From 20 minutes to 2 Hours per day, Nature Time can now be prescribed by your Primary Care Physician to treat Depression.
For those that have been visiting Nature for healing and Wellness, this only confirms what we know and felt all along.
TIMES: Why Doctors Are Prescribing Nature Walks
The irony. My Primary Care Physician never mentioned it nor has any of the Doctors I have worked with to their Patients suffering from Depression. These are Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine Physicians. None from my 22 years of Nursing Practice.
What normally happens, Primary Care Physicians based on a Depression Scoring System or simply from the Patients subjective need for Depression Treatment refer their Patients to a Behavioral Health Specialist like Psychiatrist both for medication prescription and Psychotherapy. Primary Care Physicians comfortable with prescribing Anti-Depressants can initiate and refill basic Anti-Depressant prescriptions like Sertraline. Still follow-up and trust are poor.
Some Medical Groups like Kaiser are aggressive in treating Depression and Mental Health at the Primary Care Physicians level which I believe should be the standard of wholistic Patient Care because no one knows more of our medical and psyche history than our Primary Care Physicians. Other Medical Groups, their Doctors are reluctant to deal with Depression upfront and will refer depressed Patients to a Behavioral Health Specialist delaying Patient Care. The when is the problem many Depressed Patients have to endure.
From Waiting to Nothing
Behavioral Health Referrals can get denied by their insurance as easy as having the wrong ICD Code Diagnosis. Follow-up and time of approval to appointment can take weeks to months, and many of these referrals fall off the cracks. Patients on the other hand are suffering or already been to the Emergency Room for severe Depression and or Suicide. Nothing has changed for the past 10 years to improve this inconsistencies.
Untreated Mental Health is alarmingly prevalent. It is very common yet it is not given the needed attention and urgency. Severe Depression and Suicide are considered Emergency. They are seriously Life threatening.
Bay Area, San Francisco and Santa Cruz has very high untreated Mental Health and Homeless Population. They are everywhere. Locals and Leaders seem to accept this as normal and hopelessly unfixable. It’s not. Something can be done. People should get the help and support every Human Being deserves.
How communities with 1 million and above houses ignore real People in their streets crying for help and change is unbelievable. But where I live and my surrounding Cities these is acceptable and tolerated. Eventually, new Settlers gets numb and accept things as futile.
People look the other way. From our Governor to our Mayors, same reaction, look the other way. Focus is on Capitalism, Economy and Politics. Mention of Mental Health is Taboo and People act like it’s happening to another Country. Who would believe and accept Silicon Valley home to some of the richest companies and owners in the World like Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Netflix and Tesla has so much Poverty and ignored Mental Health Problems? It’s a scandal. It’s ugliness to an image that has to be dreamy. This I can tell you, it ain’t dreamy at all. But I got numb too and learned to accept things for what they are.
I struggle with Anxiety, Stress and Depression myself so I know exactly what it feels to live in an environment where People are in a Bubble, Friends and Family included.
Bubble means things that are nice, pretty, happy, comfortable, amazing are the main focus of life and conversations. Anything negative, sad, painful, dark, conscience provoking, uncomfortable, requires caring are frowned upon and unpopular. They get skipped like they are not part of Living in the Real World. Superficial Bubble Mindset and Lifestyle.
Next time we see our Primary Care Physician, ask for Nature Time Prescription. Summer is coming and so many Nature Parks awaits for us to experience. We deserve to smile and be happy the way Nature intended. If our PCP doesn’t know what Nature Time Rx is, time to educate them and tell them exactly what we really need. Not everything is fixed by Prescription Drugs.
This Man's Journey 
Pingback: Nature Time Prescription for Depression – Stay Healthy Weekly
Article and pictures are therapeutic. Thank you
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They are. Thanks.
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❤️
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🙏
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Such a beautiful collection of colourful photos! Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally but also contributes to your physical well-being and that’s why I try to make a conscious decision to spend as much time as possible outdoors. I firmly believe that our relationship with nature – how much we notice, think about and appreciate our natural surroundings – is a critical factor in supporting good mental health and preventing distress. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thanks Aiva. I so agree 110%! For many of us, with the Pandemic and Life unpleasant circumstances, Nature is that one consistent bounty that is generous, kind, nurturing, healing, giver of peace and joy.
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🥰🥰🥰
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I completely agree how mental health is important and we as a society and government should be doing more to address it. Sorry to hear that you struggle with anxiety, stress and depression. I appreciate that you are so open about it. Nature really is healing.
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Thank you for the thoughtfulness and kindness. Mental Health was foreign to me till I hit 40’s and gets worse depending on life circumstances. No one prepared me for it, I had to learn what it is and survive it in my own terms, and some Doctor’s help, but overall, I had to find ways to beat it that works for me. It is sad that many people still don’t know how to truly support and help Family and Friends struggling with Mental Health issues. The last few years, mental health and stress is increasing but measures to help hasn’t. Most work Management don’t really address it in a personal way. Patch here, patch there, “bandaid treatment.”
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Your nature healing escape photos are always so great! Makes me want to drive up north and visit 🙂 and I completely agree with you the Outdoors has some great healing properties, helps your mind and perspective. Thanks for those soothing vibes. Have a great week!
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Thank you. More than ever, Nature is much needed for the Healing and calmness it brings. Just my observation, many had been edgy, angry, stressed out with all that happened the past 2 years and everyone needs their happy, peaceful place. COVID, Politics, Racial Hate, Global War, changed People’s attitude, behavior and perspective. It’s sad but it’s also not too late to be better.
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Those royal blue water can definitely bring soothing and healing calm. I can see why you return it to this place again and again.
I wish more people had the awareness and encouragement and the means to experience the outdoors. It would greatly help reduce this wave of mental health pandemic that I think we are on the cusp of having coming out of COVID.
I’m sorry that you struggle with anxiety, stress and depression. But I am glad that you speak and write about it so openly and honestly. I feel that often is part of the healing itself.
Hang in there and enjoy the rest of your weekend! 🙏
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Thanks Ab. Yes, writing freely is in itself therapeutic, so are doing what we enjoy like hiking outdoors, photography and listening to music. When I’m with Nature, all these become one healing process happening all at once. Like taking medicine for back pain, several prescriptions to ease the pain just having different functions and mechanism to our bodies. Mental Health is happening at work to many at many different levels but only a 1-2 are brave to speak about it. It’s sad because you can see through their busy language, actions, words and eyes they are going through something that they might be dealing all alone. COVID accelerated stress and mental health in so many ways in the healthcare setting including our patients. With COVID forever and ever, so it’s effect on the human mind, heart and soul. Many may be rejoicing with the no mask and no more safety mandates but the people directly affected by it are not. There is realistically a vulnerable group COVID easily targets with possible lethal outcome as shown by the last Winter Omicron surges. People continues to die of COVID, but many have stopped acknowledging this tragedy is still live and happening in real time. Thank you for being a very kind and supportive Blogger Friend. Much appreciated .
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I can definitely see the wear and tear emotionally and mentally in people around me and in some days, on myself as always. It’s been quite the two past years and it’s still ongoing. We all need to watch out and take care of each other and ourselves. 🙏
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Blue skies, smiling at me
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Yes it does. Thanks for sharing this Song. I’m a Frank Sinatra Fan too. Have a great weekend.
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Beautiful photos, as always! And I agree: nature, outdoors, fresh air, exercise, and nature noise work miracles for the heart, mind and soul!
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Yes, they all are. More than ever, we need harmony of heart, mind and soul. Thank you.
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Thank’s for share, friend. Interesting post! Beautiful photos.
Hope you are ok.
Take care.
Elvira
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I saw it in my iPhone news feed and I was surprised. It should be something all doctors should prescribe for anxiety, stress and depression. Of course , prescription drugs are still needed depending on severity of one’s mental health problem. The mind controls all….our body, heart, perspective and emotions. It is the cause of many of our physical symptoms. Doctors need to treat patients as an entire person and seriously. Being both a patient myself to my PCP and a Nurse made me see the two sides of both. And both sides needs empathy and more.
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Thanks for share, I agree with you My friend. Enjoy your weekend!
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Thanks
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You are welcome.
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Hello dear how are you doing
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Doing okay. Thanks
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Hello, fine thank you.
And you?
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