# 2 - Teoría de la Reducción del Estrés y los Jardines

[Music] Welcome to this second episode of the POTC of Neuro-Paisajismo, the space where I share information, interviews and much more about paisajismo, about gardenery and therapeutic art, with a deep look from Neuro-Sciences. Today we will talk about the theory of the reduction of stress and how gardeners influence in this aspect. Now, let's get started. [Music] This theory focuses on how environments and experiences can influence perception and response to stress. This theory suggests that the design of spaces, especially those that incorporate natural elements, can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. The idea is that the exposure in natural and well-designed environments can facilitate emotional and physical recovery, providing a refuge from daily stress. Developed and promoted by Roger Ulrich, a pioneer in the field of environmental and health design, demonstrates through his research that green spaces, such as gardens and natural areas, have positive effects on mental and physical health, alleviating stress and improving the general satisfaction of people in environments such as hospitals and other places of medical attention. Ulrich argues that access to nature not only improves life quality, but can also have a significant impact on health results. The theory of stress reduction then focuses on how different factors can influence perception and the experience of stress, as well as on the promotion of well-being. Next, I'm going to share with you, let's examine five key areas that contribute to this theory. The first is the feeling of control, both real and perceived, and the access to intimacy. The feeling of control is essential to handle stress, when people feel that they have control over their environment and decisions, their level of stress tends to decrease. This includes both real control, which refers to the effective ability to influence situations, as well as perceived control, which is the belief that that capacity is held. Access to intimacy as private spaces or moments of solitude also allows individuals to recharge energy and reduce stress. The second key area is social support. Social support then plays a crucial role in reducing stress. Positive interactions with friends, family and colleagues can provide a sense of belonging and emotional security. This support can be manifested in the form of practical help, of emotional access, or simply the company, which contributes to a better mental and physical health. The third area refers to physical movement and exercise. Regular exercise is an effective strategy to reduce stress, physical activity liberating dolphins, known as the hormones of happiness, which improve the state of mind and reduce the perception of pain. In addition, exercise can serve as an active form of meditation, allowing people to disconnect from their daily worries. The fourth area refers to positive natural distractions. And we refer to this as, for example, spending free time or interacting with natural environments, and this can be highly effective to release stress. Exposure to nature is associated with improvements in attention, in the state of mind and well-being in general. These experiences can offer a necessary mental breath at times of high tension. And the fifth area has to do with the contribution of green areas and gardens. Green areas and gardens then have a significant impact on reducing stress, and it has been shown by studies that access to green spaces not only improves air quality and provides a aesthetically pleasing environment, but also foments emotional and physical recovery. Therapeutic gardens are specifically designed to offer psychological and physical benefits, promoting a sense of peace and well-being among the users. And although each of these areas can be developed very much, we will learn today how control perception is influenced, be it real or perceived, because they play a crucial role in reducing stress. This concept is based on the idea that when people feel that they have control over their surroundings and their circumstances, they experience less anxiety and stress. Next, I will then detail some of these aspects as to exemplify. Let's start with the reduction of anxiety, because when people feel that they can influence the events that affect them, they tend to experience lower levels of anxiety. Control perception then allows individuals to anticipate and manage stressful situations, which reduces that feeling of vulnerability. As for the improvement of emotional well-being, the control feeling is related to a greater satisfaction and emotional well-being. People who feel empowered are more prone to adopt healthy behaviors and seek social support, which contributes to their resilience to stress. As for the strategies of confrontation, control perception increases the use of effective confrontation strategies. Those who believe in having control over their lives are more prone to face problems directly and seek solutions instead of avoiding or giving up on them. Regarding the impact on physical health, that perceived control is also linked to better results in physical health. There are studies that have shown that people who feel that they have control over their health tend to participate more in healthy activities, which can lead to a reduction in stress, both physically and emotionally. As for the social context and access to activity, we can say that accessing intimate and private spaces, as I always refer to in the gardens, can also reinforce that control feeling. The ability to retire to a place where you feel safe and comfortable allows people to manage their daily stress better. And with this, we can say that we have a small introduction to some aspects related to the control feeling, the social support, the positive natural distractions associated with green areas, natural environments, therapeutic healers, and even setting the foundations for a new dialogue about some activities that can be carried out around the garden and the therapeutic horticulture. And that's it for today's episode. I hope you liked the topic. Share it, subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already, and give this podcast a positive rating so that you can reach more audience, more people who may be interested, who may be able to apply these topics to their own benefit and to the health of those who love them. I say goodbye and see you next week with a new topic of Neuro-Paisagism. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪