If you are in recovery, thinking about getting help, or currently in an addiction treatment program, you can benefit from connecting with nature in your recovery. Connecting with nature can be as simple as stepping outside, looking at a green space out of the window, or participating in Wilderness and Adventure therapy. No matter the form it takes, immersing yourself in nature for 10 or 15 minutes each day can have a positive impact on your overall mental and physical well-being.
The Benefits of Connecting with Nature in Recovery
Connecting with nature in recovery has been proven to provide several benefits, including:
- Decreasing depression and anxiety symptoms
- Building positive relationships
- Promoting better emotional regulation
- Increasing emotional resilience
- Improving self-confidence
- Building new coping skills
- Improving stress management
- Creating meaningful experiences
How you go about connecting with nature in recovery will vary based on things like your physical fitness or personal preferences, but no matter the way in which you connect with nature, you will reap these benefits.
Connecting with Nature in Recovery by Walking
Stress will be a regular part of daily life as it will be a part of your recovery, and while you cannot control whether or not you get exposed to stress, you can control its impact.
Spending time in nature, which can be as simple as standing in nature or taking a walk, can help decrease symptoms of depression or anxiety and physical symptoms like body aches.
Studies have found that simply spending between 10 and 20 minutes each day outside can decrease your stress and increase your overall happiness. This leads to a reduction in harmful hormones like cortisol and a direct impact on your overall sense of well-being.
The goal of connecting with nature and recovery by walking or simply being outside in a forest, local park, or natural area is to look for moments of wonder, connect with what’s around you, and be present.
Connecting with Nature in Recovery with Demanding Activities
Another way you can modulate how you feel in your recovery is to connect with nature through things like adventure therapy. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a coordinated program; instead, it can be something as simple as meeting with friends for an outdoor activity.
More challenging activities like rock climbing are things that you can do as a group outdoors in a way that helps you rebuild trust, facilitate persistence, and develop self-reliance. It’s completely up to you when you are climbing up a rock wall to stay safe, to keep moving forward despite any hindrances or hiccups you might face, and to remain focused. When you are using rope and belay systems, this type of climbing involves trust in other people and can help rebuild social connections.
Something like paddle boarding gets you exposed to nature while also helping you stay focused and mindful of the moment, as you navigate your river or lake and stay physically connected to your body as you navigate sitting and standing on the paddle board.
Connecting with Nature in Recovery with Blue Spaces
This type of connection with nature encourages connection to what are called blue spaces, which are any areas that include water. Blue spaces like rivers, water fountains, oceans, lakes and ponds can help lower stress and anxiety.
Being in blue spaces exposes you to fresh air, sunlight, and lower levels of crowds, traffic, and noise. A calm and peaceful environment can help you disconnect from what’s going on in your head and stay focused on the peace you feel while connecting with nature.
Looking at an infinite ocean or trickling stream and watching the way the light dances off the water can be mesmerizing in a way that stimulates healing, improves sleep, reduces blood pressure, and encourages physical activity.
Much the same as walking, you can choose to do something more physically demanding, like paddle boarding or canoeing, but you can simply sit at the edge of a water fountain or a river, or go for a walk on a regular basis.
Getting Help with Multi Concept Recovery
At Multi Concept Recovery’s rehab centers in Burbank, we specialize in a wide range of programs including partial day programs, intensive outpatient programs, and traditional outpatient programs. You can tour our locations to see how our programs can be helpful and to learn more about how connecting with nature in your recovery, both at our facility and long after your care program, can lead to sustained recovery.
We specialize in addiction treatment and mental health care, offering individualized approaches that cover the full spectrum of addiction and mental health issues. With our unique treatment experience, we want you to participate in a multi-conceptual approach that involves things like relapse prevention therapy, motivational interviewing, and connection with nature.
Overall, connecting with nature can be as simple as looking at blue spaces, going for a walk at a nearby park, or challenging yourself physically and mentally with a new activity. Making time for nature on a regular basis can reap several benefits, facilitating improved physical and mental well-being.
Reach out to our team at 866-569-7156 to tour our locations and review our financing options.
