VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Parkgoers at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach have been taking advantage of the mild spring weather.
"You step outside and you just feel a little extra joy," said Avery Evans of Charlottesville.
"It's a good feeling to be out here listening to the birds and the owls," said Doris Economou of Richmond.
Turns out, there’s science behind that good feeling you get when you’re out in nature.
“It is profoundly documented throughout research and studies that we need to have nature in order to increase our serotonin and our dopamine in our brain,” said Dr. Sarah Williams, a licensed Hampton Roads psychotherapist.
Serotonin and dopamine are chemicals in the brain associated with well-being, pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation.
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Dr. Williams routinely encourages her patients to get get a daily dose of nature.
“That is a requirement for us to function and not to experience depression and/or anxiety,” said Dr. Williams.
In the 1980s, Japanese doctors started prescribing something called 'Forest Bathing' to patients experiencing stress-related illnesses and anxiety. It’s based on ancient spiritual practices of walking among the trees, breathing deeply, and reconnecting with nature.
Dr. Taryn Myers, chairman of the psychology department at Virginia Wesleyan University, studies how nature affects us mentally and physically.
“There are actually studies showing that it has physiological effects. It improves the immune system, it can decrease blood pressure, increase the positive indices of cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Myers.
And you don’t have to be around trees to get the benefits of nature: Dr. Myers says walking on the beach also has a positive effect. And in Hampton Roads, there are lots of opportunities for that.
“When you walk next to a body of water for 20 minutes, it actually improves your mental and physical health,” said Dr. Myers.
Dr. Myers is currently working on a research paper on how nature affects body image and eating disorders.
“Having an affinity for nature, being out in nature, that actually leads people to more of what we call body appreciation, which is not only feeling good about how you look, but appreciating what your body can do for you, which is really cool,” said Dr. Myers.
Take a Walk
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So how much time should you be out in natural surroundings to get the benefits of all those feel-good brain chemicals?
“At least daily, even if it's just 10 minutes. And that is without the cellphone, the laptop or the tablet,” said Dr. Williams.
“Even just gardening can improve your mood, improve how you feel about yourself and how you feel about your body,” said Dr. Myers.
So if you’re feeling stressed or a little down, try a walk in the woods or a stroll on the beach to help give your brain a boost.
