More woo, less woe - how outdoor adventure supports mental health
These days there’s all sorts of different therapy, and mental health is a much more talked about topic. When people talk about mental health journeys, most think of therapists, medication, or self-help books. But for me, it's been something a little different. Sure, I’ve had my share of therapy and tried almost every medication out there, but what really made the difference for me was outdoor adventure, pushing my comfort zones, and finding community through outdoor adventure-based activities. These things have supported me through life and helped me manage my mental health in ways I never imagined.
I never knew my biological father—he passed away before I was born—but I’ve been told we’re alike in a lot of ways. He had a goofy, adventurous spirit, which I’ve always carried with me. But there was also the side of him that struggled with mental health issues, specifically bipolar disorder. My parents were always mindful of that, making sure I had the mental health support I needed in case I ever experienced the same.
Mental health was always something on the radar in my family, but I hadn’t yet experienced anything that made me feel the full spectrum of emotions or understand where they could lead. That changed when I lost a close friend in high school. I didn’t know how to process that kind of grief—it felt like a door had opened to emotions I wasn’t prepared for. Luckily, I was attending an arts magnet school by then, surrounded by other expressive teens, which made me feel less like an outsider.
In college, things got more challenging with the pressure I put on myself to do well, and completing quantitative credits required to graduate. I would have anxiety attacks that left me hyperventilating on the floor. I’d take Valium just to calm down, but it would leave me hungover and dragging myself to class the next day. It became a cycle. I had to daily lithium, but it felt like I was always treading water. And to top it off, I had to get my blood checked constantly to monitor the lithium levels.
Eventually, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder too. I ended up on medication, going through what felt like every option under the sun. From antidepressants to anti-seizure meds (and no, I wasn’t epileptic), it felt like a never-ending experiment. I even had a prescription for Valium with instructions like “half tablet before math class, full tablet before panic attacks.” And while it helped at first, I started to feel disconnected from myself.
Medication has always been a tricky subject for me anyway. For the occasional hangover, and maybe for monthly cramps I’ll take a couple ibuprofen, but not often. Perhaps it’s the old school part of me, the side that I learned from my Papa, who believed duct tape and a lil’ whiskey could fix most anything. I never liked the idea of relying on medication. I remember my mom explaining that my meds were like insulin for a diabetic, just something my body needed to function. But I still struggled with accepting that.
What hurt the most was hearing about people popping pills recreationally. The meds that helped me calm down during anxiety ridden moments, were the same ones others were using for fun and to party. Looking back now it’s easy to see that we were all just finding ourselves.
What truly changed my mental health was discovering the power of nature and adventure recreation. During my senior year of college I started dating a hippie who suggested smoking a little reefer when I got worked up. Having found Outdoor Recreation as a major, I had courses like backpacking, hiking, and team-building which became not only part of my curriculum but essential to my own self discovery. Nature became my sanctuary, a place where I could challenge myself and feel supported by something bigger. My classroom was the forest, and I was with people who took the time to slow down, listen to the bird calls, and connect with nature and people in a different way than I was familiar with. I was rock climbing on the weekends, going on epic hikes, and traveling abroad on big adventures to visit peers. Eventually, every time I threw myself into an activity like hang gliding, kiteboarding, or hiking, I felt more in control of myself. I found joy in those “WOO!” moments—those bursts of exhilaration you feel when you’re completely present, your soul feels the expansion occuring, and surrounded by nature.
One summer while hiking in Northern California, I came across another kind of “woo.” I was frolicking (literally dancing and prancing) through The Redwoods when I came across two women standing barefoot, palms outstretched toward the massive trees. They called it “grounding,” feeling the energy of nature. Mind y’all, I’m from Texas- at the time (mid 2000’s) this was a concept I had never encountered before, but it resonated. From that moment on, I began to view nature not just as a playground for adventure, but as a source of healing and discovery.
Over time, I started to wean off medication. I replaced Xanax and Valium with breathing exercises and grounding techniques I’d learned from my therapists and outdoor adventures. At some point, I started telling myself, “More woos mean less woes.” The more adventure I had in my life, the less room there was for the anxiety and the heavy feelings.
Another key piece of this journey was building my community. In places I found home, I also I found people who loved adventure and understood BIG feelings. We went through a lot of really scary moments together learning how to push ourselves. Through these shared outdoor adventure experiences—whether we were riding a wave, climbing a mountain, or flying through the sky—we built deeper connections. These people became my support system, holding space for both the exhilarating highs and the vulnerable lows.
Every time I seek out those “WOO!” moments, whether it’s through adventure sports, exploring nature, or trying something new, I feel a little more in tune with myself and the world around me. For me, outdoor adventure has been the key to self-discovery, and I truly believe that the more we push our limits, the more clarity and peace we can find within.
xo,
katelyn
Disclaimer: Please, if you’re facing challenges with your mental or physical health, it’s important to seek professional care. While adventure and outdoor activities can be wonderful for personal growth, they are not a substitute for medical or therapeutic support.
