Posts: 4759
From: Southern 'Bama
Registered: Aug 2002

posted March 07, 2005 09:42 AM         

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I've recently come across several articles on a study that showed that spending even a minimal amount of time outdoors in "green space" significantly reduced ADD/ADHD symptoms in kids diagnosed with the disorder - reduced them to the same extent as moderate levels of medication.

Now, something like that gets the wheels spinning...
To me, that points to ADD/ADHD - and perhaps myriad other "disorders" - not so much being a problem with "us" as a problem with the way that we're living.
Perhaps we've gotten to the point at which too much of what we're doing is inimical to what we are as organisms.

Any thoughts on this?

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Here's one of those articles: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/93/102307.htm

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Posts: 1157
From: North Carolina
Registered: Aug 2003

posted March 08, 2005 12:41 AM         

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I feel much better after spending time outdoors, even if it's not much. I personally believe that reconnecting with nature is a big benefit to people, especially in our "modern" world where a lot of people spend most of their time indoors. I don't know many people who spend enough time outside for basic Vitamin D production, even. I can't help but feel that we are intended to be natural organisms working with our natural surroundings instead of always trying to force our surroundings to be more convenient for whatever new purpose is at hand. Sorry, I'm rambling. I think that exposure to the elements and the general Spirit of nature is certain to help children develop properly. It's easy to forget that it's only been in the last 60-70 years or so that we've made a complete turnaround in the way children are raised and spend the majority of their playtime, to the point where in some neighborhoods it's rare to see kids playing outside regularly or at all. That seems to me most unnatural and unhealthy.

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"This above all:
to thine own self be true,
And it must follow,
as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false
to any man." - Shakespeare

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Posts: 294
From: new zealand
Registered: Dec 2004

posted March 08, 2005 08:43 AM         

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Pay CLOSE attention outdoors- you will see some real out of it s***

*is that tree a giant monkey?*

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Posts: 1895
From: sleepy Rocky Mountain village
Registered: Dec 2002

posted March 08, 2005 05:45 PM         

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I am convinced that the direction our society has been going in ever since the industrial revolution has done nothing but simultaneously take us further away from and destroy the environment that our bodies evolved within over millions of years and that now we are seeing the unavoidable effects of this on our health.
The ultimate truth that we have yet to face up to as a society is that human health is inextricably linked to the health of the ecosystems we live within. We will never be whole until we acknowledge that we are only part of a larger whole and our mental and physical well-being is utterly dependant on the well-being of the whole.

I wish I had more time to dwell on this topic here since it's an area I read extensivly about but alas my internet time is limited to snatches of time here or there at the library, since my computer broke a couple weeks ago.

Some books on the matter-
The Great Work by Thomas Berry
The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry
Becoming Native to This Place by Wes Jackson
In the Absence of the Sacred by Jerry Mander

Interesting and important topic for discussion, prox.. Thanks for bringing it up!
It's right up my alley but I'm sure you aren't surprised by that.

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Posts: 21588
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted March 09, 2005 10:28 AM         

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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Posts: 8131
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004

posted March 10, 2005 06:08 PM         

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Great topic! I too feel better after time spent outdoors. Out bodies need sunlight everyday. If we dont get enough fresh air and sunlight depression and other disorders can set in. I notice it especially living in the NorthEast. I tend to get really down and have no energy during the winter months when sunlight and outdoor activity is limited. Some people can handle it better than others but I seem to have a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

I've also noticed that you dont see kids playing outside as much anymore. It's sad really. So much of my childhood was spent exploring through the woods and I think as humans we have gone too far away from nature nowadays. And it's especially important for growing children to be exposed to it. I agree, "most unnatural and unhealthy" for children to spent too much time indoors. Specifically in front of a television.

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Posts: 21588
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted March 16, 2005 01:11 PM         

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What 26 said.

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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Posts: 93
From: Bristol, England
Registered: Mar 2005

posted March 21, 2005 05:01 PM         

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I totally agree, knowflakes!

It makes me sad that children no longer spend very much time outdoors.

I feel SO drawn to nature. It's hard to explain in a few words, but I could write oodles of poetry on the matter. My heart wants to reach out to the Earth, to heal it. Nature makes me feel very spiritual. I am FASCINATED by the way that native cultures live & their spirituality. My heart reaches out to them; I feel I want to go and join them so much.

Being outside definetely keeps my depression at bay. I feel I could live outside all the time with the sky as my canopy (if weather would allow it!). Also, I've noticed that my toddler benefits from fresh air as much as I do. If really bad weather stops us from going out, he seems very frustrated & irritable. If he has an adventure every day, then he is happier and calmer.

Thankyou for your thoughts.

LOve & Peace

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Posts: 21588
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted March 22, 2005 10:30 AM         

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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Posts: 2
From: nevada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted March 22, 2005 12:19 PM         

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great artical,
I think by nature children are hyperactive somewhat and really only in this country (US) do schools really push for medication. The true difinition of this is when a child can come up with the answer to a problem BUT not the steps it takes to get there. Or at least that is how it was explained to me.
One last thing, I always thought hyperactivity was inherited from the mothers side, but it isn't it comes from the fathers side. Lets medicate our children with sunshine!! (and sunscreen)

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Posts: 21588
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted March 23, 2005 01:48 PM         

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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Posts: 21588
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted May 27, 2005 12:18 PM         

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*bump*

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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Posts: 1337
From: Melbourne Australia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted June 06, 2005 07:41 PM         

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Wow great stuff!

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"The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle." Anaïs Nin

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Posts: 21588
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted June 14, 2005 01:22 PM         

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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