The Nature of Grief: Helping to Work Through Grief by Connecting to Nature

Most of us have probably heard that nature is good for our mental health or that nature can help us heal, and science backs us up on this. Being in nature can generate a multitude of positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity. These emotions can be linked to our biophilia and emotional connectedness to the natural world. It’s important to note that the genuine feeling of connection to nature—not simply spending more time in nature or being surrounded by nature—may be the link to inspiring positive emotions. It’s also been found that nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of anxiety, improvement in mood, and can help people cope with stress (Schony & Mischkowski, 2024). 

 Now, I’m not a licensed therapist or psychologist, but from first-hand experience I can say that nature has positive effects on my mental health. Over the past 6 months I’ve been healing from the loss of my childhood cat, Patchpaw. Just after I moved to California his health started to deteriorate and for months all I could do was watch. After numerous vet visits, medications, and injections, he took a turn for the worse. I flew home to see him in October, knowing it was the last day I’d see him. After 12 years of growing up with him, he was gone. Nothing could have prepared me for that loss. I felt as though half of me had been torn away and I would never be whole again. 

All through this time, I thought back to the Dunes and all the good memories I have of this place. I always tell people that the Indiana Dunes is one of my favorite national parks because it’s so unique. But it’s also my favorite because of the people I met there and the home I had found. Even after a year and a half away and thousands of miles traveled, I still felt a strong connection to it. So, I decided to move back to the Indiana Dunes and to the Dunes Learning Center. 

 My first few weeks back were a roller coaster of emotions. I was happy to be seeing some old friends and revisiting my favorite places but I still felt very drained. I tried spending more time exploring outside and I did feel calmer and had a bit more mental clarity, but I didn’t feel normal. It took over a month to start noticing changes, but soon I started to notice that the students in my trail group were helping me to reconnect with my younger self. I slowly allowed myself to feel some joy and wonder again after months of feeling guilt and anger. It was refreshing to see how enthusiastic and curious students were on the trail and their silliness during campfire and weather skits gave me the chance to laugh and have fun. 

The moment I found myself opening back up to new discoveries were when I went on hikes and “wanderings” through the woods with my friends. Sitting on the frozen beach along the shelf ice at sunset calmed me and gave me the opportunity to be creative and get back into photography. Watching the world come alive in early spring after months of cold greyness reawakened my sense of inspiration and excitement. Without realizing it, I was slowly connecting to nature in a way that gave me a sense of belonging. 

Nature’s way of helping us find ourselves and our place within the world offers purpose in a way which not only connects us to the natural world but our community and encourages resilience and strength as well. The feeling of being connected to nature is also associated with beneficial mental health outcomes, such as psychological wellbeing and psychological resilience (Schony & Mischkowski, 2024). Engaging with the natural world around myself is helping me navigate through hard times with a greater understanding and acceptance, which hopefully can lead towards further healing.

The past 6 months have been a rocky road, but I’m surprised and proud of how much I’ve changed for the better. I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing Patchy, and I think I’ll still be healing for a long time. Things have gotten easier though, and I’m so thankful for such a welcoming and supportive environment that I’ve found here. The Dunes Learning Center is home to some of the most wonderful and dedicated people that I’ll ever have the pleasure of knowing. They’re amazing coworkers, roommates, and even better friends and they’ll always have a special place in my heart. 

In memory of Patchpaw  

3/17/12-10/4/24

Schony, M., & Mischkowski, D. (2024). Feeling Connected to Nature Attenuates the Association between Complicated Grief and Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(9), 1138. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091138

Sierra Conley, Environmental Education Fellow III