Volume 6 Issue 5 May 2016
Adventure and mental health
Since time immemorial, humans have been indulging in activities that can be construed as ‘adventure’. These activities include going into wilderness, expeditions into mountains and river courses, and even polar explorations. Adventure is defined as a bold, usually risky undertaking, hazardous action of uncertain outcome. Such forays of adventure have not
only implications for physical health, but also have important connotations for mental health. There are both risks and benefits of adventure therapy. The risks include boredom and loneliness, fatigue, reduced motivation, intellectual ‘inertia’ and increased substance use. Sleep disturbances, impaired cognitive performance, negative emotions and
interpersonal conflicts may occur when the adventure travels are for long duration. On the other hand, adventure can result in improvement in coping skills, development of resilience, bolstering self-esteem and self-confidence, better inter-personal skills, changes in perspective and values and increased self-awareness. These positive aspects of adventure can be utilized for therapeutic purposes. ‘Adventure therapy’ has been shown to be effective in scientific studies and has been utilized for a variety of conditions including conduct disorders. There is a need for better awareness of adventure therapy in the mental health community, and rational utilization of this option in selected cases.
Assistant Professor, AIIMS. Delhi
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