Let Your Frustrations Echo in Iceland

If the pandemic has left you frustrated, has come up with a novel solution to help alleviate some of that stress. It is inviting people around the world to record their screams of frustration online, which will be released into some of its most remote locations via huge speakers.

This initiative might sound odd at first, but it is rooted in primal therapy. This type of therapy operates on the principle that screaming can offer relief from frustration and anxiety by releasing pent-up emotions. Iceland’s tourism board is behind the initiative, called ‘Let It Out.’ They claim that Iceland’s breathtaking, wide-open spaces are the ideal backdrop for individuals to vent their frustrations. Participants can record their screams through a dedicated website, and these will be played in beautiful locations such as the peak of Festarfjall in , Videy Island in , and the stunning waterfall.

According to psychotherapist Zoe Aston, “Screaming as a therapeutic tool was developed in the 1970s as a method to release pent-up emotions. What we don’t realize is that the psychological response to the urge to scream activates a part of our brains known as the amygdala. The amygdala responds to threats, something many of us have felt acutely over recent months. Part of the beneficial effect of screaming stems from the ability to make a loud noise in a vast, open, and untroubled space. This helps the amygdala to release the stress accumulated over time and allows individuals to move forward.”

To discover more about the Let It Out initiative, feel free to explore the dedicated website here.