Nature Is Nurturing: How Nature Can Aid in Our Recovery

Have you ever enjoyed a walk in nature that leaves you re-energized? Many people get away from their busy lives by immersing themselves in a more natural setting, whether a remote cabin in the woods or just a hike in a park. Nature provides calmness and tranquility that is unrivaled during times of stress.

For people who are going through recovery from addiction, it is good to incorporate nature or outdoor therapy into their daily routines. Placing yourself in green spaces can restore your mental and emotional health while helping you feel connected to a bigger picture of delightful existence.

The Power of Nature Therapy

Healers and religious traditions around the world have long pointed to the healing power of nature. Many integrate the sight or sound of nature (e.g., running streams) into their meditative, immersive experiences. People who participate in nature therapy tend to have lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and happier moods. Nature also presents signs of wonder and awe that distract from negative self-talk.

Nature’s healing power is almost too mystical to be explained. There are, of course, identifiable health-boosting elements such as natural light, fresh air, pleasant sounds, and uplifting stillness. These sharpen our sensations and help balance our body and mind. For people in recovery, spending time in nature can give a sense of renewal. Watching the sunrise brings hope for a new day. Seeing green leaves growing reminds us of the resilience of life.

Benefits to Physical and Mental Health

Outdoor time usually involves more active moving of the body than a sedentary lifestyle. Whether it is running, hiking, swimming, or skiing, exercise helps the brain increase the production of endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. For people who have achieved early sobriety, the time spent outdoors allows the brain to re-learn natural ways of finding pleasure.

Not everyone has easy access to green or blue spaces. Still, nature therapy also includes farming-related work, animal-assisted activities or playtime, adventures such as water rafting, wilderness experiences, and forest sensory observation. Some of these activities can be formally guided by trained therapists and counselors. With time constraints, you can also add small-scale nature therapy to your home and workplace. These include adding green plants, decorating with photographs of nature, or downloading apps of soothing nature sounds.

Nature therapy also boosts the immune system and regulates our biological clock. Feeling in sync with nature, we experience a boost in mental and emotional wellbeing. Even a short time spent outdoors can reduce stress levels and calm the mind. The awareness of our symbiotic relationship nature can be fulfilling and therapeutic in its own right.

Taking Nature Breaks for Your Health

Nature is never dull. There are different ways to integrate nature therapy into your daily recovery routines. For example, you can plant a rooftop or balcony garden, even if you live in the city. You may consider joining a community agriculture group and enjoy the company of other nature-lovers. You can stargaze outside on summer nights.

Mindfulness can be incorporated into nature-watching. Notice as many different species of plants and animals as you spend time outside in nature. Embrace a loving-kindness from nature to you. Affirm your own worth as part of Mother Nature. Be content with simply being.

Embrace A Broader Vision of Life

People with substance addiction tend to live in a narrower scope of life. The central focus is on acquiring and using substances for pleasurable effects. They often not only ignore family and friends but also what nature has to offer. Recovery grants them another lens through which to appreciate small and simple beauties in the surrounding environment. Appreciating these simple joys is a marker toward improved emotional and mental health.

Recovery is a unique opportunity to restore a natural rhythm in life. Consider the time you spend in front of a computer screen each day. With the global trend toward urban living, many of us are increasingly removed from our natural environment. Now, we need to intentionally get out into the natural world to enjoy these health benefits. Immersive experiences in nature help restore a sense of wholeness against the fragmenting trends of modern urban life.

Nature restores a sense of true happiness. For children and teens who are recovering from substance use, spending time in green space or with animals may help heal them from psychiatric disorders that co-occur with substance use. Connecting with the earth and its various beings can harmonize our internal system. We can humbly acknowledge and affirm our place in the entire ecosystem. This positive outlook may motivate your recovery progress.

Do you know the full spectrum of benefits from nature therapy? Many people know from experience that nature restores a sense of true happiness. For those who are recovering from substance use, spending time in green space or with animals may heal them from psychiatric disorders that co-occur with substance use disorder. At Capo Canyon Recovery near Mission Viejo, CA, we offer a tranquil environment with all the benefits of nature therapy. You can benefit from both our inpatient residential care and outpatient long-term care programs. With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, you will feel relaxed and begin healing here. Our team also serves gourmet food, made by our in-house chef, for you to enjoy. If you long for reconnecting with nature and with yourself, you will not find a better place than Capo Canyon Recovery. Call us at (800) 804-8714 today. A fresh beginning is here.