Getting fresh air is one of the simplest ways to ground you. It can help you feel a sense of safety. Being outdoors even has a wealth of benefits for a number of conditions, including addiction, stress, and depression. If you are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), you may find that going outside each day can help on the road to recovery.
Benefits of Being Outside
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS) says that being outside in green spaces “supports an active and healthy lifestyle, which has shown to increase life expectancy, improve sleep quality and reduce cancer risk.” Being outside has both physical and mental benefits. Many outdoor activities can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. According to the USDA FS, there are also many mental wellness benefits from being outdoors, like “lower risk of depression and faster psychological stress recovery.”
Overcoming Addiction in the Outdoors
Outdoor activities like exercise, hiking, and walking can complement and enhance traditional therapies. According to a 2012 study in SSM – Population Health, relapse rates for addiction are commonly high, despite “increasingly effective psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic intervention strategies.” The study suggests a need for “adjuvant therapies” for abstinence.
Such therapies often include exercise and activities in the great outdoors that help to break the cycle of addiction. Utilizing outdoor spaces is a great way for you to reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit as you heal.
Outdoor Treatment Options at the Guest House
At The Guest House, we take pride in our multi-faceted program that includes a variety of outdoor activities. Every person experiencing SUD is going through their own unique set of circumstances and experiences. The individualized, holistic approach to healing addiction at The Guest House will help you find the methods that work best for you.
Our equine therapy program takes place on our 52-acre estate, allowing you to create lasting bonds with beautiful horses. Animal therapy can help you re-discover healthy relationships while taking in the fresh air. We also offer group-oriented adventure therapy that will help you develop interpersonal skills through outdoor games, wilderness exploration, and other fresh-air activities.
Other healing modalities that can take you outside include outdoor meditation, yoga, and our Spirt2Spirit retreats. When you have a large variety of choices, you can find comfort in having time to find the right treatments for you.
Being outdoors can help people overcome trauma, stress, addiction, and many other mental conditions. The simple act of going outside each day can help tremendously on your road to recovery. At The Guest House, we offer a variety of healing modalities that take place in the great outdoors. Our equine and adventure therapy programs will help you build connections and discover the importance of strong, healthy relationships. We also offer many more activities where you can benefit from the fresh air while going through your healing journey. For help, call us today at (855) 483-7800.