Close Menu
Truth Republican
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Guns & Gear
  • Healthy Tips
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Truth Republican
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Guns & Gear
  • Healthy Tips
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Newsletter
Truth Republican
You are at:Home»News»Why sitting around a campfire might be the therapy session you didn’t know you needed
News

Why sitting around a campfire might be the therapy session you didn’t know you needed

Buddy DoyleBy Buddy DoyleJuly 9, 2025No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp
Why sitting around a campfire might be the therapy session you didn’t know you needed
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Lighting a campfire and watching as the flames grow and flicker can feel therapeutic — for good reason.

Between the light, heat and crackling sound, sitting around a campfire can be a relaxing experience — and experts agree that it can even benefit your mental health.

Research published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology has noted “significant reductions” in blood pressure associated with exposure to a crackling fire.

BEACH DAYS BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AS VISITS PROVIDE ‘SEA THERAPY’

Campfires or firepits can also improve social interactions, researchers noted.

M. David Rudd, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the Rudd Institute for Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention at the University of Memphis, agreed that the natural setting of campfires is “likely effective” for soothing the mind and engaging with others.

People sitting around a fire are “digitally disconnected” and isolated from technology distractions and the demands of daily life, the expert noted.

“The context is disarming and socially engaged by its very nature, generating implicit expectations of engagement and interaction,” Rudd told Fox News Digital in an interview.

EXTREME HEAT AFFECTS THE BRAIN — HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COGNITIVE HEALTH

“We all have memories of being around a campfire and hearing stories — or at least we’ve heard stories about what it means to be around a campfire.”

These expectations foster a “supportive, non-threatening environment where people don’t feel judged or pressured to engage,” Rudd said.

four people sitting around a firepit outside

Campfires may encourage those who are “hesitant, anxious or unwilling to engage elsewhere” to connect with others and share personal experiences, he added.

Jessica Cail, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Pepperdine University in California, pointed out the association of fire with relaxation, comparing fires to a “social hub where people come together for warmth, light, food and protection.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Many holiday celebrations tend to involve fire, and some homes have fireplaces geared toward gathering and connecting, Cail noted in a separate interview with Fox News Digital. 

“Being in nature involves more of a soft focus … giving our brains a chance to rest and restore.”

“Given these positive associations, it should not be a surprise that these feelings of relaxation and safety can help facilitate social communication and counteract negative feelings, whether they’re explicitly shared or not,” she added.

Fire is also associated with ritual and transition, such as the use of advent candles or the therapeutic practice of writing regretful or traumatic thoughts down on paper, throwing them into a fire and watching them burn, Cail noted.

two women sit close to eachother in front of a fire

Nature is restorative, helping to counteract modern life’s numerous demands and the need to stay hyper-focused on specific tasks, the expert added.

“This is fatiguing for our brains,” Cail said. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

“Being in nature involves more of a soft focus (the sight of trees, the smell of grass, the sound of birds), giving our brains a chance to rest and restore.”

“This break from ruminating on stress may be why so many researchers have found ‘doses of nature’ to be effective in reducing both depression and anxiety.”

family warming near backyard campfire

Campfires are often associated with leisure in nature, which is an important component of mental health, especially for those with mental illnesses, according to Cail.

The expert emphasized that changing your environment can also “change your mind.”

“Unless your trauma took place in nature or around a fire, a change in environment like camping can break you out of that associative headspace, giving you a fresh outlook,” she added.

Read the full article here

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleTOP 10 BEST BOLT ACTION RIFLES 2020
Next Article Trump warns New York City faces dire future if ‘communist’ Mamdani takes office as mayor

Related Articles

Car Sale Trap: Mississippi Couple Exchange Gunshots With Suspect In Facebook Marketplace Meeting

Car Sale Trap: Mississippi Couple Exchange Gunshots With Suspect In Facebook Marketplace Meeting

July 9, 2025
Golfer’s caddie unable to get to Open Championship due to 30-year-old cocaine charge

Golfer’s caddie unable to get to Open Championship due to 30-year-old cocaine charge

July 9, 2025
First major US airline to resume Israel flights as part of ‘longstanding commitment to serving Tel Aviv’

First major US airline to resume Israel flights as part of ‘longstanding commitment to serving Tel Aviv’

July 9, 2025
Trump says Brennan, Comey ‘crooked as hell’ amid FBI probe, may have to ‘pay the price’

Trump says Brennan, Comey ‘crooked as hell’ amid FBI probe, may have to ‘pay the price’

July 9, 2025
Eleven Charged In Coordinated Attack On ICE Center In Alvarado

Eleven Charged In Coordinated Attack On ICE Center In Alvarado

July 9, 2025
Fox Nation takes viewers on a nostalgic journey back through the unforgettable ’90s

Fox Nation takes viewers on a nostalgic journey back through the unforgettable ’90s

July 9, 2025
‘America First’ national parks plan from Trump slaps higher fees on foreign tourists

‘America First’ national parks plan from Trump slaps higher fees on foreign tourists

July 9, 2025
Jeffrey Epstein’s brother laughs at ‘stupid’ FBI memo defending controversial suicide ruling: report

Jeffrey Epstein’s brother laughs at ‘stupid’ FBI memo defending controversial suicide ruling: report

July 9, 2025
Trump admin suing California over alleged Title IX violations

Trump admin suing California over alleged Title IX violations

July 9, 2025
Don't Miss
Iran Is Quickly Rebuilding Its Air Defenses

Iran Is Quickly Rebuilding Its Air Defenses

Leatherman Leaps into Deep End of the Knife Pool with Five New Models

Leatherman Leaps into Deep End of the Knife Pool with Five New Models

Car Sale Trap: Mississippi Couple Exchange Gunshots With Suspect In Facebook Marketplace Meeting

Car Sale Trap: Mississippi Couple Exchange Gunshots With Suspect In Facebook Marketplace Meeting

T-Mobile scraps DEI programs while seeking crucial FCC approval for major business deals

T-Mobile scraps DEI programs while seeking crucial FCC approval for major business deals

Latest News
Golfer’s caddie unable to get to Open Championship due to 30-year-old cocaine charge

Golfer’s caddie unable to get to Open Championship due to 30-year-old cocaine charge

July 9, 2025
TOP 10 BEST TACTICAL PANTS FOR THE MONEY 2020

TOP 10 BEST TACTICAL PANTS FOR THE MONEY 2020

July 9, 2025
Wall Street shrugs off Trump’s fresh trade war rhetoric, investors holding firm

Wall Street shrugs off Trump’s fresh trade war rhetoric, investors holding firm

July 9, 2025
Unearthed Mamdani college newspaper writings promote anti-Israel boycott, rail against ‘white privilege’

Unearthed Mamdani college newspaper writings promote anti-Israel boycott, rail against ‘white privilege’

July 9, 2025
First major US airline to resume Israel flights as part of ‘longstanding commitment to serving Tel Aviv’

First major US airline to resume Israel flights as part of ‘longstanding commitment to serving Tel Aviv’

July 9, 2025
Copyright © 2025. Truth Republican. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.