Trails Carolina Helping Teens Understand Impact of Social Media Use

    HIGH POINT, NC, March 01, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With the rise of social media, the negative aspects of use have become more and more of an issue. While they can impact people of all ages, teenagers growing up with technology can be most vulnerable.

Social media isn't going anywhere. There used to be a time when socializing as a teenager meant meeting in-person and developing friendships in more traditional ways. While that's still occurring to some degree, social media is only turning into more and more of an addiction. It goes beyond staying connected with family, friends, and celebrities.

While positives exist, there are plenty of negatives connected to social media. A lot of it can have harmful effects on their mental health. Trails Carolina is hoping to improve the mental health of teenagers by offering a program far removed from social media: wilderness therapy. Families might not even realize the impact that social media can have on their children, but even a short separation from it can create significant changes.

What makes wilderness therapy, like what's available at Trails Carolina, a solid t option is a focus on adventure and the therapeutic benefit of being outdoors.

There's less focus on what everyone else is doing online and more on growing individually. Wilderness therapy is with small groups of teenagers also dealing with similar issues. This natural way of bonding has allowed many to focus on what they need to do to feel better mentally.

There are great benefits from therapeutic environments that are not available in traditional settings. Instead of being constricted to a classroom or office, the outdoor setting helps out significantly.

Located in Western North Carolina within the Blue Ridge Mountain trails, teenagers are fully immersed in a therapeutic outdoor setting. The base camp is located in the Nantahala National Forest, which is easy enough to access while still away from everything else.

The staff focuses on individual needs for each teenager and their mental health. Exploring is the only option instead of relying on social media or electronics as a crutch. There's a lot of reflection and exercising during the days, with group activities happening in the evening.

Once finished with wilderness therapy at Trail Carolina, teenagers have new ways to build relationships, attain short- and long-term goals, and experience improved mental health. It also builds confidence and independence that can last a lifetime.

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