Nature heals, soothes, and restores. Research from the Journal of Affective Disorders showed that in cases involving individuals with depression, interactions with nature improved their mood. Nature walks also reduce stress and anxiety levels, help your heart, and improve your overall well-being, The Center says. For someone in recovery, spending at least 20 minutes outside in nature can bring significant benefits. Nature therapy helps them manage issues that put them at risk of relapse.
Promotes Healing
Addiction impacts the body, mind, and spirit. That’s why recovery focuses on more than treating the physical symptoms of the disease. Treatment must also address the mental and emotional well-being of the person. Improving all three helps to prevent relapse.
Strengthens Immune System
Spending time outdoors helps your body build stronger immunity. Because addiction compromises your body’s immune system, nature walks help restore some of that immunity. That’s one of the many goals of rehab treatment.
Encourages Exercises
Being outside motivates you to run or walk around. Strolling for twenty minutes every day keeps you physically active. It’s also a low-impact exercise, so it’s an excellent way to get someone in recovery back in shape. If you have withdrawal symptoms, regular walks in nature help reduce your symptoms.
Improves Sleep
Exercise improves the quality of your sleep, so you feel more rested when you wake up. That gives you more energy when you get out of bed. Individuals with addiction problems are more likely to have sleep disorders, so green therapy can help you enjoy a restful sleep.
Helps Your Heart
Regular strolls in nature also have a positive impact on your heart, as it reduces blood pressure levels, helping you calm down and relax. If stress is one of the main triggers for your addiction, nature walks can be an excellent way to help you get your emotions under control.
Aids Brain Function
Simply walking through nature has a restorative effect, one that promotes creative thinking. It also improves your cognitive function, problem-solving skills, and focus. If you’re in recovery from addiction, nature walks positively impact your brain functions, helping you get ready for when you complete the program and transition to the real world.
Getting Help
These are just some of the benefits you get from outdoor therapy. If you’re looking for a drug rehab in Arizona, make sure you find one that offers this as part of their treatment program. Not all facilities will do so or will be in a location to offer this treatment, though. You’ll need to check beforehand. If you live in or near the city, that will mean seeking out recovery assistance from a rehab facility that’s near to a lot of nature sights. That way, even if you get out of treatment, you can continue with your nature walks.
Choosing a Facility
Be sure to go over the credentials of the rehab center. How many are on the staff? Do they assign too many patients to every staff member? Are they trained to provide the specialized care that patients need? Does the facility offer a supportive, immersive environment that can aid in your healing and recovery? Take the time to find out.
