Taking people to experience adventure cultivates a sense of belonging while finding purpose. Recovery is a lifelong process and takes constant work. The building blocks to a recovery program are not the same for every individual.
It is in finding the right fit that we create behavior change and social change in turn teaching leadership development and fostering the conquering of goals and quests while overcoming fear.
"For it is in keeping the body and mind active and engaged that we find purpose & reason."
Purpose, inner drive, self-confidence and a sense of belonging, these are things that people in recovery from addictions don’t have. Outdoor adventure activities such as rock climbing, paddle-sports and hiking bridge the gap people in recovery often face as they get sober and learn to live sober lives. Activities in the outdoors that are considered high adventure are proven to lower stress, decrease depression and anxiety, foster a sense of community and belonging and produce endorphins in the brain that create happy feelings. Evidence supports exercise and outdoor activities as tools to stay sober. According to Peter Thanos, an addiction researcher at the University of Buffalo, physical activity can regulate the brain circuitry linked to feelings of well-being. Addictive substances rob the reward system which causes an addict in recovery to chase after greater highs to feel normal.
“ If we continue to fight the opioid epidemic facing Ohio and help prevent those in recovery from relapse then it is time to look at a shift in the way we combat this.”
Every year the costs to tax payers associated with incarceration and treatment of heroin addiction rises. There is currently money in the addiction, but most of it is spent on the front end. There is a strong return on investment in non-traditional active recovery programs when money is used to prevent relapse and keep addicts out of jail.
Outdoor activities such as rock climbing fosters community, builds confidence and strength, promotes mental and physical health, creates a sense of belonging and allows the addict to face trials and failures, successes and improvement teaching them that they can accomplish anything they set out to do. It is in the micro-moments of success that inner drive is created and sustained and purpose is renewed. The activity allows them to find themselves on the walls and learn to overcome fears and get through obstacles. They communicate, support others, become resilient, focus, problem solve and have fun. Employers seek these soft skills when hiring. Climbing walls aren’t just for people to climb up, but also to create experiences that directly impact relapse prevention and in turn develop transferable skills to assist in finding jobs and gaining confidence through their own inner drive and planned purpose while developing true grit.
Last month, Inner Drive Adventures Staff had the opportunity to impact 12 residents of The Edna House for Women, a sober living house on the west side of Cleveland. The women who participated in rock climbing at NOSOTROS Climbing Gym in Lakewood had a chance to have fun learning, supporting, overcoming fears, facing difficult tasks and exercise. The mental and physical affects combined with the skill development and support were priceless. Each had her own personal goals to achieve. For some it was to make a couple moves, others were determined to finish at the top of the wall and some were happy to be supportive. Just like recovery, climbing is about personal goals and accomplishments and that is easily created through outdoor adventures.
“When people have a planned purpose their focus changes. They learn to accept things and choose to move on. A new story is written and social bonds are formed allowing for individuals to live life to the fullest.”
~Inner Drive Adventures Co-Founders, Tom & Christine
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