Iceland Helps Relieve Your Stress with “Let It Out” Scream Therapy

The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes

You might have many reasons to be especially stressed right now. If you’re living on Planet Earth (and I’m guessing you are), you’re probably stressed about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your life. You may have plenty of other reasons to be stressed and may be struggling to find ways to relieve that stress.

Iceland wants to help with its new Let It Out scream therapy website. The good news is that you don’t have to travel to Iceland to use Let It Out, you can use the website from anywhere you have an Internet connection. More good news, the website is in English so you don’t need to be fluent in Icelandic to use it.

About Let It Out Iceland

If you’re feeling stressed, you’re not alone and Iceland wants you to know it understands what you’re going through.

Let It Out Iceland is a website run by Inspired by Iceland where you can record your scream from anywhere in the world and have it played on a speaker in a wide-open space in Iceland.

Iceland 🇮🇸 just “gets” me.

— Nicolle Morton (@aliyah613) July 16, 2020

The Let It Out website explains:

You’ve been through a lot this year and it looks like you need
the perfect place to let your frustrations out. Somewhere big,
vast and untouched. It looks like you need Iceland. Record your
scream and we’ll release it in Iceland’s beautiful, wide-open
spaces. And when you’re ready, come let it out for real. You’ll
feel better, we promise.“

This video from Inspired by Iceland shows how Let It Out can help relieve your stress:

Inspired by Iceland has worked with Zoë Aston, a therapist and mental health consultant, to develop an online scream therapy program that may help give you some relief from the stress you’re experiencing during this pandemic.

Ms. Aston explains the benefits of scream therapy:

Screaming as a therapeutic tool was developed in the 1970’s as a way to release pent-up emotion. What we don’t realise is that the psychological response to wanting to scream lights up a part of our brains called the amygdala. The amygdala activates when we are under threat, something we have all experienced in the past few months.

Part of the beneficial effect of screaming comes from being able to make a loud noise into a wide, open, undisturbed space. This literally allows your amygdala to release the stress stored there and move forward.”

How to Use Let It Out Iceland Scream Therapy

Ready to give it a go?

Head to the Looks Like You Need Iceland website where you’ll see a live-stream video feed of seven locations throughout Iceland with speakers that play the screams out loud. The site shows you beautiful Icelandic scenery and plays the screams of people using Let It Out from around the world.

Note => you may want to mute your computer, phone, or tablet if you don’t want to hear others’ screams or if you’re in a place where the sound of screams may disturb those around you.

Choose from one of the seven locations where you’d like your scream to be played, then tap the yellow Tap to Scream button to record your scream.

Preparing for Your Scream

You may not need any coaching, you may be ready to let out your frustrations with a scream.

But if you’d like some guidance on how to scream, Inspired by Iceland can help you out with that too. On the website, you can listen to others’ screams from around the world for inspiration.

Ms. Aston has advice on how you can prepare for your scream, including how you should position your body:

1. Consider what your ‘scream’ will be. Some people will use volume, some will use words, some may even use breath.

2. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, a slight bend in your knees. Relax your shoulders. You may find it useful to put your hands on your hips or use your arms to help push out some of the pent-up emotion. Follow your instincts.

3. Imagine a baby when it cries and screams. The noise comes from the baby’s gut. This is where your scream should come from. If it helps, put your hands on your belly and take a few deep breaths before you begin.“

Feel better now?

What Else You Need to Know About Iceland’s Let It Out Scream Therapy

Scream therapy may or may not be helpful to you, but the website does caution that Let It Out does not replace professional mental health support. “This is a starting point. If you need mental health support it is imperative that you seek professional help.”

Don’t miss => 8 Apps to Help with Mental Health [Infographic]

If you use Let It Out, be sure that you record your scream in a place where you won’t be alarming others by the sound of your scream.

The Let It Out program has not been without controversy. Some commenters on the Inspired by Iceland Facebook page mention that the peace and tranquility of Iceland are what relieves stress for them and that Let It Out disrupts the serenity of nature. Some folks on Twitter were similarly displeased with the program:

Really? We were thinking of visiting Iceland next year but not if we’re going to be hearing screaming all over the place!

— Alyson Jackson (@The_Silk_Route) July 15, 2020

If viewing the stunning scenery of Iceland inspires you to visit, Inspired by Iceland can help you act on the inspiration. Scroll down on the website’s home page for even more beautiful photos of Iceland and travel ideas for your next trip.

Your Thoughts

Do you like the idea of scream therapy to alleviate your stress? Are you going to record yourself screaming and have your scream played in Iceland? Have you listened to the sound of others screaming in Iceland?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!