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Changing colors of leaves has an effect on emotional wellbeing, psychotherapist says
Depending on where you are, your walk to work might have changed color in recent weeks. Greens melt and brush into amber hues. Oranges and yellows swirl and eddy in city parks. Dogs frolic in the coolness. Offering some respite from the onset of seasonal depression, falls changing color palette has the power to uplift, according to a psychotherapist with experience in culturally sensitive therapy.�
So if youve been glancing out your window at the leaves on the nearby trees and sighing contentedly, know theres some backing to the feelings youre feeling. Add to that the prospect of Starbucks rumored pecan drinks (are you nuts about nuts?), and the other potential items on its fall and Halloween menu (or try an independent coffee shop instead), and youre in good stead for resisting the onset of seasonal affective disorder.
Seasonal color changes can influence our mood significantly
The Focus caught up with experienced psychotherapist Kristie Tse to learn more about how Septembers changing hues, at least in the northern hemisphere, can impact peoples moods.
As the leaves shift from green to vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds, many people report feeling uplifted and more energetic, she says. This may be associated with the beauty of nature during autumn, which often brings about a sense of nostalgia and comfort.
She adds that the simple fact of fall foliage in flux encourages reflection, and evokes feelings of gratitude, aligning with the changing rhythms of life.
Change invites reflection: on the future, on the past.
Kristie advocates bringing nature, and the natural world, into therapeutic environments. Humans are intrinsically and deeply connected to Earths rhythms. Our circadian and diurnal rhythms are synchronized with environmental cues, which in turn are caused by the Earths rotation. Similarly, human habits, behaviors, and patterns are mapped against the globes movement about the Sun, and the moons regular pull.
We associate certain foods with times of the year for myriad reasons, but most of them are rooted in what grows when. Pumpkins are a seasonal icon for cultural reasons, but they were seasonal before they became iconic.
Exposure to seasonal changes can offer respite from urban stressors
In Kristies practice, clients regularly talk to her about the positive impact of natural surroundings on their mental health.�
For some, she says, regular exposure to seasonal changes can serve as a grounding experience, offering a necessary respite from urban stressors.
Color psychology is a much-written-about phenomenon. Fast food chains rely on red because it triggers pangs of hunger; law firms have blue logos because it makes us feel calm and trusting. In the world of interior design, were advised against painting babys bedrooms bright yellow, because it induces anxiety, and Farrow & Balls Breakfast Room Green is a good green for breakfasting because we associate green with freshness, growth, hope, health, and nature.
Meanwhile, as summer slides into fall, seeing the transition of colors, Kristie says, can foster positive emotional responses; those vibrant trees can create an inviting atmosphere in healing gardens, potentially aiding in recovery.
Kristie Tse is the founder of Uncover Mental Health Counselling. She has contributed to The Focus on several occasions, for example with things not to say during difficult conversations with people who have ADHD and an explanation as to why we cringe so hard when we see old social media posts.�
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