Found a New Life Through Forest Bathing and Shinrin-yoku – A Conversation with Cathrine Emilie

In just a few months, Cathrine Emilie underwent a remarkable transformation from a serious life crisis. She struggled with major depression disorder, social anxiety, self-harm, and exhaustion. A crucial part of her healing journey was daily forest bathing.

Pål-Esben: Welcome, Cathrine Emilie. It’s wonderful to have you here today. When we first met, you were going through one of the most challenging phases a person can face. I clearly remember the day you came to my office, weighed down by life’s burdens. How would you describe what your life was like during that time?

Cathrine Emilie: Thank you for having me. It’s actually quite difficult to put into words… but it felt like living in constant darkness. I was so exhausted that even the simplest daily tasks seemed insurmountable. I was tired, depressed, scared. My entire body was in a state of alarm, as if I was constantly fleeing from something invisible. I had social anxiety, self-harming tendencies… and really, a feeling that I no longer existed as myself. I was merely existing, hour after hour, day after day, without any purpose or meaning.

Pål-Esben: I remember how bravely you fought. It was clear that each day was a struggle for you. Many describe the period you were in as a complete collapse of both body and soul. It made a strong impression on me to see how hard you tried, even though you were going through something terrible. Your strength, even in the darkest moments, was remarkable.

Cathrine Emilie: Yes… everything inside me was worn down to the bone. I felt like an empty shell. I couldn’t see a way out, it was like being trapped in an endless tunnel without light. And just sitting still, being present with my feelings – it was terrifying, almost unbearable. It triggered anxiety at a level I can barely describe. The silence was perhaps the worst part, because it forced me to confront everything I had been running from for years. All the thoughts, emotions, and pain I had tried to suppress.

Pål-Esben: And in the midst of this, we started with something very simple – yet profoundly deep: daily walks in the forest. At that time, I didn’t call it forest bathing, just “going out into nature and being with it.” It was a gentle beginning to something that would prove to be transformative. How did you experience it in those early days?

Cathrine Emilie: To be completely honest? I found it incredibly difficult. I was so restless that I could barely stand still. My body was tense like a coiled spring, thoughts racing like a storm in my head. I felt like I was wasting time, that I should be doing something more “productive.” I had so much anxiety that I was afraid to be alone in nature. But you told me I didn’t need to achieve anything, that it was perfectly fine to just be present. I only needed to exist. It felt so foreign, so unfamiliar. But I trusted you and did it anyway, day after day.

Pål-Esben: And then, after a few weeks, something began to happen?

Cathrine Emilie: Yes… and it surprised me profoundly. I had never experienced anything like it before in my life. It started with small, almost imperceptible moments where my body gradually began to release its tension. A breath that suddenly went deeper than usual. A quiet, peaceful moment where I felt securely anchored among the majestic trees. The forest gradually transformed into a sacred space where I could finally breathe freely and naturally. I began to cry frequently there among the trees, but it wasn’t the desperate crying I was accustomed to – it was a kind of pure, healing tears that washed away layers upon layers of pain.

Pål-Esben: I remember so clearly how you described the forest holding you, almost like a safe, loving embrace that completely enveloped you.

Cathrine Emilie: Yes… it was truly as if nature accepted everything I carried within me, without the slightest hint of judgment or demands. In the forest, I had complete freedom to be exactly as exhausted, as deeply afraid, as vulnerable and broken as I actually was. And gradually, almost imperceptibly, the forest transformed into my personal sanctuary. It became more than just a place – it became my sacred space, my refuge, my breathing room.

Pål-Esben: You eventually established an impressive routine, going out every single day – regardless of whether it was pouring rain, bright sunshine, or pitch dark. What impact did this daily practice have on you?

Cathrine Emilie: It awakened me to life again, in a way I never thought possible. I began to experience small, precious glimpses of a fundamental security deep within myself. After the security came a profound, lasting peace. And then, almost like a miracle, joy began to seep in. I never thought I would say this – but I actually started looking forward to these daily walks with genuine anticipation. It evolved into a sacred agreement with myself, a daily reminder of my own worth. I truly met myself out there in nature. I encountered nature’s timeless wisdom. And it had an absolutely incredible healing effect on my nervous system. I rediscovered hope that I thought was lost forever.

Pål-Esben: As your teacher, I had the unique privilege of following you through this deep transformation process, and it was nothing short of amazing to witness the gradual, yet dramatic change. It was like meeting a completely different person.

Cathrine Emilie: And that’s exactly how it feels! I’ve gotten my entire life back. I finally function in everyday life. I enjoy being me. I feel fundamentally safe in my own body. I wake up in the morning and feel a deep, genuine joy – a joy that flows through my entire being! Before, I was convinced that joy was something that only existed in other people, not in me…

Pål-Esben: It’s very powerful to hear this. And at the same time, your story is also a confirmation of something many don’t know: how deeply nature can actually heal us. This isn’t romantic nature poetry or superficial clichés. It’s firmly grounded in biology, psychology, energetics – and ancient wisdom that has been passed down through generations. Research repeatedly shows that nature’s healing power is both measurable and significant.

Cathrine Emilie: Yes, it’s absolutely incredible. I must admit I was quite skeptical in the beginning. I thought it was just a worn-out cliché that ‘nature is healthy’ – just something people said without really meaning it. But my personal experience completely transformed this perspective. I noticed concrete, physical changes: my body found a state of calm I had never experienced before. My thoughts became clearer, as if a fog had lifted from my mind. My sleep quality improved dramatically – I finally started sleeping deeply and naturally again. My anxiety levels gradually but noticeably decreased, and I developed a completely different and more loving relationship with myself. It was as if nature taught me to accept myself in an entirely new way.

Pål-Esben: And today? How does your life look now? I see a completely different person in front of me compared to when we first met.

Cathrine Emilie: It’s almost surreal to say this out loud, but… my life is truly good now. I feel fundamentally secure in myself, something I never thought possible. I can be around people without experiencing the overwhelming anxiety that previously dominated my life. I have energy for everyday life and the capacity to engage in meaningful activities. The inner peace I’ve found is like a stable foundation I’ve never known before. And all of this I’ve gained through my relationship with nature. Not as a quick fix or a method, but as a deep, meaningful connection that has transformed my entire life. I still go to the forest almost every day – it has become an essential part of who I am.

Pål-Esben: If someone listening right now is in the same darkness you were in – what would you say to them? What advice would you give based on your experience?

Cathrine Emilie: Go outside. Even when you don’t feel like it, even when it hurts, even when everything inside you resists – just go. Don’t set goals or performance requirements. Simply be present in the forest. Observe the trees, feel the ground beneath your feet, listen to the subtle sounds around you. It will affect you, even if you don’t notice it immediately. Nature is a healer on a completely different and deeper level than we humans can comprehend. It literally saved my life. It can transform yours too.

Pål-Esben: Cathrine Emilie… thank you, thank you so much for sharing your story so openly and courageously. It will help many people who are struggling with similar challenges.

Cathrine Emilie: Thank you for helping me find my way there. I am eternally grateful for the support and guidance you gave me.

For more information about forest bathing, Shinrin-yoku, and modern research on this topic, you can read the article Forest Bathing Is Our Most Important Medicine.