Re: [pct-l] trail blues, suffering from depression

[Birgitte Jensen <bjensen4@juno.com>]

On Wed, 10 Feb 1999 17:18:10 -0800 Greg Hummel
<ghummel@hydrogenburner.com> writes:

>   hike depression, I found almost the exact opposite to be true. [snip]
>  I believe I was so pumped up in confidence [snip]

   My experience with hiking/self-esteem (whatever you wanna call it)
parallels Greg's. Being solely responsible for myself for an extended
period of time in unfamiliar surroundings gave me an enormous amount of
self-confidence that has helped me in all sorts of endeavors. Most every
backpack I've done has helped remind me that "I can take care of myself",
which is a big deal for people like me who were taught that feminine
appeal lay in being dependent and helpless. (I should add that hiking
isn't the _only_ activity that's been a positive influence in that
regard, but the skills and self-sufficiency it teaches are certainly
worthwhile and long-lasting.)

    Certainly some aspects of a trip prove to be more jolly than others
(I concur again with Greg that mosquito-clouds are a serious
morale-tester <g>), but I've never come close to anything I'd describe as
clinical depression or mental breakdown. I think if I did, I'd hotfoot it
off the trail as fast as I could and find me a Dream more suitable to my
temperament!

    Loneliness isn't really something I've encountered, either - I prefer
solo travel always - but I constantly have to push aside thoughts of
concern for people/pets/"things" in general back home. (I remember
feeling a powerful-seeming earthquake on the slopes of Olancha Peak and
wondering if I would find all of California leveled when I left the
backcountry! <g>)
    Like Greg said:

>I believe we are each very different in this department. 

    Greg really defined what I believe is a remedy to most _any_ kinds of
trail difficulties: be flexible, and tailor your hike to the kind of
person you are, not what you imagine someone else would expect you to be.
In attempting to grow stronger, you still have to be kind to yourself,
and always self-aware. (Greg felt himself to be in peril - he took a
breather and altered his game-plan a bit. When he experienced loneliness,
he found companions until he wanted solitude again. He worked _with_ what
he had and what each day presented, instead of viewing his hike as a
"battle" or a "struggle _against_" - sounds like the Eastern philosophy
so many posters refer to, huh? <g>)

    Another $.02.        bj

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
* From the Pacific Crest Trail Email List |  http://www.backcountry.net   *

==============================================================================