The ocean is a relaxing place where you can forget about all of life’s worries and get lost in the waves. And San Diego beaches are some of the best in the country. If you are having a hard time coping with stress, anxiety, or depression, then a trip to the beach might help improve your mood. The beach can help you get away from your daily routine and spend time alone or with the people you love. The following are just some of the ways that going to a San Diego beach can improve your mental health:

Pacific Beach

 

Releases Serotonin in the Brain

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood. When you're exposed to bright light, your brain releases serotonin. You also produce more of it when you exercise and when you experience positive social interactions. The good news is that you can get all of these at the beach. Mental health practitioners often help patients find healthy ways to produce more serotonin. Mental health providers as you’d find at Crownview Medical Group in San Diego can even help people cope with traumatic pasts and get on medication if needed. All of these things can work together to boost serotonin production.

Makes You More Creative

You can't help but be more creative when you're at the beach. The sand, water, and natural elements can inspire your imagination, help you problem solve, and more. The beach is also a great place to think about your future and goals. You can consider what you want out of life and start making plans to get there.  

Helps You Exercise

Walking on the beach is a form of exercise. It's easy on your joints because the sand is soft, and you can walk more quickly or slowly depending on your fitness level. If you like being in the water, you can try swimming, surfing, stand-up paddling, and even kayaking. Exercise is known to improve your mental health.

Walking in the Sand is a Form of Grounding

Walking directly on the sand instead of wearing shoes can help you feel more connected to the earth. This has a positive effect on your mental health and can help you relax. While there isn’t a ton of scientific literature on the biological mechanisms of grounding, it’s hypothesized that it has to do with the natural electrical energy in the earth and the ways that that energy interacts with the energy in your body.

Lowers Stress and Anxiety

A trip to the beach can help you feel less stressed and anxious. The ocean has a way of calming us down, which is why meditation classes often take place on sandy beaches or meditation videos that include the sound of waves. When you’re surrounded by nature, you tend to relax more easily because your mind can focus on the white noise from air rustling through leaves and ocean waves hitting the sand.

Offers Opportunities to be Social

Positive social interactions are great for your mental health and wellness. San Diego beaches offer numerous opportunities to be social. You can meet new friends or spend time with old ones at the beach. It’s also a great place for family time when you need to rest from a hard week at work.

There is a Lot of Sunshine

Sunlight is important for your mental health. Sunshine boosts your vitamin D levels which is great for your immune system. When you aren’t constantly fighting off sickness, you are more likely to experience good mental health. Sunshine can also help you sleep better, feel happier and more alert, and have a better mood overall. Taking a trip to the beach is the perfect way to get a dose of Vitamin D to help your body stay strong and healthy.

Infuses Fun Into Your Life

Adulting can get boring. Even grownups need to have fun. Going to a San Diego beach offers plenty of ways to have fun. You can go swimming, surfing, fishing, and even boating. These fun activities can help you release stress and gain better mental health in the long run.

Reduces Depressed Feelings

A trip to a San Diego beach can help you to focus on the present, which will help you to focus on what you can control. When we're depressed, it's easy for us to think about all of the things that have gone wrong in our lives. Being present can help you to feel more connected to what’s happening now, and it can help you feel less depressed.