The outdoors are used for healing and restoring lives.

It is well known that physical activity improves both physiological and psychological well-being. Decades of research has shown that spending time outdoors interacting with nature can result in a variety of physical and mental health benefits, including improved short-term memory and concentration, improved immune system, lowered blood pressure, lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and decreased inflammation. Spending time outdoors has also been shown to help reduce stress as well as improve mood and decrease depression and anxiety symptoms. Not only has this been found to be true in the general population, this has been found to be especially true with our military veterans.

Isolation, disconnection from others and their surroundings, along with a lack of structure or routine, are often common issues with military veterans. The transition back to civilian life and peacetime activities can be challenging for military veterans returning from service. In addition to coping with physical injuries, oftentimes military veterans are faced with needing to cope with mental health issues, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If left untreated, these can lead to social withdrawal and isolation as well as worsening of symptoms. They can also impede a person’s ability to return to work and interact with others as well as lead to family and relationship stress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and medication are often the first line of treatment for these disorders. In addition to these treatment modalities, mental health professionals are increasingly looking towards other options that may be used to compliment the more traditional forms of therapy.

Reconnection with nature and the outdoors is often recommended by mental health professionals as part of a more holistic approach to treatment. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can help reduce stress as well as decrease depression and anxiety symptoms. Participating in outdoor recreational activities and taking part in healthy outdoor experiences have been found to have positive effects on the psychological wellbeing of military veterans, resulting in a decrease in symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety and perceived stress. Furthermore, the involvement of group or peer outdoor experiences appear to be even more beneficial in reducing isolation and disconnection. For example, studies looking at military veterans participating in guided outdoor experiences with peers have shown an increased sense of general social functioning and psychological wellbeing, along with a decrease in isolation and social withdrawal.

Outdoor experiences also seem to have an effect on the brain and brain activity. Recent brain imaging studies have shown that participating in outdoor experiences and excursions may have a positive effect on brain activity. Individuals who participated in outdoor activities were found to have lower activity in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, the area of the brain that is often associated with the modulation of emotions. This area of the brain is often found to be highly active during times of negative emotions, therefore lowered activity in this area of the brain is often associated with a decrease in negative emotions and likely an increase in positive emotions.

Participation in structured outdoor outings can provide military veterans with the physiological and psychological benefits that nature and the outdoors has to offer while at the same time provide the structure that military veterans are accustomed to having and often need. Programs offering peer outdoor experiences and activities can help decrease isolation, improve mood and increase a sense of camaraderie in military veterans.

Prepared by Dr. Roxanne Rodrigue Stepnowski, Psy.D., who is a licensed clinical psychologist at Medical Psychology Associates, LLC in Glastonbury, CT and on medical staff at Hartford Hospital.