This post explores nature therapy as a supplemental treatment for veterans’ PTSD, leveraging outdoor activities for stress reduction and emotional regulation.
Whether arising from active combat or another traumatic event, military personnel often encounter a formidable adversary upon returning home: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This debilitating condition can make everyday life a daunting challenge and transform their transition to civilian life into an ongoing battle.
Those who served our country have already sacrificed so much, only for many to deal with a detrimental condition that is still misunderstood and carries a heavy stigma. Fortunately, significant progress has been made in developing effective treatment strategies for PTSD, particularly for veterans. One promising approach is nature therapy.
But what exactly is nature therapy, and how does it contribute to restoring peace and equilibrium in the lives of veterans? This article explores nature therapy for veterans, elucidating how individuals with PTSD, including yourself or a loved one, can derive unique benefits from this alternative, non-pharmaceutical treatment method.
Understanding PTSD
PTSD is a mental disorder that develops in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a shocking or deeply upsetting event. Individuals with PTSD often deal with symptoms that manifest in reaction to a “trigger” or catalyst that reminds them of the traumatic event.
For veterans, this can result from factors combat, the extensive amount of pressure they are under in their daily activities, sexual assault, or others. PTSD is an often crippling condition that manifests in a variety of ways, such as:
Intrusive thoughts: Individuals with PTSD often suffer from inescapable thoughts that remind them of their traumatic event and often make them feel like they are reexperiencing or reliving it. This can come in involuntary memories, flashbacks, or dreams about the event that may be vivid and feel real.
Avoidance: Being exposed to the feelings associated with the traumatic event or feeling as if they may relive it often causes veterans with PTSD to avoid anything that may remind them of their traumatic events, such as people, places, things, and activities.
Altered cognition and mood: Due to the emotional and mental duress caused by PTSD, those dealing with it often experience alterations in their cognitive abilities and mood, such as difficulty remembering things, negative thoughts about oneself, and guilt from their role in the event, losing interest in activities they otherwise enjoy, anxiety, depression, and feelings of social isolation.
How Nature Therapy Restores Peace for Veterans With PTSD
Nature therapy is an emerging treatment option for veterans with PTSDa that evolved from gardening and horticulture therapy. Based on research1 that shows nature’s impact on an individual’s physical well-being and emotional health, nature therapy aims to harness humanity’s connection to nature to ground victims of PTSD in a tangible place.
Often referred to as “outdoor therapy” or “green therapy,” nature therapy is an umbrella term encompassing various therapies in outdoor settings, such as hiking, exploring botanical gardens, gardening, or simply engaging in traditional therapy sessions in an outdoor environment.
Actions such as fishing and feeling the tug of water against a line and the sounds of birds chirping while individuals wait for a bite can help ground veterans in their present reality while allowing other evidence-based therapies for PTSD to work more effectively.
Nature therapy can be beneficial for veterans with PTSD for a variety of reasons, with some of the most notable being because it:
Reduces stress: Spending time in peaceful, relaxing, and natural environments like forests, bodies of water, or nature parks has been shown to reduce stress levels alone. When coupled with other treatment options, the calming atmosphere can potentially enhance treatments and help alleviate stress, anxiety, and feelings of hypervigilance.
Helps regulate emotions: The soothing and peaceful sights and sounds of environments in nature make it easier for veterans to lower their guard, which can create a sense of tranquility in veterans with PTSD and help those who have difficulty regulating their emotions.
Grounds individuals: Being placed in a peaceful, tangible moment can help remind veterans that they are no longer experiencing their trauma which can help keep them grounded in reality during potential future episodes.
Exposes individuals to physical activity: Physical activity is known to release endorphins and help lower stress levels. Engaging with nature often involves physical activities such as hiking or cycling, which can promote greater well-being and regular exercise.
Creates social connections: Social support is a crucial factor of many PTSD treatment strategies, and participating in nature-based group activities can be hugely beneficial for veterans with PTSD by exposing them to a network of people with whom they can build camaraderie and negate feelings of isolation.
Enhances mental resilience: Nature’s healing characteristics can aid in reducing mental tiredness, increasing attention span, and improving general well-being. Being in nature gives veterans perspective, regeneration, and optimism for the future, which can better prepare them for potential episodes.
Researchers have yet to pinpoint what explicitly causes these activities to be beneficial. Yet, research has continued to show2 that some ephemeral quality of nature reduces stress and promotes lower reliance on medication or drugs. It is believed that the therapeutic beauty of nature therapy lies in its ability to continually engage the senses and create a connection to one’s environment.
Sensory experiences allow veterans to be grounded in the soothing ambiance of their natural surroundings, provide a respite from the often overbearing distress and anxiety that comes from PTSD, and instill a sense of place in them.
Some of the best examples of nature therapy include but are not limited to:
Forest therapy: Also known as shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing,” forest therapy involves immersing oneself in the peaceful and rejuvenating environment of a forest. The practice, which originated in Japan, is not about vigorous outdoor activities; rather, it encourages mindful exploration and connection with nature. For veterans, forest therapy can provide a calm, serene space to process their experiences and emotions. The forest environment can also stimulate the senses in a soothing way, from the scent of pine needles to the sound of a gentle breeze rustling through leaves. This sensory stimulation, combined with the visual beauty of the forest, can aid in stress reduction, mood improvement, and overall mental wellbeing.
Horticulture therapy: Horticulture or gardening engages veterans in planting, nurturing, or cultivating green spaces. Working with plants while engrossed in nature can not only ground veterans and improve their mood but also give them something to care for and a goal for visual progress.
Adventure-based therapy: This type of nature therapy uses activities such as rock climbing, rope courses, obstacle courses, or rafting to help veterans breach their comfort zones and overcome obstacles, often through shared challenges that allow them to work with a team and build camaraderie.
Animal-assisted therapy: Working with animals has been shown to be an effective part of therapy strategies for PTSD4. Animals give veterans with PTSD emotional support and let them know they aren’t alone while giving them something to care for outside of themselves. This can be emboldened by experiencing nature with the animal and benefitting from the positive aspects of both.
Nature walks and guided meditations: Simply spending time in nature, going for leisurely walks, or participating in guided meditations in natural surroundings can be therapeutic. Engaging in mindfulness practices and evidence-based therapies amidst the beauty of nature can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and increase the efficacy of treatment.
It’s important to note that treating PTSD requires a thorough strategy and that nature therapy is recommended as a complementary approach to evidence-based treatments for PTSD3, and that, like any treatment, nature therapy should be tailored to the specific needs of each veteran by a professional. If you or a loved one are interested in pursuing nature therapy for PTSD, consult with a healthcare professional or organizations specializing in nature-based trauma treatment.
Are you interested in learning how to become a Certified Nature Therapy Guide and offer nature-connected experiences to veterans in your area? Please visit our Core Guide Training page to learn more about the certification pathway.
References:
a A New Era of Trauma Healing: The Promising Future of PTSD Treatments for Veterans by Claire Szewczyk, May, 2023, www.hillandponton.com/the-future-of-ptsd-treatments-for-veterans/
1Int J Environ Res Public Health., “Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence.” April 30, 2021. NCBI.MLN.NIH.Gov. Accessed July 12, 2023.
2Health Psychol Open., “How veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder experience nature-based activities in a forest therapy garden.” March 31, 2016.NCBI.MLN.NIH.Gov. Accessed July 12, 2023.
3PLoS One. “Outdoor recreational activity experiences improve psychological wellbeing of military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: Positive findings from a pilot study and a randomized controlled trial.” Nov. 25, 2020.NCBI.MLN.NIH.Gov. Accessed July 13, 2023.
4Front Psychol, “Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review.” Aug. 7, 2015.NCBI.MLN.NIH.Gov. Accessed July 13, 2023.