Wilderness Therapy for Health and Wellness

Mental Health issues have been a paradigm in the human condition since the dawn of mankind.    Throughout history there have been three general theories of the origins of mental illness: supernatural, somatogenic (physiological causes), or psychologically rooted.  So treatments have relied on which etiology a culture practices.  Today, in the United States, we correlate mental illness to physiological and psychological causes.  A few forms of treatment include psychotherapy, hospitalization, medication, and alternative medicine.  Because every human being is different, what works for one person may not work for another.  Today I am comparing medication in treating mental health issues compared to an alternative treatment known as wilderness therapy.

Medication to change hormone levels as well as channeling altered states of consciousness with drugs have been tools in human history for treating psychological conditions. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), heroin was introduced as a cure for alcoholism and opium dens were scattered throughout the Old West in the United States in the late 1800s.  The Association for Natural Psychology says, “[A high-octane mix of ethanol and opium] was used as a painkiller, an antidepressant, and an antihysteric, [in the Victorian era] and it often worked quite well—provided you overlooked the fact that it was also wildly addictive and frequently lethal.”  Since then millions of drugs have been introduced, and there are many theories out there about the pharmaceutical drug industry.  According to the NCBI, “even though not all details are known, experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals like serotonin which then affects some nerve connections. Antidepressants aim to increase the availability of these chemicals. The various drugs do that in different ways.”  The idea behind the $450 billion nominal spending on medicines in the U.S. is to facilitate change at a chemical level in our brains.  NCBI.gov then goes on to reference a study conducted among 100 individuals on antidepressants compared to 100 people taking a placebo.  

Without antidepressants: About 20 to 40 out of 100 people who took a placebo noticed an improvement in their symptoms within six to eight weeks.  With antidepressants: About 40 to 60 out of 100 people who took an antidepressant noticed an improvement in their symptoms within six to eight weeks.  

Symptoms of depression and anxiety include extreme sadness, exhaustion, anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts.  The article then goes on to say that antidepressants are usually taken for two or more years to prevent relapse.  So it seems if medication can relieve any of those ailments, then it could be an important treatment to look into.  But like all medications, antidepressants can have serious side effects.  Over half of people taking medication report unwanted reactions.  Some of these side effects include dry mouth, headaches, anxiety, decreased sex drive, diarrhea, sleep problems, nausea, constipation, dizziness, trembling, urination problems, and a small number of people have had heart problems, epileptic fits, liver damage.  Some studies suggest teenagers consider and attempt suicide more often when taking Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs or SNRIs).  Physicians, psychiatrists, and guidelines should always be consulted before choosing any substance that can alter your body chemistry, but medication is one option when treating mental health issues.

 When looking at the history of psychology and philosophy of the mind and body, questions have existed almost as long as humans have.  Physiological instincts to move our bodies helped us to avoid threats and utilize opportunities for survival during prehistoric times.  In the beginning, there was no formal education systems to teach people how to live.  The demands of everyday life were the teacher.  From finding food, avoiding predators, seeking shelter, staying warm, and protecting our communities, these responsibilities dominated our existence.  Emotions like anxiety when running from a bear, or depression after a family member died of infection are two examples of normal responses to unwanted events.  While our DNA is nearly identical to cavemen, our lifestyles are very different.  Most people today do not have to worry about predators or even health care like cavemen did.  But we still have these overwhelming emotions that seem to erupt inside of us and it seems our struggle is in how to manage these unwanted reactions.  As times have changed, and humans’ necessities for survival have also evolved, we have used a variety of methods to treat different disorders of the mind and body.  It can be a challenge to diagnose and heal mental illness because it isn’t really tangible.  Physical health may, or may not, be more straight forward than illnesses in the mind.  

Some of the earliest recorded human history depicts their views of mental illness as a result of supernatural forces and demonic possessions.  Up until the 19th century, many patients saw an exorcist to rid their bodies of demons and/or were restrained then sent to asylums to live out their days.  

Psychopathology, and psychotherapy (or talk therapy), was introduced by neurologist Sigmund Freud in 1856.  The British Columbia Medical Journal says “his theory of psychodynamics centered on the idea that mental illness was a result of unresolved unconscious theory and the product of the interplay of unresolved unconscious motives.  [It] should be treated through various methods of open dialogue with the patient.[2]  Behaviorism was then introduced by scientists Pavlov and Watson around 1913.  They studied the effects of response to stimuli, behavioral conditioning, and treatment focused on methods of adaptive reconditioning.  
With all of these methods in treating mental and physical illness, it can be a whirlwind in figuring out what is right for an individual.  Maybe the answer to so many of life's problems is right out our front door.  John Davis of Naropa University says, “there is a “strong body of psychological research… [that] confirms the hypothesis that direct contact with nature leads to increased mental health and psychological development… there are over one hundred research studies that show “stress reduction is a key perceived benefit of wilderness [therapy].  Nature provides… coherence, complexity, legibility, and mystery.”  There have even been studies showing that when people recovering from surgery in a hospital room with a view of nature from a window promotes health.  There is an increased sense of self, mindfulness, and sensory awareness in natural settings.  Perhaps this taps into our ancestors DNA which kept us alive thousands of years ago.  Humans had no influence (as far as we know) over the creation of Earth and standing under redwood trees 300 feet tall, or climbing above clouds to a mountain peak, or simply sleeping under stars in a barren dessert have a physiological and psychological effects on humans that are almost inexplicable.  Especially with technology and the media shoving thousands of images of what to want and how to live in our face daily, I believe we have become so distant from such an important environment that can heal our bodies and mind.  While our education system today teaches reading, writing, and math, I believe adding wilderness therapy to our curriculums could change the existential dimensions of psychological health and ultimately improve this planet and our approach to life. Wilderness experience and exposure to unadulterated nature can greatly increase physical health, human behavior, and even help empower us to manage mental illness along with human emotions.  Modern medicine has been around for a long time, but nature has been around for longer.  Perhaps we can incorporate wilderness therapy into our curriculums to make this world a little better.

1. Marc Jutras “Historical perspectives on the theories, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness”  The British Columbia Medical Journal Vol. 59 No.2 Pages 86-88, March 2017

2. Coomber, R., McElrath, K., Measham, F. Moore, K. (2013). Key Concepts in Drugs and Society (SAGE Key Concepts series) 1st Edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

3. Arroll B, Elley CR, Fishman T, Goodyear-Smith FA, Kenealy T, Blashki G et al. Antidepressants versus placebo for depression in primary care. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009; (3): CD007954 “Depression: How effective are antidepressants?” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0087089/  January 12, 2017  

4. John Davis, Ph.D “Psychological Benefits of Nature Experiences: An Outline of Research and Theory”  Naropa University and School of Lost Borders July 2004