health-and-wellbeing Archives

Addiction And Cravings: How Exposure To Nature Helps

Addiction recovery comes with cravings.

Addiction treatment has several approaches. It includes both medication and therapies. Most addiction treatment programs include some tools to handle cravings and accelerate sobriety.

What many of us might not know is that nature has a powerful impact on combating addiction and cravings. This is why rehab in Dallas by Infinite Recovery is situated in the middle of nature, as it exposes the patient to nature which has many benefits.

Japan’s ‘Forest Therapy’ Programs

In Japan, the policies regarding the conservation and protection of forests and green areas have taken off. You see, Japan is famous for its stressful and emotional work conditions, along with a high suicide rate in the concrete jungle.

So to address the mental health stigma of the country, the Forestry Agency of Japan sponsors the practice of ‘shinrin-yoku,’ or simply “forest bathing.”

Since 2004, Japan Forestry has invested around $4 million into forest therapy research. Research has found that simply being in nature can actually relieve stress along with increasing productivity.

By measuring the participants’ blood pressure and the number of the ‘natural killer’ or NK cells in their bodies, we can understand how forest therapy is helping them.

For your reference, we should mention that NK cells are those white blood cells that assist in preventing viral; infections and reject cancer and tumor cells.

After the policy implementation in Japan, South Korea has also spent approximately $140 million on a new National Forest Therapy Center. Some of the western countries, such as Finland, are also funding similar types of studies after the Japan forest therapy programs get some optimistic results.

For replicating these results, several Japan Forestry industry experts have been hired by a number of these programs.

Nature, Cravings, And Mental Health

From kids to adults, health experts always recommend that everyone spend time in nature. Now, individuals recovering from any type of substance abuse especially need to spend time in nature.

A study done by the University of Plymouth shows that there is actually a link between nature, reduced craving strength, and frequency of addiction. The link between mental health and nature is simply undeniable.

Nature can be both maintained or maintained by environmental green areas, for example, nature preserves and parks.

In urban areas, where people have greater access to nature, they usually have less anxiety and depression, less mental distress, healthier cortisol, and greater well-being than those living in urban areas with less green space.

Consistent exposure to green space from childhood can actually prevent some psychiatric disorders, such as preventing anxiety and preventing depression. However, the beneficial effect of exposure to nature is not limited to children.

While exposure to nature can effectively improve their mental health, green space also has a strong benefit for adults as well.

In urban settings, adults often deal with several stressors from family, work, a daily commute to bills, along with balancing home life. Because adults who are in the recovery process from any type of substance abuse also suffer from many stressors.

The stress can often result from focusing on healthy meeting attendance, maintaining sobriety, and step work. Nature is effective in reducing the stress that mostly triggers cravings. There is also a link between exercising and an increase in mental health along with reducing stress.

At the same time, we can not deny the connection between exercising and being outdoors. It is also true that everyone is not a fan of exercising or might be limited to exercise by the seasonal weather.

So to be clear, having access to nature or green space is beneficial, whether it is with exercise or without.

Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders

The connection between substance abuse and mental health has been a long topic of discussion, particularly in recent years. Mental health disorders can trigger substance abuse disorders, and mental health disorders also can be triggered by substance abuse disorders.

Addiction is a threefold disease, which affects the body, mind, and spirit all, and thus the treatment also includes treating all these three.

Just like any other mental disorder, addiction is also treatable. As we have mentioned earlier, mental health and addiction are interconnected. When you are getting a part of nature, your mental health improves, and it helps in dealing with substance abuse cravings.

Nature and green space have calming effects on both our bodies and minds. Even the color green soothes not only our eyes but also the green nature soothes our mind and soul.

Exposure To Nature Alleviates Cravings

The exact reason behind green spaces assisting in alleviating unhealthy cravings has not been declared yet; the effectiveness is proven. While everyone does not go with holistic recovery, there are also some individuals who are more into the 12-step meetings or therapy.

However, nature can work wonderfully in treating mental health issues. Research has shown that individuals who have visibility of green spaces from their homes and also have access to green spaces in their neighborhoods have less frequency and intensity of cravings.

This craving applies not only to drugs and alcohol but also to nicotine and unhealthy foods.

Incorporate Green Space Into Your Daily Life To Recover From Addiction

Some of us are not lucky enough to have access to nature or at least a small green space. We are either living in extremely urbanized areas or having longer work schedules.

That is why we are here to guide you on how to incorporate green space into your daily life and recover from drugs or alcohol.

Visit your local park.
In your home, open your curtains and see the outside greenery.
HavegGreen spaces in your home and office.
Opt for a 12-step fellowship meeting that is outdoors.
Make some time and visit the local reserves and parks.
Start a community garden.
Go for a walk around your community.
During the weekdays, if weather permits, eat your lunch outdoors.
In case you have dogs, take them to the nearest dog park.
Try a leisure activity outdoors on the weekend, such as step work, reading, or meditation.

All the benefits of being outdoors and seeing nature are extremely helpful. Spend some time in the lap of nature, even though it is just a short amount of time per day. Nature is free and full of benefits. And paired with the decrease in strong, lasting cravings for drugs and alcohol, it can significantly improve your mental health.

Understanding the Roles of Rehab Centers

We live in a world where many good people are forced into making bad decisions by the environment around us. No one drinks alcohol or does drugs because they like them, it is a sign of suffering from the inside. Going to rehab to treat such big problems is a huge step in the right direction. It is important to understand what rehab centers actually do in order to get the treatment that you or a person near you needs to get.

It is a unique experience

Everyone’s experience during rehab is unique and is filled with many ups and downs. As the philosophy goes over at 90210 Recovery in California, the treatment should always be based on you. The rehab center’s first role is to uncover the root cause of the addiction in order to tackle the problem adequately. Everyone has their own unique problems, and trained professionals are aware of this and they know how to handle unique cases with a lot of experience behind them.

You can not expect to get immediate results from rehab, it is a process that takes time. Sometimes more, sometimes less, and be prepared for it. If you are close to someone who is in a rehab center, the last thing you want to do is to put pressure on them for it to be faster. The staff at a rehab center is there to help out at any point during this unique process.

Detoxification

The term detoxification is the real deal here, it is not a random drink the internet tells you to drink for detoxification. During rehab, it is important for the patient to be in a safe environment

while they cope with withdrawal symptoms. That is what detoxification refers to here, to let the body recover from everything that was put through. Not only in the short term but also help the patient out to find ways to deal with any future cravings that might appear.

Therapy

While your body is getting used to not consuming the addictive substance, therapy will also start to take place. Therapy is not a process where someone deals with all of the problems you have for you. The role of the staff there is to provide the individual with everything they need in order to deal with addiction.

This includes physical needs, such as a calm surroundings where the individual has a lot of opportunities to start a new hobby. The other part includes psychological support to diagnose the problem and start the process of healing. This includes making new habits and ways of thinking in order to solve the problem that caused this addiction.

These are just the basic roles of what a rehab center does in the process of healing. It is very important to know and understand these core principles so you can know what to expect. It is always possible to make a change for the better, it is sometimes very hard to make a change. If it was easy, then there would not be a problem, but it is not and the fact that you or someone you know is doing something about it is very encouraging and strong.

Why Should You Look After Your Body and Health?

No matter how minor your health problems are, they can obstruct or even overwhelm other aspects of your life. Even simple health conditions like aches, pains, fatigue, and indigestion can have a negative impact on your happiness and stress levels. One option for increasing your capacity to manage stress and feel better is to make a commitment to healthy activities.

Stress levels in your life might rise as a result of poor health practices, reducing your ability to deal. A major side effect of poor health is stress. Health issues have an influence on other aspects of your life. Health issues may make everyday chores more difficult, put a burden on your money, and even put your ability to work.

Maintaining positive habits may pay off in the long run, since stress may exacerbate health problems ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses and diseases.This article examines several healthy practices that might help you live a happier life.

For the Right Reasons, Eat a Healthy Diet

Rather than eating well just to improve your appearance in your pants, you should also commit to consuming meals that will increase your energy and keep your system working smoothly. This is because what you eat has an influence on your stress levels as well as your short- and long-term health.

When you are hungry or underweight, it is considerably more difficult to cope with stress. Hunger might make you more emotionally reactive to stimuli, making you irritated or even furious in response to tiny daily irritations. Keeping track of what you eat may be both a stress reliever and a health saver.

Another reason to eat well is that your diet might have an impact on your mood. While the effects of an unhealthy diet accumulate over time and become more evident, you are also less likely to feel well in the short term if you consume a diet high in sugary, fatty, or nutritionally deficient foods.

The following are some of the more immediate consequences of a bad diet:

• Sleepy

• Nauseous

• Moody

• Exhausted

• Greedy

Eating healthily offers long-term benefits, but it may also make you feel more energized and cheerful in the immediate term.

It may be simpler to keep to a healthy diet if you remind yourself that what you eat now will affect how you feel in the coming hours.

Prioritize your sleep.

Sleep deprivation may have a significant negative influence on your general health and well-being. Make a promise to yourself to get adequate sleep each night. You may be less productive, less intellectually alert, and more susceptible to the impacts of stress if you haven’t received enough sleep.

Some helpful behaviors include:

• Aim for a total of eight hours of sleep each night.
After 2 p.m., avoid coffee.

• Avoid consuming meals that may cause sleep disturbances in the evening.
Every night, go to bed at the same time; every morning, get up at the same time.

• Make your bed comfortable and maintain the room at a comfortable temperature to create a calm sleeping environment.
Before going to bed, use a relaxing approach like meditation to help you relax.

If this is a problem for you right now, you might be amazed at how much less stressed you feel when you’re not exhausted. If you have difficulties sleeping well when you’re anxious, using excellent practices will assist. You will not only sleep better, but you will also feel better during the day.

Take care of your skin.

The health of our bodies on the inside is reflected in the state of our skin on the outside. Food we eat, whether through diet or supplements, may help or hurt the body’s most important organ.

For our skin to operate properly, it requires a variety of vitamins and minerals. Consider collagen for maintaining the health of your skin also entails keeping it moisturized.

There are products that can assist increase the natural moisture and suppleness of your skin if it is dry. Collagen with Vitamin C is essential for skin maintenance.

Choose a Fitness Habit That Is Right for You.

We’ve all heard the advice to eat well and exercise, but fitting exercises into a hectic schedule, especially when you’re weary from stress, may be challenging. Build an exercise habit around your other routines to make fitness a regular part of your life—either connect a workout to your morning routine, your lunchtime habits, or make it a regular part of your evening—you get the point.

Making a morning jog a part of your getting-ready-for-work routine, for example, is far more likely to happen than waiting until you feel like jogging and have a spare half-hour, especially if you live a hectic life like most of us and are weary at the end of the day.

Another crucial factor in making exercise more enjoyable is to select an activity that you like. Walking while listening to an audiobook or attending a gym class where good music boosts your energy level are two examples. Finding an activity that you like increases your chances of sticking with it.

Find a workout that you enjoy and a time when you can fit it into your schedule.

Keep an eye on what you put into your body.

Avoid putting unhealthy chemicals into your body; cigarettes, too much alcohol, and even too much coffee can not only harm your health in the long term, but they can also make you feel bad in your daily life.

In fact, it’s beneficial if you can keep harmful thought habits from escalating your stress levels. Find healthier methods to deal with stress, and you’ll reap the health and stress-reduction advantages twice over.

These are three vital strategies to look after your body that you might not consider to be stress relievers. If you create objectives to make these principles a reality in your life, you’ll notice a change right away, and you’ll see benefits in various aspects of your life in the weeks and months ahead. Few habits come easily, but these three may make a big difference in your life and are well worth the effort.

About The Author

Esmé Gelder has dreamed of being a pediatrician since she was a little girl making rounds with her mother. She grew up in St. Louis and then she received her medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.

How to Stop Intrusive Thoughts From Controlling Your Life

Once in a while, you will find yourself entangled in a series of thoughts. Most of these thoughts just happen without your consciousness, which is why they are referred to as intrusive. Such thoughts will simply come and go, and you don’t have to pay much attention to them since they do not affect your conscience. It is like a form of meditation where you sit back and let the mind wander without your engagement. However, intrusive thoughts are different because they compel you to obsess over them, and they become the center of your attention.

Examples of Intrusive Thoughts

Unfortunately, intrusive thoughts will have you viewing things from a pessimistic angle even when they could be positive. For example, casino bonuses such as welcome bonuses and free spins are always a reason to be optimistic, they can help boost your bankroll when playing your favorite games. Moreover, when playing, there are varied payment methods such as Skrill or Bitcoin and the payouts are fast. This makes your online gambling worthwhile and you don’t have to overthink about all the negative things that could happen.

Other examples of intrusive thoughts could include:

Sexual– this involves weird thoughts that trigger you to question your sexuality. You might find yourself imagining having sex with inappropriate parties such as colleagues at work, family members, or your brother’s spouse.

Relationships-intrusive relationship thoughts include doubts about whether your partner will stay or whether your love for them is genuine. You can also hold a strong judgment that your partner could be cheating on you without any substantial proof.

Violent– such thoughts involve committing violence against a stranger or killing a family member or even a partner. You could also find yourself thinking about sharp objects like kitchen knives and how to use them to cause harm.

Health-related– this comprises thoughts about your wellbeing. If you notice a bump on your body, you will be quick to judge that it is a cancer symptom. You may also doubt a doctor’s diagnosis and think that you have a terminal disease.

How to Stop Intrusive Thoughts

Train yourself to recognize moments when you experience an intrusive thought

Managing intrusive thoughts requires that you be mindful and recognize when they occur. It is an effective way to stop them. Among the few ways to train your mind is through meditation. When you are mindful, you get the mental clarity that will guide your actions. Every individual can control such thoughts. With a clear mind, you will be able to dismiss negative thoughts.

Learn to accept the thoughts

After you have learned to recognize intrusive thoughts, be open to accepting them. Do not attempt to suppress or ignore such thoughts, as it will just worsen the condition. Since you cannot wish them away, acceptance is the best option. But take it lightly, and with time, you will gain more power over what your mind focuses on.

Use the pop-up blocker technique

This is the most critical step. When you encounter an intrusive thought, it is common to obsess over it. A specific example is when you are on a date with your girlfriend and her phone rings; she picks it up and makes a quick reply while smiling. You immediately think that she could be speaking to her other lover. It therefore, fades your happiness as you embark on deep and dark thoughts. In this case, you need to save your otherwise healthy relationship by employing the pop-up blocker technique. This method requires you to treat such ideas just like pop–up ads by blocking them. You can achieve this by being your own anti-virus where you first acknowledge the thought then distance yourself from it since it does not represent reality.

Live normally

Having intrusive thoughts is not a unique condition that should worry you. Therefore, never allow them to influence your behavior. Remember that intrusive thoughts do not reflect who you really are, so there is nothing more important than living your life normally. While you work your way to overcoming these feelings, always focus on remaining positive.

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Maybe It’s Time To Unplug

We live in the age of social media. Where everything is accessible and life has become faster and faster as the days go by. Just thinking about it gives me anxiety … Our children today are more worried about chatting with their friends through a screen than hanging out with the people around them. We are more worried about likes and getting the perfect picture than we are worried about taking in what we are standing right in front of.

Maybe just maybe we should start unplugging more:

I recently took a trip with my boyfriend, it was just a weekend away. I made it a point to take a book with me and not shut my phone off but find things to do and enjoy the company I had in front of me. It was such an eye opening experience.

1. Seeing my surroundings:

Usually I would be taking pictures during our walks, or trying to get the perfect shot of him and I to update my profile picture. Instead this time I put my phone in my pocket and held my boyfriends hand. We walked through the trails. We talked about out life together, and our dreams. We listened to the nature around us. We took deep breaths of the fresh air. It was the most stressless time we have every had. In that moment I took his arm and he kissed me on my forehead and it was the most perfect moment.

2. Enjoyed company:

We were there with his family. We all put of our electronics down and hung out. We played corn hole and card. We sat by the fire and chatted. We took walks. We went for rides. We shot guns. We enjoyed getting to know each other better and having other people to talk to. We were not wrapped up in our everyday lives we were hanging out with people who we would normally not be able to hang with.

3. Family Dinner:

Another thing that we practiced was eating together as a family. This is something that I had not done in years. Mostly because my life is so fast pace I could not imagine making time to sit for an hour and eat. Instead I eat in my car or while I am doing homework. However, this weekend I got to sit down at a table and actually enjoy a meal. Something that I never thought I would crave for. Now I on purpose make time to sit and eat dinner.

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