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Quarantine and Ecopsychology:

Nature is One Hell Of A Drug

A Reflection by: Rachel Earthman

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My Quarantine Experience

-It was all fun and games (AT FIRST)when I found out about not having class for the two weeks following spring break

-Then everything fell apart: mentally and physically. It was also very difficult to adjust to classes being online, which caused more stress, and resulted in severe anxiety (ptsd)

-After my mental health became too difficult to manage, I decided that if I couldn’t control my current environment, I would change the specific objects and energies that were surrounding me in my internal environment

-After prioritizing self care, exercising, going for walks, mindfulness activities, meditating in sunlight, standing up for my needs and boundaries in my environment, I found myself and my power again.

As told through a series of SPONGEBOB memes

Phase 1: A little hype at first because no class, but then slowly realized no basement thursdays either. And I’m not graduating, what a rip-off

Phase 2: Losing my mind and sense of reality. Anxiety at an all time high, I’ve hit the bottom of rock bottom.

Phase 3: Started doing mindfulness activities, virtual exercise classes, going outside as much as I can, leaving my windows open for fresh air, meditating, and having virtual therapy sessions once a week.

Phase 4: After perfecting the art of self care, I finally found relief from my PTSD symptoms and i’m currently thriving (as much as one can thrive during a global pandemic)

Basically I thought quarantine for a couple more weeks after spring break would be nice, but quickly realized that it meant no basement thursday’s or graduation either which kinda seems like a rip-off to me.

Then after everything set in, i started noticing a rapid decline in my mental health. I have PTSD and it can cause severe anxiety if i’m not in a comfortable environment or feel out of control

So once my health hit the bottom of rock bottom, I swallowed my pride and asked for help. after reviving help from my medical team, I was able to take back control of my internal environment and make it my own. I did this by decorating my room/bathroom, hanging up positive notes around my mirror to remind me that i’m THAT bitch, also made sure to always keep the windows open so i could have fresh air (if i couldn’t go outside)

After all that, i’m back and thriving (as much as one could during a pandemic)

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What i’ve learned from my Quarantine Experience

-GET CREATIVE, don’t feel embarrassed to get out of your comfort zone since we’re all uncomfortable right now anyways

-prioritize things YOU love and alllow yourself to slack off a little bit, everything will always work out in the end

-PERCEPTION IS REALITY: you can do whatever the hell you want, because everyone else’s view of your life is not necessarily your actual reality

-GET OUTSIDE AND GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD:being alone and immersed in nature will FUEL your mind and body, your worries are not needed outside.

-BE KIND TO OTHERS BUT ESPECIALLY BE KIND TO YOURSELF! we are all struggling during these times, just in different ways

-IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY: embrace the growth that you are experiencing, discomfort is good for you sometimes

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Two Concepts From Class That Relate to My Quarantine Experience

Eco-Psychology and Exploring Wilderness Within

-noticed significant negative impacts on my mental health by not being outside, and noticed significant improvements in my overall mindset by incorporating nature into my indoor environment

-looked at the concept of ecopsychology more in depth and realized how humans are biologically designed to be apart of the natural world, yet our society is designed to keep us indoors and staring at computer screens

-Overall, i learned how ecopsychology is a system, rather than just a concept, because humans work together with the natural world in a Mutualistic, symbiotic relationship.

Doctor Prescribes a Walk in the Park

-we are bio creatures who come from a bio realm of systems, yet we live in a society that does not fit our needs as humans or our world’s needs as a biome.

-we need interactions with nature to thrive and feel connected with our minds and with the world around us.

-Again, nature is one hell of a drug

-Sellers, F. S. (2015, May 28). D.C. doctor's Rx: A stroll in the park instead of a trip to the pharmacy. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health- science/why-one-dc-doctor-is-prescribing-walks-in-the-park-instead-of- pills/2015/05/28/03a54004-fb45-11e4-9ef4-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html#comments