Carfar

Danh Ta

Christine Brooks

English Comp. II

11/19/14

How Nature is Beneficial to Mental Health

“There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to self-fulfillment.” (DeVeau 332) Finding tranquility after terrible trials and tribulations can be extremely difficult, impossible even, but I have discovered that nature, as a spiritual outlet, is a beneficial form to improve mental stability. “When people are challenged by something like a serious […] loss, they frequently turn to spiritual values to help them cope with and understand their […] lost.” (Puchalski) Although I had to experience excruciating pain and loss to get where I am today, my eyes have been opened to the true potential of nature on the human psyche.

There was a point in my life that had me so mentally and spiritually drained that it started to affect the health of my body. I remember receiving a call in the early hours of December 23, 2012, and I could not comprehend what was being said on the other end of the line because of the loud sound of sobbing. The only thing that I heard clearly was, “Bry’s dead.” I felt my heart drop down all the way into my stomach, and I could not find the words to reply. Bryant Chase is my best friend. We grew up together all through high school. He developed an addiction to painkillers, which led to the addiction of heroine. He had moved away from Burlington, Vermont to Salt Lake City, Utah to get away from it all. Bryant stayed clean for almost 2 years. When he came back to Burlington for a holiday visit, he fell into the same old routine of doing things that he really needed to stay away from. He had lost his battle with addiction, and it ultimately took his life away from his family, from his friends, from us.

I fell into a dark place where I sometimes found myself staying at home, and drinking a lot by myself. Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, from Baylor University Medical Center stated, “Bereavement is one of life’s greatest stresses” (Puchalski). So, I...