I feel honoured to have had my article ‘How walking has helped me with my PTSD recovery‘, published by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI is America’s largest grassroots mental health organisation dedicated to improving the lives of the many people affected by mental illness. In the article, I describe how walking has helped my recovery. I look at the benefit of walks for physical and mental healing. Towards the end of 2020, I had a bad accident. A van hit me as I was crossing a road, and I ended up in hospital with fractured vertebrae for almost two weeks. A week after my recovery, I started to experience distressing flashbacks, and a few weeks later, I was diagnosed with PTSD.
As I embarked on the long road of recovery, walking became key to my physical and mental wellbeing.
Read also ‘Proven Benefit of Being in Nature in our Wellbeing‘
How can walking help your recovery?
So, how can walking help you with your physical and emotional recovery? What benefits does walking have on our wellbeing? For me, walking is a source of joy as well as healing. But how can it help you reduce the severity of your PTSD symptoms and manage them? Why is walking an ideal form of movement for those experiencing PTSD?
Walking has become my self-care practice, something I always look forward to. In fact, there was not much going on during the pandemic, so walks became the highlight of my day. Whilst going out for the first time after my accident was naturally stressful and overwhelming, I learnt how to control these feelings.
Read also ‘What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? My Experience‘
I believe that going for walks in nature is the best therapy. And it is free! It can soothe your soul and calm you down. Walking helped me enormously on my recovery journey, and I believe it can help you too. That’s why I decided to share my experience on NAMI Blog…read more here.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of walking for your general wellbeing and how can walking combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, you can check my previous post here.
Thank you and till the next blog post,
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Yes, going out in nature for a walk is amazing. It’s good for our physical and mental health. It also makes us stop, look around, and enjoy the moment 🙂
Indeed, walking has so many benefits. Thank you so much!
Very inspiring.
Wonderful post. I’d love to share this with my friend who is suffering from PTSD, and hope that this helps him. ♡
Ches, you can find many posts related to PTSD and mental health on Journeyofsmiley Blog – feel free to have a look. I share my experience so that hopefully they can help others too, so feel free to share it with your friends. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
I also suffer from PTSD due to a traumatic event when I was in the Army. I’ve been an advocate for walking for mental well being for years and totally agree with you that it helps more than anything else I’ve tried. My favorite place to walk is in the mountains but just getting out in our neighborhood helps as well. Any place you can get outside and see the sun and breath fresh air helps! Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I have no doubt it will help many!
Sincerely,
Rebecca
Rebecca, thank you so much! I’m so sorry to hear that you also suffer from PTSD, but I’m glad that you have found your coping mechanism. Walking has so many benefits for our health, mental and physical. I’ve several articles about PTSD on Journeyofsmiley Blog, so feel free to have a look – hopefully you will find some more useful and helpful posts. Many thanks!
Although I do not have PTSD, walking was great therapy during a mourning period many years ago. My friends would get me out as often as possible. It was the best thing I could do at the time. I am glad it had helped you.
Yes, walking has so many benefits! I’m so glad that it helped you. Thank you so much!
Walking definitely has so many benefits. I’m so glad you have been able to find what you can enjoy doing. I really love taking walks with the ones I love and have meaningful time and conversations. Thank you for sharing this post. 🤗
Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment)
Letstakeamoment.com
Thank you so much! Walking really has many benefits. Thanks and enjoy your walks!
Very insightful
Thank you so much!
I think walking helps so many ailments in so many ways. I have seen more people taking to walking as a post COVID recovery for long haulers too to prevent blood clots, and help rebuild lung capacity. It is vital on so many levels, mental and physical.
Indeed, it has so many benefits and it’s free! Thank you so much:)
It is amazing to hear you found your source/outlet for your trauma. Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you so much! Not always easy, but so crucial. Thanks!
Walking in nature has powerful mental health benefits! I always feel great afterwards.
Thank you so much! I totally agree with you, it has so many benefits. Enjoy your walks!
Thank you for sharing! Walking in nature helps improve my mood too!
It’s great how many benefits nature offers and it’s free! Thank you so much and enjoy your walks:)
I love walking, it’s great to take time and think about the wonderful things in life. It this wonderful to hear how waking helped you heal.
Thank you so much! There are definitely many benefits that walking offers. Thanks and enjoy your walks!
You are amazing. The trauma you have experienced and how you have worked into recovery and now you share with others to help them. Each morning as I walk through the forest (or by the ocean) I are renewed and refreshed. Thank you for sharing this article.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really hope that sharing my experience can help others too. Thanks and enjoy your walks!
Great post. Walking always helps me organize and focus my thoughts.
Same here:) Thank you so much!
Love this! Always knew walking was good for boys but didn’t know about mental health benefit too.
Thank you so much! Indeed, walking has so many benefits. Enjoy your walks!
I agree that walking is a healthy activity that can elevate mental health and physical healthy at the same time. As a children’s counsellor, I often recommend taking time to go for a walk to enjoy nature and breathe in some fresh air. When a child is having a particularly rough day, I will often go outside with them while we chat and it always helps to make them feel refreshed and to give them a soft reset for the rest of their day.
Thank you so much for sharing! Walking has so many benefits for people of different ages. You are doing such a great job!
I had no idea it could help with PTSD. I knew that walking could help with anxiety or depression and have used these as coping tools myself. I am so glad that walking is able to help those with PTSD.
Thank you so much! Indeed, walking has so many benefits for people with different needs. Enjoy your walks!
Walking/ strolling is an activity that I find really therapeutic. I can see why it helped.
Thank you so much! Yes, indeed, it is very therapeutic, especially walking outside in nature. Enjoy your walks!