Our surroundings influence our mood, stress levels, wellbeing and pain. Pain is impacted by both the environment within and around us.
Fast facts
- The world and environment can impact pelvic pain.
- Spending time in places your child or young person enjoys can help to support their wellbeing.
- Being outdoors may help reduce stress and improve mood.
- Small changes can make a big difference.
Think about the world in colours, particularly green and blue:
- Green is land with lots of vegetation such as parks, forests, gardens.
- Blue is visible bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds or the ocean.
Experiencing both blue and green spaces can support your young person's immune system and positively influence the way they experience pain.
How do these spaces impact my young person’s body?
Your young person might find it better for their body to spend more time outdoors.
Research shows that light affects mood and pain. Outdoor light has different wavelengths that indoor lighting can’t replace. Light in the morning seems to improve mood more than light in the afternoon.
Green and blue spaces
The colour green is calming to the nervous system. Green in nature such as trees and parks can help calm your young person’s nervous system. It can help them move away from fight, flight or freeze and promote rest and relaxation. It can also lead
to better quality sleep, improved digestion, improved immune system function and connection, problem solving and creativity.
Nature can provide many different sensations that excite or calm the body.
Encourage your young person to take a stroll and notice how their body reacts to different environments, different weather patterns and different light.
In some countries, prescription for walks and swims are given to patients to emphasise the importance of nature when it comes to supporting a healthy body and mind.
Tips to increase time in blue and green spaces
Your young person may benefit from increasing their time in nature. You can encourage them to:
- Make it a part of their routine
- Spend a small amount of time in these spaces is better than none at all
- Find a grassy spot or tree area to sit at lunch time
- Sit outside for a meal, depending on the weather
- Do their homework or reading outside
- Start a small herb or veggie garden, or plant a tree to tend to
- Join a walking, running or outside exercise group
- Consider walking rather than taking public transport or being driven for short distances
- Explore local parks and botanical gardens
- Spot as much wildlife as they can during the day (they could try a competition with their friends).
When to get help
It may be a good idea to get your young person some extra help and support if:
- They’ve told you they feel overwhelmed by their thoughts or emotions
- They’ve told you they’re finding it difficult to cope with their pain
- Pelvic pain stops them person from doing the things they love
- They have to take days off school or work because of their pain
- They’re not able to be active or are missing out on playing sport
- They have problems going to the toilet, such as difficulty or pain when doing a wee or poo.
Support options