Hiking In The Forest

[Insight]

Hello,

I just recently went on a backpacking trip in the forest by myself and it was the best thing for my psyche. Seeing other life in the woods really lifted up my spirit. And I was by myself so it was nice to get away from people.

I can feel myself healing. Just wondering if anyone else has had any success from hiking/camping in the woods? Or even just going on a walk in the woods? Not trying to say this will help everyone, but it really helped me out a lot.

 

[GWhizz]

I love hiking and camping. Something about nature really helps me. But only in numbers. Wouldn't feel confident alone as I'm too hypervigilant. But glad it was helpful for you and that you felt safe enough to do that.

 

[Air]

Yeah hiking is great, there's nothing better for anxiety for me. Something about being outdoors and just exploring nature is so freeing, like it's all so big that my personal struggles kind of fade away a bit.

Also the mundane task of just putting one foot in front of the other gives me just enough time to think about stuff without having enough time to feel worried.

 

[Kodah]

I've found my greatest calm on a fall day where it's cool and cloudy sitting in a canoe with a husky and a cup of coffee watching the sunset over a light breeze.

Walking in nature is also nice. The husky and I snowshoed every morning even at 15f below. It took an hour and I'd do it again. I'm not much for wet feet in the summer.

 

[Air]

I've found my greatest calm on a fall day where it's cool and cloudy sitting in a canoe with a husky and...

It's nice that you hike with your husky. This is kind of off topic, but I've known a couple of people who get huskies because they look beautiful, but them keep them cooped up in the house the whole time without any exercise and are pissed off when they are the most irritable and badly behaved dogs they've ever had. Some people don't realize that different dogs need different levels of exercise and just think a husky is going to make a great apartment pet for downtown, I'm glad you're not one of them.

 

[Crow]

Great articleI read last week

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2015/07/22/how-nature-changes-the-brain/?referer=

 

[Air]

Great articleI read last week

If I had to guess why, I'd say it has something to do with our natural instincts. I think humans have a survival instinct telling them when something is safe, and being in a peaceful lush environment activates something about that ancient instinct telling us we're safe and should be there. All of our technological innovations are so new on the time scale of evolution that really we haven't adapted to see these big buildings and bustling cities as ideal places, and being in a nice natural environment can really help. Of course this is a layman's opinion, but I see it as a reasonable possibility that that has something to do with it.

 

[Kodah]

It's nice that you hike with your husky. This is kind of off topic, but I've known a couple of people who g...

You do that apartment husky idea, just walk an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.

 

[Crow]

@Air I think it's more the electromagnetic impact of the plants on our energy field.

 

[Air]

You do that apartment husky idea, just walk an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.

I feel like it'd need a good run though, at like a legit dog park which is surprisingly tough to find some places. In general though this guy didn't want to walk it more than a few times around the block per day, and that's a recipe for disaster for most dogs. Luckily he did give it away which was probably best, and I hope next time he considers getting something more like a chihuahua. Personally I'd feel better having a husky if I lived in a rural area where I could regularly hike and bike with it, until then I'll stick with my lower exercise dogs.

@Air I think it's more the electromagnetic impact of the plants on our energy field.

I don't know if I'd say that, but either way it does help me. Not for everyone maybe, but I think fresh air in a natural environment helps a lot of people with general stress and anxiety.

 

[DucatiGirl]

Walking is bilateral stimulation, of course, and there's nothing like a walk in the woods to put you in nature. My GSMD and I hiked the portion of the Appalachian Trail that was in Virginia, and it was a brilliant fantastic week. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, except she's 10 now and way too old for that long a trek!

 

[Tj's Paradigm Shift]

Being in scenery is very therapeutic and grounding. I started a small outdoor group here in the Pacific Northwest and can say it has helped tremendously. Camping and fishing at a lake or in the mountains is relaxing. All of us are respectful of each others space and no one is obligated to participate in each activity. Dialogue is optional. Most of us are introverts. Some even come out of their shell. Long story short, connecting with nature makes a needed difference