Mental Health has emerged as a dominant concern for our society. Every day, people and psychiatrists search for cures for today’s mental health issues. One doctor has taken a new approach for his patients: trips to the Disney Parks.
Dr. Sanders explains that while the trips are optional, being surrounded by positivity and manufactured joy at a Disney Park can profoundly affect your mental health.
He said:
Mypatients have the choice to take trips with their family to help promote positive changes in their behavior and develop lifetime memories in the meantime. I usually suggest my patients purchase an annual pass to make sure that they are able to continue on their path to managing their emotions.
Dr. Sanders believes the psychological studies state that “humans exposed to environments encompassing the patient with positivity and enriching experiences have changed the patient’s outlook.” Disney Parks are examples of such positive and enriching environments.
Now, we are not psychologists at Inside the Magic, but you do not have to be a medical professional to feel the positive effects a visit to a Disney Park can have on one’s mental state. We can attest just by our own experience. From cracking your first smile in over a month at first sight of Mickey Mouse to catching your second wind on Main Street, the U.S.A., after being completely slumped on the monorail ride from EPCOT and an early afternoon at Food & Wine. Disney Parks, especially their Magic Kingdoms, can have a truly magical effect on your mental state.
Mental health treatment seems to have always been Disneyland’s mission on some level. Walt Disney’s commencement speech states:
To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.
The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds and innovative technologies that make ours the world’s premier entertainment company.
Please be advised that Dr. Sanders is prescribinga trip to Disney over the other conventional medications and treatment. His rather-harmless decision to suggest his patients take fun vacations to Disney is part of the continuing education that psychiatrists and primary care doctors undergo to discover the best way to more effectively care for their patient’s mental health. Remember to ask your doctor if a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is the right decision for you at this point in your recovery.
Are you planning your next trip to either Disneyland Resort or the Walt Disney World Resort? Our friends at Academy Travel are here to help. After years of planning unforgettable Disney Resort vacations, Academy’s agents know what it takes to work with you and organize the best possible trip for your budget. Click here to learn more and receive your free, no-obligation quote today!
What do you think about prescribing a Disney vacation for mental health? Do you think it is a good idea? Can you remember when you experienced or saw someone experience the mental health boost that can come from a visit to a Disney Park? Let us know in the comments!
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