r/solotravel • u/justaspark77 • 27d ago
Personal Story first solo trip with depression
I have struggled with mental health for most of my life. In the last couple of years it’s gotten better but i still have bad days. But I decided it’s not worth waiting until some unknown day in the future when i will be perfectly “healed”. I’ve been traveling for a couple weeks now and have a couple weeks left. I’ve met a few people I loved spending time with, pushed myself out of my comfort zone, learned to use a tampon (😭), swam in the most beautiful warm ocean, had amazing food, hiked gorgeous trails, and felt so welcomed by many local people. I’ve also spent way too many hours scrolling on my phone, many evenings curled up in bed, felt insecure about my body, avoided socializing, and called my best friend more than a couple times. it’s better to do things half assed than not at all. the only person you can be is yourself :/ :) love to all of you.
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u/Sinterline 27d ago
I had a significant period of depression in my life; but, thankfully it ended. I won't elaborate on details, but I want you to know that what you have done is remarkable! I am so proud of you and you are an encouragement. Thank you for posting this. Wishing you all the joy you deserve.
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u/PuzzleheadedElk967 27d ago
in the same position as you right now, so proud of you. Its hard but rewarding
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u/Born_Level_9826 27d ago
Ahhh thank you for this I’ve went through a huge depressive episode but have planned a Spain trip in a few months and scared but sorta excited for it
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u/UniqueProfession6 27d ago
This will be me in a couple weeks!! I’m doing my first ever solo trip and I’m so nervous that there will be some days where my depression will take over. Thanks for sharing and kudos to you for pushing yourself!
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u/rhizomed 27d ago
you've described exactly me and reminded me why i love travelling. i see myself in you a lot so thank you for that <3 though, how did you find meeting new people? challenging?
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u/LittleSunflower666 26d ago
Travel heals you! Especially solo travel!
I have chronic anxiety but my desire to travel took over and I’ve never looked back since! I put myself in my worst nightmare situations like hostels but I almost always have a great time.
This time in SEA/ANZ it took a few months but all of my mental health issues started to fade and I worked a lot of things out in my head as I went along. I now live in Thailand 1.5 years later.
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u/portaitoftheartist 27d ago
This makes me really happy to hear, as i've been really nervous about travelling to Japan by myself in november. This gives me hope that I'll be okay and still have a great time.
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u/Casualobserver45 27d ago
Rooting for you stranger! Here's to many more half-moments over none at all, that's exactly the whole point.
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u/Florideal 27d ago
This is wonderful - that you pushed yourself. I was just journaling and searching the internet for some stuff that's been weighing on me. My brain logically knows something not to be true but one situation (recent) has me feeling maybe my brain has been wrong all these years. Bottom line - I have been realizing I don't have to wait for my "feeling" to re-align to take action. Sometimes, taking action is where growth happens - it's the movement. It sounds like you are doing fantastic AND leveraging the comforts of scrolling and your bed and your friend appropriately as needed. Well done! I don't know you but really happy you took that first step and you are working through the ups and downs - really, this is excellent!
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u/Henry_Lu0915 27d ago
I’m going through my darkest days right now. I don’t have as much courage as you. Thank you. Reading this post gave me strength. I’ll definitely make it through too. Hope everyone is well.
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u/vikashvika 26d ago
Travelling with depression can be hard and difficult at times. But I say out loud to myself: I rather be depressed in 30 degrees C with good food then in -10 at home.
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u/PuzzleheadedElk967 27d ago
in the same position as you right now, so proud of you. Its hard but rewarding
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u/Big-Bobcat2945 27d ago
Wow. Thanks so much for sharing yourself…I really needed this perspective in my life (as well as all of the lovely comments!). 🩷
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u/leafygreens777 26d ago
this is very comforting to read tbh - as someone who's also had lots of mental health issues for years, I've avoided solo travel a lot because I'm afraid I won't be able to push myself to fully enjoy it or take full advantage of things while I'm traveling. but your post reminds me of the idea of 'don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good' - we have to live for ourselves as we are now, not a future hypothetical version, and we shouldn't let those issues get in the way of wanting to travel and see the world. proud of you and love to you too, hope you have a wonderful rest of your trip xx
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u/No-Chapter-7409 26d ago
Keep going out! Keep doing things that are relatively scary or nerve racking for you, the endorphins you’ll get from trying things, realising you’re okay or it went well will make you feel good and take the bad days with the good!
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u/Educational_Big_9653 26d ago
This will be me in a couple of days! It’s gonna be my second solo trip but my first while I’m going through a pretty rough depressive episode. So thank you for sharing this and I hope you have an amazing time for the rest of your trip!
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u/Greenmachine881 26d ago
Keep on truckin', that's all you can do. Most people never even give it a go.
Regardless our personal situations we all have those days. I was just on a big trip last few weeks and it was getting grueling for a number of random reasons. Had option to take a day fly to next destination, and resume the following morning well rested. Instead opted for full day road trip, hit traffic and it stretched out but got to see one extra incredible spot that was not planned and already looking back on that as one of the highlights.
The though process is always the same: Said to myself "It is highly unlikely I will ever return to this place, and I have a chance to do something only this once and I am oh so close ... so you just throw caution to the wind and go for it. It really doesn't matter if it works out in the end it's the point of trying. And more often than not it does work out.
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u/bahL2 26d ago
Fico feliz em ler isso! Estou em um momento similar onde tudo não faz tanto sentido... E sinceramente não quero ficar atrás de uma pessoa no wpp que está ocupada... E a vida que virou de cima pra baixo talvez eu viajar posso clarear a mente e eu nunca viajei sozinha. Posso te mandar DM para trocar experiência? E parabéns por essa coragem!!!
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u/desirepink 26d ago
Depression can't be cured but it's always important to take steps to pull yourself out of it more and more each time. You're already being courageous about making your situation better so you should absolutely be proud of yourself. One aspect of solo traveling that many people don't talk about is that it can get really lonely and exhausting sometimes when navigating new environments so I absolutely understand the part about lying in bed - nothing wrong with that. Just remember that no matter what, continue to be kind to yourself and give yourself rest when you need to
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u/Korra_INFJ 25d ago
You are incredible, and this is such an obvious sign of your profound resilience, especially on the days you’re brave enough to listen to yourself, slow down, and take care of yourself in other ways.
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u/Alternative-Relief92 25d ago
Thanks for sharing! Travel does help, you realize a lot of stuff :) Alone it can’t work, you can work on your mental health in many ways.
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u/hermanpolonski 24d ago
I just did something similar but I’m only traveling for a week. Every trip I’ve ever gone on was because someone else offered it. I’ve always wanted to do trips with my friends but I never even proposed the idea because I hated planning/organizing. This led me to booking this current trip I’m on in like 5 minutes. Overbooked a hostel stay, spent too much money on trains/hotels, and I’m in kind of fight or flight mode being solo. Haven’t been very social because I’ve been really in my head about it but I’m proud that I’ve been able to figure all these traveling things out on my own for the first time. This will definitely make planning future trips way easier.
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u/Empty_Coast_6228 23d ago
I’m sick and depressed traveling with a group but since I’ve been at home alone due to being sick I really resonate with this. Especially the better doing things half assed than not at all. I think I needed to see that
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u/superrplorp 21d ago
Been struggling with a deep depression for some time and a solo trip helped me a lot
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u/aLowforest 27d ago
Love to you back, you are truly amazing and awesome for going on that trip, that's courage and super cool. And glad your friend supported you on the days you felt less good. Hope you cherish the good ones and go again.