[pct-l] mental health event for kick-off

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I guess I misunderstood your post then. I thought you were saying you  
were looking for mental health professionals elsewhere and would be  
asking us for hikers later.


On Mar 6, 2013, at 9:30 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: "Ken Murray" <kmurray at dr.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] mental health event for kick-off
>
> "I think one tiny aspect of difficulty in readjusting is that  
> nobody on Earth except other hikers understands what you have done.  
> Most especially anybody in a healing profession. That means  
> doctors, mental health professionals, sports professionals or  
> anyone. If you can find a mental health professional that has done  
> a thru-hike, maybe they will have some insight, but I can't imagine  
> one that has not will have much to offer of any real value."Diane,  
> I'm a little purplexed by your post? It may not be obvious, but I  
> thought that by posting to a PCT discussion board rather than, say,  
> to a medical board, I was more likely to get MH professionals  
> involvedwith hiking the trail. I especially thought so when I asked  
> for suchpeople going to the KO. Perhaps those primarily interested  
> in surfing or scuba mightgo to Lake Moreno, but somehow I think  
> those there will have some knowledge(and perhaps even have hiked)  
> the PCT.It may also suprise you that many professionals deal with  
> all sorts
>   of thingsthat they do not personally experience. Certainly not  
> all have an interest.But most have a vast experience with people  
> who have anxiety, or sleeplessness, for example. I am certain, for  
> example, that I am highly comptent to manage acomplex pregnancy,  
> although I assure you I have never been pregnant. :)But I'd  
> certainly prefer experienced people. But don't worry, no takers so  
> far....