Can Nature Immersion Therapy Help Heal Seasonal Depression?

Many people struggle with depression. In fact, it is one of the most common mental health issues in the world today. This is especially true in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “An estimated 21.0 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 8.3% of all U.S. adults.” A portion of these individuals struggle with what is known as seasonal depression.

Better Understanding Depression

Depression is discussed often in the public sphere. Yet, many people are unaware of what depression exactly is. 

According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Depression, by Doctors Chand and Arif, “Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classifies depressive disorders into Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder; Major depressive disorder; Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia); Premenstrual dysphoric disorder; and Depressive disorder due to another medical condition.” Also, “The common features of all depressive disorders are sadness, emptiness, or irritable mood, accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes that significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function.” All of these depressive disorders also have unique signs and symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms: Better Understanding the Types of Depression

Major depression is perhaps the most well-known type of depression. According to NIMH, “Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.”

Major depression is also the foundational representation of the symptoms of all types of depressive disorders. This includes persistent depressive disorder, prenatal depression, and seasonal affective disorder (also known as seasonal depression). The following are some of the more universal signs and symptoms of depression:

• Isolating away from family and friends
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Feeling overly anxious, nervous, and “stressed out”
• Having feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and uselessness
• Feeling “sad” for most of the day
• Using alcohol and substances as coping mechanisms
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough
• Loss of appetite and/or overeating (disordered eating)
• Experiencing otherwise unexplained physical ailments (such as gastrointestinal issues)
• Self-harming
• Having suicidal ideations
• Attempting suicide

As one can see, these are very serious symptoms, which is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present, it is highly recommended that professional help be sought as soon as possible. Doing so can make all the difference. It can mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. This is also true for seasonal depression.

Better Understanding Seasonal Depression

As previously mentioned, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more commonly known as seasonal depression. According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Seasonal Affective Disorder, by Doctors Munir, Gunturu, and Abbas, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) poses a significant challenge to mental health, affecting mood and overall well-being, especially during months with reduced daylight hours. Recognized as a subtype of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, SAD typically presents with major depressive episodes in the fall or winter and alleviates by spring or summer. This condition transcends transient sadness, profoundly influencing mood, cognitive function, and physical health.” 

Seasonal depression also has two types: winter-pattern SAD and summer-pattern SAD. According to NIMH, “If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior when the seasons change, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer, known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression. Other people experience depressive symptoms during the spring and summer months, known as summer-pattern SAD or summer depression.” There are also very specific signs and symptoms of seasonal depression.

The Signs and Symptoms of Seasonal Depression

While seasonal depression is going to share many of the universal signs of the other types of depression, it also has its own unique set. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• “Hypersomnia” – sleeping too much
• Overeating, especially with carbohydrates
• Feeling “empty” most of the day
• Feelings of restlessness and frustration
• Excessive feelings of guilt
• Feeling lethargic and “slowed down”
• No longer enjoying established hobbies and activities
• Otherwise, unexplained weight changes
• Having persistent headaches
• Showing aggressive behavior (specifically with summer-pattern SAD)

Again, clearly, these are symptoms that must be addressed as soon as possible. The good news is there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for treating seasonal depression.

Healing at the Cellular Level From Seasonal Depression

When it comes to seasonal depression recovery, it is crucial that it happens at the cellular level. But what exactly does healing at the cellular level mean? More importantly, what does cellular-level healing look like?

Healing at the cellular level is all about healing “each part of the whole.” This means that one can only heal completely if they heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Now, this is whole mind-body recovery.

The iconic yogi and spiritual teacher B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.” This “harmony” is what must happen if one is to heal at the cellular level. Now, this harmony is also crucial if one is to get to the root/core causes of seasonal depression.

Getting to the Underlying Root/Core Causes of Seasonal Depression

The behaviors of addiction and mental illness rarely manifest on their own. There are root/core causes that lead to these behaviors. These are the underlying issues that must be addressed. 

Now, while everyone’s underlying issues are going to be unique to them, there are issues that are more common than others. This includes issues of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Trauma is more common than most people may think. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged.” PTSD is also relatively common.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Center for PTSD, “About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” Also, “About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.”

It is important to treat these underlying issues if one is to heal at the cellular level. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an ideal way to treat issues of trauma and PTSD that could cause issues of seasonal depression. This therapy is particularly effective because it works on changing the negative way that one views oneself and the world around them.

CBT is also effective because it makes the individual a “player” in the process of recovery and focuses on “symptom reduction.” According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns… Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”

CBT is also particularly effective because it works well with other types of therapies, especially nature-based therapies. This cohesion is also the basis for the multi-angle approach to recovery.

The Multi-Angle Approach: A Focus on Individualized and Comprehensive Mental Health Care

Individualized and comprehensive mental health and addiction care are crucial if one is to heal at the cellular level. This includes focusing on the individual from the beginning with a personalized intake process and focusing on the individual with a comprehensive long-term recovery plan when they conclude residential treatment.

The multi-angle approach to recovery is all about utilizing all of the effective means, methods, and modalities currently available for optimal recovery. This includes psychotherapies like the aforementioned CBT,  holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation, and experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and surf therapy. These last two nature-based immersion therapies can be particularly helpful for those struggling with seasonal depression.

The Healing Benefits of Nature

It has long been known that nature is ideal for helping people recover from issues of addiction and mental illness. This is because nature positively enhances mood. According to the U.S. National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment.” Also, “Physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.”

Nature-based therapies are becoming more and more mainstream. According to the Journal of Global Health, “In contrast to medicated interventions, there has been renewed interest in ‘natural’ therapies, which are seen as less intrusive and more cost-effective. Meditation, lifestyle changes such as increased physical exercise, community-based activities, and engagement with natural environments are emerging as potential alternatives to complement or replace other forms of treatment. Indeed, there is growing evidence suggesting that nature-based health interventions (NBIs) can improve mental and physical health outcomes while also addressing the growing demand for less intrusive and more cost-effective treatments.” This includes nature immersion therapy for seasonal depression.

Better Understanding Nature Immersion Therapy

Nature immersion therapy can be particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with depression. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Exposure to natural environments has been linked with decreases in anxiety and rumination, which are associated with negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Nature-based health interventions (NBI) are interventions that aim to engage people in nature-based experiences with the goal of improving health and wellness outcomes…A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found a reduction in depressive mood following short-term exposure to natural environments.”

There are also many other benefits of nature immersion therapy. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning… While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship; also known as connectedness to nature (CN).” This “CN” can also happen in natural aquatic environments.

Utilizing Surf Therapy for Seasonal Depression

Healing from seasonal depression can also occur by engaging in aquatic activities like surfing. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “One environmental context that has received less attention is water-based physical activity, with researchers suggesting that swimming and other water-based activities (e.g., kayaking, surfing) may provide superior benefits for the promotion of human well-being due to greater affordances. These activities have heightened the psychological benefits (e.g., reduced anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, increased positive affect, and increased quality of life) associated with exercise and nature among US war veterans. Further, there is increasing evidence suggesting that participation in action and adventure sports, such as surfing, is meaningful and life-enhancing.”

Surf therapy also offers a myriad of other benefits for issues like seasonal depression. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Carefully planned water activities tailored to the needs of the individual can contribute to correct psychosocial and cognitive development. The International Surf Therapy Organization summarizes the benefits of adequately indicated surf therapy as follows: improved physical health and mobility; improved mental health, including reduction of specific symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress and depression; improved well-being (strengthening of trust and confidence, encouragement of independence, resilience and protective coping strategies) and improved social skills.” Another highly beneficial nature-based therapy for seasonal depression is horticulture therapy.

Utilizing Horticulture Therapy for Seasonal Depression

Horticulture has been used to help individuals center and find mental and emotional “balance” for thousands of years. Recently, it has entered the recovery realm.

The benefits of horticulture therapy are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.” Another highly beneficial practice that can occur outdoors is yoga.

Beach Yoga for Healing at the Cellular Level

Yoga has also been practiced for thousands of years. It is now widely understood that yoga also offers many benefits for recovery from issues like addiction and depression. When practiced outdoors, it can also be highly helpful for seasonal depression.

Yoga has so many benefits that it can be hard to quantify them all. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Regular practice of yoga promotes strength, endurance, flexibility and facilitates characteristics of friendliness, compassion, and greater self-control while cultivating a sense of calmness and well-being. Sustained practice also leads to important outcomes such as changes in life perspective, self-awareness, and an improved sense of energy to live life fully and with genuine enjoyment.” Also, “The practice of yoga produces a physiological state opposite to that of the flight-or-fight stress response and with that interruption in the stress response, a sense of balance and union between the mind and body can be achieved.”

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This includes healing at the cellular level from seasonal depression.

It is important to remember that life is about the journey, never the destination. Seasonal depression is just a roadblock on that journey that needs to be moved aside. Treatment at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab can make that move happen. Recovery is possible. We can help.

Seasonal depression affects millions of people around the world. That is why it can be critical to know what seasonal depression is and how one can recover at the cellular level via nature immersion therapy (and other combined modalities). If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of mental illness, addiction, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about the benefits of nature immersion therapy for healing from seasonal depression at the cellular level, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.