There are countless different reasons why an individual may experience an event or series of events that requires recovery time.
Whether this is physical or mental recovery, every individual should make time for this type of care – especially when the individual feels as though they are in need of this, or if they have been encouraged by those around them to seek recovery processes.
Recovery itself is also an incredibly broad umbrella term and takes many different forms including examples such as physiotherapy for physical injuries, rehabilitation and home detox programs for addictions, and therapy and other treatment for mental health issues.
This article will outline why personal recovery is important, the effects on an individual who may not engage in recovery, and how travelling to travel destinations may benefit an individual in their recovery practises, including the suitability of this for different examples.
Why should an individual engage in personal recovery?
In all cases of an individual experiencing something that requires recovery time, it is vital that this adhered to and partaken in for a number of different reasons.
For example, if an individual is struggling with a physical health issue e.g., a broken bone, pulled muscle, exercise cooldown issues etc., then seeking rehab and recovery is vital in order to repair the body and teach the individual to build up their strength in the affected areas again.
For mental health issues, these can quickly begin to have a snowball effect on an individual’s life, affecting everyday factors such as the individual’s mood, their motivation to partake in activities, and perhaps a ‘mental block’ in other important areas of their lives such as their career.
In the specific example of a substance addiction, an individual can struggle with the lifelong impacts of this, often worsened by the lack of treatment (1), rehab, and other recovery procedures, including a lack of detox clinics or sessions.
When is it necessary for an individual to recover personally?
As mentioned above, participating in recovery programmes and practises is essential for individuals struggling with a variety of different issues – but when does any issue become requiring of recovery?
If the individual finds themselves struggling with some or more of the following factors, then seeking recovery as soon as possible is encouraged and recommended:
- Having daily effects as a result of the issue
- Noticing the issue on a regular basis
- Finding themselves less motivated in previously enjoyed activities
- Out-of-character stresses, agitation, and potentially aggression surrounding the issue
- Perceived decreased quality of life as a result of the issue
However, in any instance where an individual feels as though they require recovery processes, this should be sought as soon as the individual is able.
What constitutes a travel destination?
One option for attending recovery practises is to do this away from the individual’s regular place of residence.
Known as travel destinations, these options often have many of their own unique benefits, as well as providing a different environment in which an individual may be able to more committedly focus on a recovery programme.
In general, a travel destination is a broad term, but often refers to idyllic, scenic, or tourist-based areas of a country. Travel destinations are named so due to their reputation as a getaway location, boasting comfort, enjoyment, and a range of different services and facilities that are able to be accessed easily.
There are countless different travel destinations across the world and each of these may or may not be considered by some to be officially defined as such, making this a topic for debate in many instances.
The effects of travel on personal health and wellbeing
Many individuals are encouraged to travel for health purposes, but not many individuals may consider the reasons behind this.
In the media, for example, travel is often marketed as a way to access new scenery, new locations, and new experiences – all of which can be beneficial in some instances and for some specific individuals.
Not all individuals may benefit from attending recovery in a travel destination, but this is something to discuss with a medical professional or seek other suitable external advice to determine.
The advantages of recovery in travel destinations are outlined in terms of physical and mental benefits across the following couple of subheadings.
1. The physical health benefits of travel destinations
Often, the physical action of simply moving one’s position, whether this is across the household or across an ocean can have many different benefits.
For those who are able, getting the body moving and using physical capabilities to explore a new location can be therapeutic in itself – something which many individuals often overlook.
The links between physical exercise and wellbeing have long been linked, but there are more and more studies being conducted into the specificity of this in the modern world.
As a relatively new study, it has been shown that engaging in regular physical exercise can decrease the long-term impacts and effects of substance abuse, but this is still a new concept and requires much more testing and analysis (2).
2. The mental health benefits of travel destinations
Often, individuals struggling with mental health issues, additional stress, and other psychological conditions are recommended to take some time off and get away from their current environment – but why is this the case?
In fact, travel has been linked with a variety of different therapeutic and mental health benefits.
For example, in breast cancer patients, travel was identified to have three ‘healing roles’ including distraction from death anxiety, relieving psychological stress, and promoting systematic recovery practises in the long-term (3).
Though this is only one study, mental health has long been linked to benefits from experiencing new phenomena, practises, and environments – something which many individuals can take advantage of.
Important things to consider when travelling for recovery services
Before an individual applies themselves to recovery in a travel destination, there are some key factors that should be considered before making any final decisions and commitments.
Some examples of these factors for consideration are listed below:
- Suitability of recovering in a travel destination – can be approved by a medical professional or recovery service provider
- Travel requirements/visas necessary – if travelling abroad, some countries may require additional visas and tourist fees depending on where an individual is from
- Possibility of visitation – depending on where an individual chooses to recover may affect how easy/challenging it is for friends and family to visit them during their recovery process
- Availability of recovery services – even if a travel destination seems ideal to an individual, it is vital that they ensure the services that they are looking for are actually available in the areas they seek, as well as their suitability for this
Starting the process of personal recovery at a travel destination today
To start a process of personal recovery today, speak to your local doctor’s office, general practitioners (GPs), or health services.
Getting help sooner rather than later is always recommended, no matter what the issue may be. Get in touch with emergency services in any instance of a medical emergency.
References
[1] Scott, C.K., Dennis, M.L., Laudet, A., Funk, R.R. and Simeone, R.S., 2011. Surviving drug addiction: the effect of treatment and abstinence on mortality. American journal of public health, 101(4), pp.737-744.
[2] Lynch, W.J., Peterson, A.B., Sanchez, V., Abel, J. and Smith, M.A., 2013. Exercise as a novel treatment for drug addiction: a neurobiological and stage-dependent hypothesis. Neuroscience & biobehavioral reviews, 37(8), pp.1622-1644.
[3] Xiong, W., Huang, M., Leung, X.Y. and Li, Y., 2025. The healing impact of travel on the mental health of breast cancer patients. Tourism Management, 106, p.104997.
Images from Transit Quest by Julia Sariy – see full story here.
