An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind

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The Almanac of Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind

Series exploring how interacting with the natural elements can improve mental wellbeing.

Series exploring how connecting with the elemental forces of nature helps people with a range of mental illnesses to feel better.

Series exploring how connecting with the elemental forces of nature helps people with a range of mental illnesses to feel better. We also learn about the current academic research behind these methods.

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An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind: Episode 2 - Wood

Episode 2 - Wood

BBC Radio 4 - An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind, Episode 2 - Wood

Exploring how interacting with the natural elements can improve mental wellbeing.

Anxiety is the most common form of mental illness in the UK, with nearly a fifth of people experiencing it over the course of a year. Although it is often treated through medication, there are many alternative ways which are proving to be very effective in reducing anxiety amongst some people. In this series, we explore how connecting with the elemental forces of nature helps people with a range of mental illnesses to feel better. We also learn about the current academic research behind these methods.

In Episode 2 - Wood - we visit the Woodwork for Wellbeing Workshop in Bethnal Green, London where every Tuesday people with mental health issues spend time making things with wood.  They find it to be very therapeutic and fun.  And Professor Miles Richardson of the University of Derby shares research from Japan which shows that simply touching wood is calming.

Produced and Presented by Helen Needham
Research by Anna Miles and Maud Start
Original Music by Anthony Cowie
Mixed by Ron McCaskill

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An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind

Episode 2 - Wood

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