Many of us recovering from addiction have learned just how helpful and effective it can be to find holistic ways to support our recovery. Some of the most powerful are also the simplest, for example, finding stillness and wholeness by spending time in nature. Connecting with the natural world around us can bring us a sense of inner peace that little else in our modern world can.
Those of us struggling with addiction are also often living with co-occurring mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. One of the best things we can do for ourselves, as we’re seeking out different methods of healing, is enlist the professional help of a treatment center like Athens Area Commencement Center.
We can find remedies for both our addictions and mental health issues by looking to nature. These remedies might seem simple and inconsequential but can be quite profound. Everything we do to support our mental health, no matter how small we think it might be, helps us in our recovery. Every deep breath of fresh air, every walk in a green space, every time we sit in the sun, we’re supporting our sobriety by improving our mental health, one small thing at a time.
Time in Nature: Stress and Overstimulation
Our nervous systems are often imbalanced with the stress of hectic schedules and little downtime for rest. We can become overstimulated by all the noise and light pollution from the crowded areas we live in, not to mention all the artificial noise and light from our electronic devices. An overburdened nervous system can wreak havoc on our overall mental, emotional, and physical health. Stress is known to cause all manner of symptoms, including chronic pain, trouble sleeping, irritability, depression, and anxiety. When also battling addiction, the stress of our modern lives can become too overwhelming to bear. Many of us find solace in our drugs of choice just to escape the stress of our everyday lives.
Time in Nature: Deep Breathing
We can support our recovery by spending time in nature, a welcome reprieve from all of the above. The fresh air invites us to take deeper breaths. When overwhelmed by stress, many of us default to quick, shallow breaths. This kind of breathing throws our oxygen and carbon dioxide levels off balance. As a result, our nervous systems become destabilized, creating even more stress within us.
Deep breathing, especially diaphragmatic breathing, or relaxed “belly breathing,” is the healthier way to breathe. This kind of breathing automatically helps to rebalance our nervous systems as a whole and the vagus nerve in particular. Going outside and taking deep breaths of fresh air, we’re automatically flooding ourselves with more oxygen. When we see a beautiful sunset or a flock of birds flying by, we will often instinctively take a deep breath and a sigh of relief. These are our bodies responding to the healing power of nature.
Time in Nature: Healing Sounds
Along with how we breathe, our nervous systems respond to different sounds, in particular, sounds in nature. Our nervous systems are soothed by the sounds of birdsong, water flowing, and the wind in the trees. It’s not a coincidence that we feel better after spending time outdoors. The sounds of nature that often go unnoticed are actually helping us to heal.
Time in Nature: Triggers and Addictive Urges
The more balanced our nervous systems, the less destabilized we are by stress. When we know how to deal with stress in healthy ways, such as by spending time in nature, we can find it easier to manage any triggers that come up for us. Knowing how to manage our triggers can help us to withstand our addictive urges. Being more calm and centered in our daily lives can mean the difference between a trigger driving us to relapse and mindfully taking a walk in nature instead any time we feel triggered. Treatment programs like those at Athens Area Commencement Center can help us find holistic ways of coping with triggers and addictive urges.
Time in Nature: Healing Properties of Water
Many of us instinctively find ourselves going to the oceanside when we feel overwhelmed or anxious. We might find it easier to clear our minds when we sit by the water. This is because the negative ions found on seashores and in waterfalls are known to increase psychological health and overall well-being. Feeling our mood lifted after we’ve been to the beach is, again, not a coincidence. Our physical health and our mental health need the soothing and healing properties of the natural world.
Time in Nature: Exercise and Sunlight
Gentle, forward-moving exercises like walking are known to lower cortisol, one of our bodies’ main stress hormones. A walk outside feels good not only because we’re surrounded by the beautiful sights and sounds of nature but also because we’re actively lowering cortisol, thereby decreasing our feelings of stress and overwhelm.
Sunlight is the best natural source of Vitamin D, a deficiency of which can increase our feelings of depression and anxiety. Vitamin D deficiency plays a critical role in both clinical depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Two of nature’s most powerful antidepressants, exercise and sunshine, are among the simplest, most accessible means of natural, holistic healing we can benefit from.
Time in Nature: Connection and Comfort
Nature can bring us a sense of calm that can lift our moods and soothe our anxiety. Spending time in nature can help us to manage triggers and offset addictive urges. Furthermore, we can feel a sense of connectedness and a comforting presence in nature that allows us to feel supported, reminding us we’re not alone. Many of us feel whole within ourselves and one with the universe when in nature. We feel a deeper connection to our inner selves, the world around us, and our higher power – and connection, as they say, is the opposite of addiction.
Recovering from addiction and mental illness is a process of finding holistic ways of healing that support our overall well-being. We can find ways to support our recovery that are simple and accessible in the beauty of the natural world around us. Spending time in nature can support our nervous systems and help our bodies heal from stress. Nature can be a remedy for both mental and physical well-being. So often, we’re burned out, overwhelmed, and struggling to cope. Simply spending time in nature can provide powerful healing benefits. Athens Area Commencement Center can help you find holistic ways to support your recovery. Call us today at (706) 546-7355 for more information.