Major depressive disorder can cause a lot of issues for young girls as they go through adolescence. Depression can feel isolating and cause a teenager to avoid making connections or isolate from those that they have. Knowing the different treatment options available to your daughter while she struggles with depression will allow you to make a quick difference in her recovery. Many forms of therapy can help a teenager get through her depression. At Clearview, we specialize in offering access to the outdoors which encourages participating in adventure therapy.
Adventure therapy allows the usage of the physical body to make a difference in treatment and mental health. This therapy uses engaging with the outdoors and situations that require the usage of the physical body in a way that encourages facing your fears and working through mental hardships. Clearview Horizon Girls Academy is optimally located for engagement in the outdoors and the encouragement of physical health alongside mental health. Montana wilderness offers a backdrop to help treat major depressive disorder in the students who stay with us.
What Is Major Depressive Disorder?
Depression is a feeling of sadness, being down, or feeling majorly unhappy. Everyone may experience these feelings once in a while, but when they amplify and grow larger, it can be a problem. Medline Plus defines major depressive disorder as “a mood disorder. It occurs when feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration get in the way of your life over a long period of time. It also changes how your body works.” Depression is a mood disorder, but it can also cause physiological changes in the body of the individual struggling.
Major depressive disorder is treatable, but without intervention, the disorder can be serious. Without intervention, depression can amplify into suicidal ideation and can be fatal if not treated. Treatment for depression may include a mix of medication management and different forms of therapy. Working through depression and coming out on the other side is possible. Different therapies will give your daughter the skills that she needs to make a difference in her treatment. One form of therapy that can be effective in treating depression is adventure therapy.
What Is Adventure Therapy?
Adventure therapy is a form of outdoor therapy that involves outdoor activities, like camping or rock climbing. These activities are supervised by mental health professionals. An article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health says that “Outdoor therapies are intentional therapeutic processes that are (1) place-based, (2) feature active bodily engagement, and (3) recognize nature-human kinship”. Using outdoor therapy to combat mental illness is effective due to the nature of focused physical activity. Adventure therapy is using an external and outdoor experience to make a difference in mental health care.
The Benefits of Participating in Adventure Therapy
There are many benefits to participating in adventure therapy. Exploring the outdoors and using your physical body allows your brain and emotions to take a break. Being in nature will expose your daughter to a tranquil environment that encourages connection to the world around her. It also encourages the practice of mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness can help your daughter control her emotions and thoughts, and reach a calmer state of mind.
Adventure therapy also encourages working on physical health. Outdoor therapy encourages activities like running, hiking, and being a part of nature. These things will help your daughter put her energy into healthy activities and make a difference in her mental health. Physical health and mental health are tied, and oftentimes, people with mental health struggles may find themselves neglecting their body health. Adventure therapy encourages a holistic approach to care and therapy.
How Participating in Adventure Therapy Can Help Major Depressive Disorder
If your daughter struggles with major depressive disorder, it can feel overwhelming as a parent. Your daughter needs intervention and care that will help her find her place. Adventure therapy can allow your daughter to engage passively with her care and find reasons to love the world around her again. Adrenaline can also help to alleviate feelings of depression and give her outlets for her emotions. Using your body can help to alleviate the depression and fill your body with endorphins that can help you feel better.
Clearview Horizon Girls Academy is uniquely located in the wilderness of Montana and offers a focus on physical health for all of our students. Being close to Lake Pend Oreille allows us to give our students options for adventure, from rafting and playing to hiking through stunning Montana nature. Engaging with nature allows the depressed brain a moment to decompress. It also encourages connection to the world around you, which combats depression’s desire for isolation.
Adventure therapy combined with other treatments could be enough to fully manage your daughter’s struggles with depression. Finding a care team or facility that encourages holistic treatment of mind and body is important for your daughter’s well-being. Depression affects each part of the body, but adventure therapy and focus on the outdoors can help give strength back to your daughter.
Watching your daughter struggle with major depressive disorder can be difficult as a parent. All you want to do is take care of her and ease her struggles. This is why it is important to get her treatment for depression. Adventure therapy is an effective treatment for depression due to its focus on being outdoors and physical health. Activities like hiking and rock climbing give the mind a break and encourage a connection to nature around you. Clearview Horizon Girls Academy is situated in the Montana wilderness to provide each student an opportunity to connect with their bodies and work through mental struggles. If you are interested in learning more, contact Clearview at 866-584-4788.
