HEALTH
Why are we so sensitive to the difference between natural and unnatural environments ? How could something as simple as unnatural sounds have such strong effects on our emotional wellbeing and health ? The answers may lie in how the body , brain , and nervous system process experiences in man-made environments versus natural environments .
One of my clients , who had cancer , told me that gardening made her feel happy and relaxed because it made her feel connected to the earth and life itself . She also said it made her less preoccupied with her cancer .
Although being in nature , enjoying it and moving our bodies as we appreciate it , is good for the body and mind , we are increasingly spending time indoors in artificial environments . Consequently , our eyes and skin are exposed to artificial light . We know that interaction with technological devices affects our eyesight . It ’ s now common to have an eyeglass prescription for close reading , one for regular vision including distance vision , and yet another for reading from a computer screen or mobile device located 20 to 26 inches from our eyes ( trifocals are common now , too ). Children who spend more time indoors have an increased risk of nearsightedness . Researchers are still looking into how indoor lighting might be affecting us differently from how natural sunlight affects us . Fluorescent lighting , for example , may increase your chances of developing an eye disease or cataracts . 8 Being indoors or in an urban setting , away from natural sounds and exposed to more mechanistic sounds created by humans , has deleterious health effects
8 | New Consciousness Review