As a recovering drug addict or alcoholic, sometimes the simplest joys in life can be the best way to escape your continuous struggle towards happiness and health. While you might be familiar with different forms of animal therapy (from dog walking to horseback riding), did you know that the simple act of bird-watching can be an excellent form of cognitive-behavioral therapy? Ultimately, if you are taking part in a rehab program (or know someone who is undergoing rehabilitation), you might be surprised to hear that observing birds out your window could be considered healthy. However, in the same manner that art therapy calms the mind and allows for expression, birdwatching allows you to tame your wild thoughts and get a taste of the natural world. So, what could be better than that? Simply put, you don’t even have to leave the safety of your home or residential facility to visit your fine-feathered friends. Let’s take a closer look and see why birdwatching is an effective form of therapy for addicts.
Birds Are Nature’s Nurses
Back in 2017, researchers analyzed 270 people (of different ages, ethnicities, and incomes) and reached an insightful conclusion: individuals who spend more time outside are bound to be happier and less susceptible to negative thoughts. Conducted in the morning and afternoon hours, the study also revealed that people were much happier when they observed more birds (an interesting spin on the situation). Although scientists did not confirm a connection between mental health and specific bird species, they did confirm that people who were able to observe birds through their windows felt much happier than other subjects.
A Boost in Mental Health
According to Dr. Daniel Cox (a fellow at the University of Exeter in London, England), this study reveals that certain aspects of the natural world can actually serve as medication for a depressed mind. In fact, this happiness factor did not even change in regards to age, income, or ethnicity. Everyone, simply put, was excited to see the birds. So, in effect, bird watching can serve as a wonderful coping strategy even for the most hardcore addicts (reinforcing the concepts of cognitive-behavioral therapy).
Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
