As someone who has suffered from depression for many years now, I can tell you that travelling with a mental illness can be difficult for various reasons: getting sufficient medication while travelling for a prolonged period can prove tricky- whilst studying in Spain my doctor from back home recommended I get my treatment over there but, unlike in the UK where it’s free thanks to the NHS, Spain charges for medication. I also didn’t want to have to explain my situation all over again to a new doctor in a language that wasn’t even my mother tongue. Instead, I chose to order repeat prescriptions of a maximum of 3 months supply, meaning I had to fly home every 3 months to get the pills which my body so depended on. Obviously, this isn’t always a realistic solution, especially if you’re travelling further afield. What I would recommend is talking to your doctor about it before you go and seeing if you can get enough medication to last your full trip- as I was able to do when I worked in Paris for 3 months- or at least a medical note stating what you need. This will make things a lot easier when you’re off on your adventures.
Another potential worry when going abroad: if you suffer from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety, it can be extremely stressful to leave your comfort zone, especially if you’re going alone. My only advice is that if your heart is telling you to travel, try your damn best not to let your mental illness stop you from living your dreams. If that means travelling with a companion so that you feel less lonely, then ask a friend or even find a fellow traveller in a hostel who wants to share the experience with you. Or maybe start off small and explore somewhere local or nearby before branching out. Little by little, you might surprise yourself at how independent you become.
The term ‘mental illness’ has been a taboo for so long and many people still misunderstand what it is to be depressed or anxious. There’s a huge difference between the winter blues or being homesick or getting a bit nervous in front of a group of people and suffering from depression or anxiety or any other mental illness. I also cannot stress enough how important it is that people realise that whilst it is 100% an illness that can be just as if not more debilitating than a physical illness, people with mental illness are just as capable of achieving their dreams as any other person. It’s also important to remember that if you’re suffering from such an illness, you’re not alone! So never be ashamed of your illness or feel abnormal or weak, because you’re definitely not. Stay strong and try to focus on doing what makes you happy, no matter how difficult it may seem or how down you feel. It’s hard, and the truth is you may never be fully free from your mental illness, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give your best shot at doing what you love most!
In my case, many people – whether they know of my depression or not- constantly ask why I travel so much, and if it’s because I’m trying to escape something. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect upon this idea myself and, well, the truth is that for me, exploring new places and throwing myself into the unknown is the only thing that makes me feel free from my dark place, the only thing that makes me happy to be a part of such a big and beautiful world. For others, staying in their comfort zone with friends and family might be the only way they can deal with their mental illness, and that’s perfectly fine; the sooner we find what works for each of us individually the better. For me, however, I’ll never be content staying in one place for too long, and while some might say I travel to escape my problems, I’ve come to realise that travel is in fact the best kind of therapy I could ever have.
