The Warrior Sportsmen mission is to advance physical and emotional healing, provide comraderie and mentorship, help transition heroes from the battlefield or long-term overseas deployments back to life at home, and develop fishing and hunting skills for lifelong enjoyment.
Why Do We Take Warriors Fishing
Therapeutic experts claim that, because fishing requires focus, it helps take a person’s mind off internal conflict. Locating fish, developing a strategy, choosing the correct fly or lure, and properly presenting that lure to the fish all require critical thinking and creativity, which allow a healthy escape from stress, depression, and anxiety.
This has been proven in clinical studies in which cortisol (a hormone linked to stress) levels were measured in a group of war veterans before and after a weekend of fishing. Those who had been on the fishing trip experienced lower levels of cortisol for as many as three weeks afterward. Researchers noted that their patients slept better, expressed lower levels of depression and anxiety, experienced fewer symptoms of somatic stress, and were far less likely to experience the feelings of guilt, hostility, fear, or sadness normally associated with PTSD and traumatic experiences. Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Exposure to the natural environment is increasingly considered to benefit psychological health. Recent reports in the literature also suggest that outdoor exposure that includes recreational pursuits such as fishing coupled with opportunities for social interaction with peers may be beneficial to Armed Forces Veterans experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Outdoor recreational activity decreases participants’ symptoms as assessed by established measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and perceived stress, and increase participants’ sense of general social functioning and psychological growth. Source: US National Library of Medicine/National Institute of Health/National Center for Biotechnology Information, Published: November 25, 2020, Mark Wheeler, Nicholas R. Cooper, Leanne Andrews, Jamie Hacker Hughes, Marie Juanchich, Tim Rakow, Sheina Orbell.
One of the greatest things about fishing is that anyone can participate. There are no restrictions or limitations. It is one of the world’s most popular recreational activities for good reason. It has helped countless people with chronic illness, post-traumatic stress, and debilitating injuries to recover and live full, healthy lives. It allows us to explore our natural world and stay active well into old age. Fishing is a calming, enjoyable activity that has the power to transform your outlook on life.
The Original Footwear Co. proudly serves as the official footwear sponsor for Warrior Sportsmen.
Why Do We Take Warriors Hunting
There are few activities that can be more relaxing and rewarding than hunting, and there are several reasons why the sport can make you a happier person. Not only is hunting good for the environment and animal populations, but it is great for physical and mental health as well.
Most people are extremely busy, and they rarely sit still and focus on one thing for more than a few minutes. During the work week, their mind may be racing with countless things they need to accomplish. This is especially true if you have a lot of responsibilities at work and at home. But when they’re hunting, all of that can, and usually goes away. Being surrounded by nature is a very calming experience. There is also science behind why hunting is so relaxing. While the act of hunting itself can have moments of intense physical activity, after firing a shot, our body releases endorphins. These hormones are what lead to feelings of happiness and contentment. Releasing them on a regular basis can dramatically improve a person’s overall wellbeing.
Many of the best-respected behavioral scientists of our times, including Sigmund Freud, William James, Carl Jung, Erich Fromm, Marie-Louise von Franz, and Karl Menninger, have written that hunting is a natural, healthy part of human nature. Hunting is a very basic instinct programmed into the master computer of our species for survival purposes that has been elevated by ethics to become a “sport,” which enables us to express our basic biological identity. In the act of hunting, man becomes, however briefly, part of nature again. He returns to the natural state, becomes one with the animal, and is freed from the burdens of his modern-day life. In stalking the animal, he and the animal become equals, even though man eventually shows his superiority by use of his weapons. Hunting, like sport and play, is good for mind, body, and spirit.
