Best vacation for depression
Depression is a beast that affect over 40 million Americans. Sometimes depression make work insufferable or boring. Sometimes it becomes solely focused on not enjoying the life we live. Coming up with ideas to make depressed mind feel better can be difficult. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to find what retreat would be perfect for you during this season of darkness and bad moods.
There are so many things that can make us feel down in the dumps, even ruining or ruining our complete life. On the other hand, the vacation is something that can change it all. But what sort of vacation should we choose? And if we need some ideas, what are they?
Depression is a very serious mental health condition that causes people to have feelings of extreme sadness or despair. It interferes with their daily life, making it hard to enjoy activities they used to enjoy and causing problems performing work and chores. Depression can surface at any time in your life including when you are on vacation.
Best vacation for depression
When you’re feeling down, it can seem impossible to imagine the day when you’ll feel better. But if you take a few days to focus on yourself and your mental health, it can help bring you back to normal. If you’re looking for the perfect vacation experience that will help you feel like yourself again, consider these options:
- Go somewhere sunny: When people are depressed, they often lack energy and motivation. The sun is known to make people feel happy and healthy—and it doesn’t hurt that it also gets rid of dark circles under your eyes!
- Get away from home: Even if your home is beautiful and comfortable, being away from it can help you focus on yourself without distractions from everyday life. You might even be able to find some new ways of enjoying your space once you get back home!
- Do something new: If there are things that interest you but have always been too daunting or expensive to try out in real life (like skydiving), now’s the time! Or if there’s something else on your bucket list that has never been crossed off yet (like writing a book), now would be
When you’re depressed, it can be hard to find a vacation that works for you. You might feel like you’re just not up for a trip, or that the idea of having fun and relaxing makes you feel worse.
But there are ways to have a great time even when you’re feeling down. Here are some tips for finding the ideal vacation:
-Stay in touch with your doctor before and during your trip so they can help with any medications or other treatment options that might work best for you.
-Plan ahead so you don’t have to worry about last-minute details like booking flights or hotels.
-Take along some favorite items from home to help make the trip feel more familiar and comfortable—for example, take your favorite pillow or stuffed animal!
1. Nature Lovers
Studies show it only takes spending 10 minutes outside – either sitting or walking – to reap nature’s many psychological benefits. Thankfully, there are several retreats you can embark on by the beach, in the woods or the mountains.
Soak in the hot springs and natural mud baths in Dominica or airboat through the Florida Everglades. If the mountains are calling you, rent a cabin in the Poconos for a weekend or take an extended backpacking trip in the Swiss Alps.
The San Juan Islands in Washington State also offer ample nature-inspired activities, such as kayaking, whale watching excursions and an afternoon at the relaxing Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Studies have long suggested lavender’s linalool has stress-relieving effects on humans.
2. Yoga Retreats
Yoga’s focus on movement and alignment helps connect the physical body with the mind and spirit. The practice is known for reducing anxiety and depression while also strengthening cognition, memory, awareness and concentration.
Worldwide, yoga retreats deliver restorative classes and healthy, plant-based cuisine to deepen human connection and greater relaxation.
In the United States, you can book vacations at several yoga retreats, including the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, or the infamous Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. For people interested in international travel, Ubud, Bali, is a hub for countless transformative yoga experiences.
3. Animal Therapy Trips
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), human-animal interactions reduce cortisol levels and blood pressure, in addition to helping people beat loneliness and feel more supported. Of course, some of the best vacations to benefit your mental health include a dose of animal therapy.
At Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, the Potcake Place is a dog rescue charity whose mission is to find the “potcake” dogs of Turks and Caicos loving homes. The nickname came from residents feeding homeless dogs from potcakes – their cooking pots. Visitors can visit Popcake Place or adopt them for the day for island adventures. You may even find yourself bringing one home with you.
Another Caribbean vacation to get your animal fix is in Exumas, Bahamas. Pig Beach is home to about 30 to 40 pigs and is located on Big Major Cay. While it’s unclear how the pigs arrived there, visitors flock to the beach to swim with, pet and feed the friendly pigs.
4. Foodie Adventures
Food lovers will rejoice while vacationing different parts of the world. Each region offers unique delicacies and cuisines to satisfy your taste buds.
A trip to Greece provides fresh seafood, olives, hummus, greens and seasonal produce – cornerstones of the Mediterranean diet. Meanwhile, Italy is its own culinary experience with delicious pasta dishes, fresh tomatoes and lemons.
If you’re a coffee drinker, Costa Rica has eight regions that harvest the best coffee globally. According to a recent study commissioned by the U.S. National Coffee Association (NCA), people who drink two cups of coffee a day have a 32% lower risk of self-reported depression. The study also highlighted other mental health benefits, including reduced inflammation, lower oxidative stress and better gut health.
5. Unplugged Vacations
A 2021 survey found that Americans spend approximately five to six hours per day on their smartphones. Unfortunately, excessive phone use is associated with poor mental health and less sleep and cognitive, medical and emotional decline.
Thankfully, there are several phone-free destinations you can consider booking your next trip to. Although unplugging may sound scary, it could be necessary for boosting your mental well-being. Step away from emails, phone calls and app notifications and allow yourself to become immersed in your travel experiences.
Currently, only 50% of Yellowstone National Park has cell phone service, encouraging you to interact with the landscape more. Additionally, the remote Quirpon Island in Newfoundland, Canada, lacks cell coverage or internet connection.
Other phone-free destinations for you to reserve include:
- Eremito—a remote monastery in the Umbrian valleys of Italy
- Denali National Park in Alaska
- Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia
- Cloud Forest of Nicaragua
- Petit St. Vincent—a private island in the Grenadines
- Lake Placid Lodge in Lake Placid, New York
Several resorts lack televisions, internet and other forms of technology as part of their accommodations. Enjoy the quiet time and a sense of renewal with a digital detox destination. You’ll probably find you won’t miss staying connected to the outside world anyway.