Finding a calming influence can be wildly difficult. Thankfully, we have Mother Nature perpetually available to us any time we need to find a sense of calm. Below are several ways we benefit:
The Color Green is Calming: We have neurological responses when the brain sees the color green. We have tiny bursts of Serotonin production - green will produce happiness. So easy!
Grounding to the Present Place: For those who have experienced dissociation symptoms due to trauma or PTSD, many grounding activities help us to connect with the real world in real time. In other words, when we are re-experiencing our trauma efforts to touch, see, smell, hear & taste (careful with this one!) in nature to re-establish our connection to the present day & place. This can be incredibly powerful & is worthy of your consideration if needing some helpful techniques to counter severe flashbacks or dissociation.
Skin Contact with Soil Boosts our Mood: Mycobacterium vaccae is absorbed through the skin and triggers serotonin release - this is the 'happy hormone'. You will feel better in small doses. Get dirty - it's good medicine!
Depression & Anxiety Diminished: Depression & Anxiety Diminished: Modern examination of Nature Therapy or Eco-therapy has demonstrated reduced symptoms of mild or moderate depression. It also lowers anxiety leading to calmer minds.
Heart Rate & Blood Pressure Stabilization: Being in nature is known to decrease cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. There's also a belief that being outside lowers the strain on our cardiovascular system with increased time in nature resulting in significant health benefits. We also know that physical activity outdoors provides these benefits beyond what exercise indoors offers.
5 Nature-Based Activities That Calm Us
Go Outside to Stroll: That's it! Sometimes the best thing we can do is stimulate our body to turn off the mind. Whether we have racing thoughts, escalating panic, or are experiencing trauma flashbacks going outside to casually walk around is an impactful way to calm our minds in an accessible way.
Dig in the Dirt: Get dirty & ditch the gloves. This can be anywhere: at home, in a community garden, or volunteering at a local co-op farm. We can also accomplish this in a tiny apartment by trying our hand at an aloe plant. Or any plant! Get your hands dirty for the full benefit & to focus on connection.
Fishing: I'm terrible at fishing. However, it's in my genetics and embedded into many positive childhood memories with my Dad. Thankfully, even the most lowly of us benefit from the slow down & connection to the water. There's something wonderfully soothing in just watching the water. I'm particularly fond of moving water & the river is always calling me!
Swimming: Speaking of water, the act of swimming combines a few things on this list. First, the physical exertion required for swimming is a wonderful way to turn down the noise of a racing mind. Anxiety literally cannot exist if you're exerting yourself with a nice backstroke at the lake! Also, the immersion of water has a unique sensation that has a calming effect on many. Unless you can't swim. In that case, please get a life jacket.
Outdoor Exercise: This could easily be via landscaping, mowing (yes - even mowing), walking or running, hiking, kayaking, you name it! There are some wonderful publicly accessible outdoor workout stations throughout the KC area. Here are some of my favorites.
3 Favorite Kansas City Green Spaces
The KC Metro has tremendous public green spaces & parks. Sometimes, you just have to look around. Here are a few of my favorite things:
Raindrops on Roses: Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri has a beautiful Memorial Rose Garden that is perfect for those green-thumbed gardeners as it is accessible to the rest of us. Loose Park is a KC icon & has so much to offer! They have:
Tennis
Playground
Pond w/ Koi, Ducks, Geese & Beautiful Bridges
Trail Encompassing the Perimeter of the Park
Rose Garden
Memorial to the Battle of Westport
Outdoor Exercise Stations
Whiskers on Kittens: The Kansas City Zoo located in Swope Park has a historic and understated greatness. It's the largest park system in the KC Metro area & provides opportunities for so much learning, exercise & natural experiences thanks to our local zookeepers. Do yourself a favor and take the walk to Africa to spot the lions. It doesn't get much better than watching a playful group of lions frolicking together during a cool KC Spring!
Bright Copper Kettles!?!: Okay, so that's the end of my Sound of Music puns. My third recommendation for awesome KC green spaces is the Overland Park Arboretum. It boasts trails, education, rotating exhibits & much more. Located in Southern Johnson County Kansas, this gem gives the nearly 600-thousand Johnson County residents a natural playground close to home.
Find the Calm in Nature for your PTSD or trauma through Nature Therapy in Kansas City, MO Today!
There are so many calming benefits to getting outside in nature. And sometimes even experiencing the natural world from inside works too. Have you ever been furious that a gentle spring rain swept in or a couple of cardinals landed on your windowsill? Me neither! The effects of trauma and PTSD can be devastating. And nature remains an undeniable resource for us to find our calm within the storm. Even when it’s happening in our minds at another time & place. You are worthy of healing & more than your trauma. Keep going, no matter what. Follow the steps below to see how Nature Therapy in Kansas City, MO with GOKC can help you tap into the healing power of nature!
Work with an experienced nature therapist.
Learn to find peace within yourself through nature therapy!
Other Therapy Services Offered at GOKC in Brookside, Kansas City, and throughout MO + Kansas
At GOKC, we offer a range of services designed to promote healing and well-being outside of Nature Therapy in Kansas City, MO. Our services include DBT Treatment, Online Therapy, and EMDR for Trauma Recovery. Additionally, we offer Art Therapy, PTSD Treatment, and Somatic Experiencing. Whether you're looking to address specific mental health issues or seeking a deeper connection with yourself, GOKC can help you!
Authored by Aaron Shore, LPC
I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2010 with over 20 years working in community mental health, non-profits & senior leadership roles. I have established mastery in trauma therapies, men’s issues, nature therapy & Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. I also love mentorship, clinical supervision & the development of young therapists.