The richest person in the world is the one who can happiest with the least. The poorest person in the world is the one who has everything but is miserable. Think about it.
Veterans go through the same thing when coming home from a deployment. You are so ready to get back home to your family and friends but once you get back for some reason you miss it. I am on my 4th deployment and haven’t been home in 13 months and will be home in 5 days and I am so excited to see my family but I am already nervous about being back home. I know exactly what you are saying. Great video.
takes forever to adjust.. sometimes you never do. used to go to concerts a shitload now after iraq i cant stand crowds, even walking out of movie theaters. the trail is the only place i can calm down
Hoooah my brother!! I felt the same way coming off my first deployment from Afghanistan. I mean you miss home, family my ole dogs but you grow to miss your battle buddies. We go through so much together and spend day and night together for several months and deal with life changing events!! Well, you know what I mean! Great video Dixie
1) Completing the AT may have been your greatest life accomplishment at the time, but now this channel is. 2) This may not be your most fun video ever, but it probably is your most important.
@@baroneb5043 It is around 6 months of an intense mental and physical challenge, and only a small percentage of people in the world will ever complete a long distance journey under their own power. That's probably close to an answer.
@@baroneb5043are you kidding me? Have you done it? It’s incredibly hard but even more glorious. In the grand scheme of things, something like a thru hike is one of the few meaningful things an average human can accomplish.
Two days after high school graduation I put on a backpack traveled across the country and made my way up to Alaska and backpacked all over up there. That was 38 years ago, and here is my take on this subject. I really don’t believe it’s true depression, if you know anybody that truly suffers from depression it’s clear what your feeling isn’t close to what they feel. I think when you head into nature for a extended period of time your soul gets to feel what it’s like to really live life. It’s a spiritual connection that you will carry for the rest of your life. Once you have experienced it from time to time you will have to fuel your spirit with more adventure if not then it could very well lead to depression. Maybe it’s not the same for everyone, but I have given it a lot of thought for many years and for me I feel like that’s what’s happening. Some people are more spiritual than others. A few years ago when I arrived in Sedona Arizona while hiking I sat on a rock just looking out at the beauty of the landscape and suddenly tears where rolling down my cheeks. It’s a spiritual feeling you can’t experience in everyday life. Safe adventures all
you're probably right about the term "depression", maybe "Cabin Fever" is closer to that feeling? and you're definitely right about the spiritual connection
I think most people are associating depression with chronic depression or mayor depression, medically speaking is normal to be depressed sometimes (is not a medical condition to be depressed sometimes), but if you're often depressed that can be a sign of chronic depression, most people get depressed when a close relative dies or other reason and that's completely normal, I think that when it comes to life itself we have to embrace the good and the bad.
I experience almost daily a spiritual feeling when I see a baby smile at me. I also know life can be hard on smiles. I just hope and pray life is good to them.
I just felt numb to the world for about a month after the CDT. I felt like I was looking at the world from behind a piece of glass, disconnected from everything and everyone. Planning the next adventure DEFINITELY helps. Geting back into the gym, and starting to work on new projects. It's mind over matter. If you hiked across the entire country, you can damn sure tackle anything else in life. Screw post hike depression!!
@@HomemadeWanderlust I feel that way right now, and I haven't even done a thru hike. I have a hard time dealing with society as it is now, let alone after an amazing adventure like a thru-hike! Thanks for this video Dixie!
My suggestion would be: 1. Plan your next thru-hike. 2. Go for regular day hikes. 3. Start and host a local work shop that introduces people to hiking and thru-hiking. 4. Get a part-time job at an outdoor store where you can be around the lifestyle and share your stories. 5. Set up your tent in your back yard, and sleep there overnight whenever you start to feel depressed. Make your dinner there. 6. Seek counselling to talk out your depression.
It reminds me of the ending to the movie Cast Away, when he has a hard time sleeping in a real bed and starts playing with a lighter. It is almost as if he was more lost after being found.
Just like the end of The Lord of the Rings”. When an adventure changes you, you are never the same, but you still remember the old you. There is never going back, and that’s a good thing. It is called personal growth. 👍👍
I deployed four times. The change is permanent. Part of the difference was I was just glad to be alive. I accomplished that. I suppose that was my triple crown.
I’m 70 yrs old, never hiked more than 5 miles, but I’ve spent 30 yrs of my life in the military. Spent over two years total in two very different war zones. The similarities of “post action depression” between our two pursuits are strikingly similar. I have recommended your channel to my two daughters and some of my brothers and sisters in arms. You are an impressive role model for all young women (and men). Your info in this video definitely transcends the depression involved in the hiker experience. My military hat is off to you. Great video. Take care out there.
I've never even considered a through hike because of post hike depression. My longest, a 20 day backpacking trip in the late 80s nearly did me in. Folks, if you are prone to depression (like me), you had better talk to your therapist before taking on a big hike. If you don't have one - get one. Seriously - this is the most important videos that Dixie has made to date imo. This could really help people live a better life. Depression CAN lead to suicide and PTD is surprisingly powerful. Good job Dixie!
I'm wondering if part of it is a drop in endorphins or something going from a lot of daily exercise, being in the sun, etc and then going back to normal life. Double whammy of coming back to the "real world" and actual physiologica processes....
After 13.000 miles on trail my take is that post-hike depression is a variant of a post-GOAL-depression. If you focus on a goal for months on end (and even more so if thru-hiking a trail is viewed as an achievement or accomplishment) then the actual attainment of that goal manifests itself with a certain aimlessness that follows. This may happen with many goals you set yourself, but since hiking also means a very specific daily structure and rhythm ordered to that goal, it can be pretty intense losing both goal and habituated structure at the end of the hike - hence the blues. There are two main directions, I guess, that people go to overcome it: 1) planning the next trip and chasing the next "high". 2) learning to integrate the goal of a hike into the larger goal in life. I think the first is easier, the second is more difficult but in the end more rewarding. One thing that can ease post-hike(goal)-depression already while you are on the trail is to renounce the achievement idea, be in the moment (small, daily goals - for without any goal there is no movement) but choose to leave the finish open. That might not be for everyone, since many people approach and choose their hikes to prove something (to themselves or others) and hence introduce the categories of achievement or failure. There is nothing wrong with that. It's human and healthy (in moderation, like all things). Yet if you choose to be out there for other reasons and ending a hike (any day) would be neither failure nor accomplishment, then a post-goal-depression would likely not set in. For then the goals you pursued while on trail would be either nothing dictating your moves for months on end, or would be such, that their integration into life after the hike is less difficult. Another story is, if hiking is an escape from life because one's life is bad. Then it is like the post-vacation-monday back at a sh*tty job. If you loved your job, that feeling would not be there. Such a post-hike-depression has less to do with hiking and more with the changes that are required in your off-trail-life. If you find the strength, make them and give your life a new direction.
I agree very much based on my life experience(s). I am a late 60's male with many different kinds of experiences we all go through - death of siblings, parents, great jobs, crappy jobs, addictions and recovery. What I learned turn out to be pretty simple - *enjoy the journey* !! It can be so exhausting to think about the next hill, the next valley, the "yets" (haven't done that yet - stupid or good) is missing where I actually am and where I always will be - the present, the now. Today when facing a bizarre circumstance, or major disappointment, ie. life unexpected, I just say to myself "well this is going to be interesting..." The other item you touched on - is to embrace the pure spirituality - recognize, and admit there is a greater power than oneself. That doesn't make me weaker, it just keeps me humble. My go to barometer is checking my expectations vs my gratitude and every single time I feel out of whack my expectations are high and my gratitude is low... Veterans of WWII have a saying about their combat experiences "I wouldn't repeat it for a million dollars, but I wouldn't take a million dollars to have missed it..."
Synthetic world vs real world, how we evolved and were meant to live. There it is. And realizing that we've got stuff and people around us that are clutter.
I can certainly relate. After sailing my small boat from Texas to the Virgin Islands and back, it took me a good year to get 'normal' again. There is something about being on your own and self sufficient in nature that forever changes you. I had a longing to get back out there so bad, at times that I just ached. I didn't feel like I fit in with the world as it was now.
The footage of you climbing down from the summit monument says it all. I heard your first on backpacker radio and you've become on of my favorite backpacking youtube advocates. You're definitely an inspiration. Ive felt this in smaller degrees after endurance sports, i hope i bounce back well after my first through hike. CT 2023!!!
You have taken an adventure and "found your self." Through U Tube, and your own initiative, you have found your self. Excellent ! I have found myself living through you and your adventures. Others, which have post trail depression need to keep their trail relationships. People are what matter, not things.
As one who has Major Depression, I already know how some of my accomplishments have affected my mood afterwards. I go camping when I can and I usually go into a bit of a funk when it’s over. Anyway, I just decided recently that I want to backpack, and you have definitely had an influence as to making it real (not synthetic). So, my first accomplishment will be to do a section of the AT through Connecticut. It’s only 50 miles so I think I can do this if I get in good enough shape by Spring of ‘20. It will take a lot of perseverance on my part, but I believe I can do that. So thank you Jessica for helping me through this...yes, you have! After watching you go through all you did, and the courage it took to do it, you’ve given me hope for this endeavor I’m about to get into. Thank you so much! Your new fan, Peter.
I'm experiencing it right now. It's been... 4 months since I summited. Everything seems pointless and all I can think of is the woods. For me, it's a very bittersweet kind of depression; sure, it sucks, but its cause was something incredible. I think staying in touch with your tramily is key, followed closely by staying active. Most importantly though is talking with a therapist if you need help managing it. Thank you for touching on this topic! There were so many good bits I'll be taking with me.
My post trail suggestion: Find an occupation that uses your unique skill set. Mountain Guide. Ski patrol. Leave no trace instructor. Expedition leader. Rafting guide. These are all seasonal so you can easily get time off to hike your own hike, and you can do more than one to have gainful employment as often as you like.
Good piece. As a 30+ yr High School football coach, I have seen the same thing in many of my players. They struggle and work for months on end, 7 days a week preparing and working for a single goal. Then...after the last game, many seem to struggle. Grades drop, disciplinary actions come etc. When discussing this with the kids, they all seem to say things like "Coach, I just wish we were still playing". The dramatic change in lifestyles, from a supreme effort like yours, affects people profoundly. My players (even those very well adjusted) would almost seem "lost".
It helpful to know others go through this. I've not been on a through hike, but I hiked Isle Royale with my sons this past summer and it was one of the best things I've done. Now all I can think about is hiking and nature. It's really hard to be motivated to do anything else.
I have yet to thru hike but this reminds me of the depression my friends and I had after summer camp ended. Especially when we “graduated” at age 17. We grew up together and spent months of our lives on an island camping, and being together. All of these tips would have been so helpful when I was a child. As an adult though I think these are still really valuable ideas to learn. Thanks! 🙏🏻
Just wanted to add something. I’ve had a few serious bouts with depression over six decades, and I have sometimes dealt with it by joining a group. Whether it’s joining a bowling team, a hiking club, a musical group or volunteering, there’s almost always someone in a group who you can could connect with to help make the days enjoyable again.
great ideas, while I don't hike but hope to someday, I do suffer from small bouts of depression why who knows but I do know if there is something that gets me out of the house it's better so having a group event to attend does help allot, I do pet visits at nursing home and libraries and this gets me out even when there's a strong desire to stay in my recliner.
You guys...post trail depression hits everyone who takes that break to go from your everyday life to going back to the regular day to day. It is really tough, but cutting the people who really don't offer a positive view are worth cutting. Keep going, and remove the negatives.
This is such a real thing!! While my husband and I can only section hike for now when we finished our first section hike over the 4th of July we didn’t want it to end!! So we went back out to the trail and gave away some of our food and snacks we had left over. And yes we did give our food and have connected to some of the people we had met on trail and we also helped give a lift to some hikers a few days later!!
What goes up must come down. After living such a :" HIGH" for so long, it is normal to feel down. Keep your mind focus on the next challenge and keep the drive going...Great subject Dixie!!!
I can totally relate. I was so depressed after watching you finish the PCT. Going back to my everyday life was really hard. Then I realized I could just watch you hike the trail again. Phew, crisis averted.
I’m way too late to this video but I’ll never forget how I felt after the first time I went camping. I used to not be outdoorsy at all, but after getting into hiking I wanted to give camping a try, so my bf took me for our anniversary. We planned for 3 nights, but the day we were supposed to go back I was having so much fun and feeling so at peace that we decided I would call out of work and stay an extra day… and then one more. I was upset to leave, as one is after a vacation, but WOW how I felt the next few days after getting back home. I had never ever before been so sad after returning from a holiday/vacation/road-trip. It felt so weird to me. (Especially because being my first time and we didn’t plan it out much, our stuff was horrible, we slept like trash for 2 nights and had to run back and forth to Walmart like twice a day). It was almost relieving to see this kind of thing is common for others and glad it’s talked about. I was obviously hooked after that one time and so happy I got to try it out. And now I come back home to plan my next hike or camping trip or at least talk about it with others 🎉
Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing this fine video. You are a Lady of infinite wisdom. You did a fine job in handling this delicate topic. Please take good care of yourself, be safe and always have fun. 🤗
Well said Dixie. We have many choices in our lives. Make them wisely and positive! My great-grandmother once taught me... “Life is not at all about what you cook for dinner. It is more about the manner(s) in which you serve it”. As i was very young and perplexed with her teaching. I asked her for a clear explanation. She merely stated “It is not about how you feel, what you must say or the task at hand. It is all about the way you perceive it and how you will respond.” I will not venture to say how many times I have drawn from this teaching. Moreover, how many times I have passed on the same advice. I will say that you have done you homework and done it well. I started following you long ago. I must add, your adventures are truly life like to the multitude that cannot get out on the trail. Thank you for taking us along on your adventures.
I didn't get PTD too seriously, but it is a REAL thing. I think knowing that there is PTD and being self aware that it can happen is half the battle. Don't think it won't happen to you. My online trailjournal was more beneficial AFTER the fact because I can go back and relive my adventure by reading old post. The other thing that helped was a took a week off AFTER I was done with my daughter and SLOWLY drove back home with her. We camped, visited museums, anything not to rush back home. Great topic!
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for making this video. Your words of wisdom are applicable to so many paths in life involving change. My previous job was on the road for the company. Over 15 years, I traveled to 6 of the 7 continents with a small team of coworkers who became my travel family. Only those friends can really understand what it was like. Now I'm based at a single location (engineer) and no one cares about all the crazy, amazing things I experienced. It's too easy to become isolated in a very personal way. I've followed you through all 3 of your through hikes and look forward to each new video you post. Keep up the great work and I wish you all the best in finding your peace and purpose in life. Love ya!
Hi Dixie. This is my absolute favorite video from you. It hit me right in the heart. What you said pertains not only to trail life, but life life! I'm currently 34 and miserable. I'm wasting my life away at a soul crushing job. I love camping. It's my favorite thing. It let's me get out there away from everything and everyone and I can clear my head. I'm thinking about backpacking every second. You've inspired me to start planning my first trip. This channel is a blessing. I love your videos. They woke me up and I see that the "real life" I'm living is not the way it's supposed to be. Thank you so much for all that you do. It means so much more than you know. -- Marina ❤
You are the BEST motivational speaker I've ever listened to! Thank you so much for all the work you have done creating these videos. I can't wait to get back to the mountains. Peace
Great video. I agree with Perk. The similarities between a through hike and a military deployment are very close. In both situations, you refer to "the real world". Commiserating with your tramily (or your squad buddies) is the best therapy. Venting with people with similar experiences helps too. Gardens are great therapy. Most of the Dads that I knew growing up, were WWII vets. They all gardened and talked about them. Good Luck, Rick
I volunteered deep in the Peruvian Amazon for 8 weeks after I finished University in 2010, when I first got back to Canada, even the simple act of switching the light on, turn on the faucet feels really out of place, the trip definitely changed my life...I just don't know if it's for better or worse. I returned to the Amazon two years ago for a 2 weeks stay, and I was so overwhelmed with emotions on the bus into the jungle. I just want to say thank you for sharing your amazing adventures with the internet.
I think "implement some passion into your everyday life" is an important one. The feeling you get after a trip is much more than post-vacation blues and I think it has to do with the immediacy of life on the trail. Every day is full of tasks and each one is immediately rewarding once it's completed: you're not hungry any more, you're not cold any more, you're closer to your goal. It's really hard to get that much feedback and sense of achievement from a job or everyday life. Great video!
Thank you Dixie that is one powerful message. I have now thru hiked yet (planning on 2020 AT) but I worked as a contractor in Afghanistan for 5 years and had the same lost feelings when I came home. You made a beautiful presentation of the feelings I experienced and had trouble overcoming. Thanks again and I am thankful to have found your channel. Happy Trails
As having two thru hikes under my belt....I don’t think I’ve ever heard it explained that spot on....great job on this video! I hope you realize how many people you are gonna help! Great job on ALL your videos! Your inspiring so many people and I love it! So I want to say thank you for such great content!! You rock Dixie!!
My wife and I did the TransAmerica trail with our Jeep last fall, it was 42 days depending on our vehicle and our own skills to complete it. We are in out 60s and it changed us deeply, not a day passes that we aren’t thinking about the connection with each other and nature we felt out journey. Recently we’ve been watching more thru hike videos because it feels relatable and helps us cope with the depression of not having that freedom we felt on our trail. It’s just nice hearing others we can relate to.
Great Job! I was a Army Medic, 11years total service that ended in 05. To this day we watch for signs however we can.FB posts and such. You never know how far we can fall. Thank you for using your voice to spread the message.You're not weak, you are ill just like the flu. Get help however.
So much wisdom. As a long-distance touring cyclist, I certainly recognise most of these symptoms post-tour. Thank you for sharing your perceptive insights!
My husband and I just started backpacking last year. We decided to go to Florida for 2 weeks to visit my sister. We camped and backpacked into a campground, Lived out of our suitcase for 2 weeks, came home and we totally felt a lot of this. I didn’t want to come home. I got home and saw all our "stuff" and hated it. We realized we really need to buckle down and get rid of this life we don’t want. So we are camping and backpacking all every other weekend all summer and saving way more money to start our full time Rv and backpacking life. Thanks so much for making this video.
This reminds me a lot of how it feels to have postpartum depression/anxiety. I think once you experience real reality it’s very hard to go back to “synthetic reality”. Great advice. Thanks for the video!
Intense experiences (and relationships) rewire your brain. Your expectations adapt to that reality and when the reality changes, the adaptations are no longer beneficial. What came naturally no longer seamlessly works and the new inputs are more like noise that has to be sorted through. Even working through it so you can function, that past intense experience is still imprinted on your brain and impacts you going through life. A 1971 hitchhiking trip, a lost job, a first love, the 1959 death of my grandfather and 2012 death of my son are all intense memories that continue to bend my thinking in subtle ways even decades on. Wonderful video, Dixie.
I absolutely get the never being the same or going back. when I emigrated from Scotland to Canada, so much changed. the biggest change was me. we have only been back once in the last ten years, we miss our family and friends daily but when we went back I felt out of place, I felt like a tourist. everything was familiar but just not as it was. it was the most odd sensation. life moves forward and things change. landscapes change and people change, that's what makes the new experiences more unique. Jessica ... stay awesome!!
Thanks for another great video Dixie! This past summer, I rode my bicycle from Dallas to Eastern Virginia and while it wasn't a thru-hike, I can relate to a lot of what you spoke about. I was only gone 3 1/2 weeks, but I still felt "out of touch" or "distant" from everyone when I came back. It was like they couldn't relate to me and I couldn't relate to them. The ride was such a great experience (with plenty of ups and downs) and it felt very hard to relate to anyone or anything in the real world for a while. The good news is I knew something about post-trail depression from watching your videos and reading what others talked about with their trips (beit thru-hikes or bike rides) and am back to "normal" now. So, thanks for putting it out there and talking about not only what it is but also giving great suggestions on how to deal with it.
Thanks for talking about serious issues which makes me re-think about trying thru-hiking as excuse for escaping from society. I'm sick and tired of work watching monitor everyday and cosmetic relationships in company. But you gave me insight that just quitting my job and going thru-hiking just to escape this situation is not going to solve any problems. Thank you. Best regards. From Republic of Korea.
After returning from deployment I'm always impressed that we have hot and cold running water all year round that we can drink out of the tap. You hit the nail right on the head in this video, good job.
Thanks so much, Dixie. Just returned from the Colorado Trail and was feeling down. You have been so helpful in all phases of my trip - from planning to even this. Thank you.
Very useful, Dixie. I lived in Greenland for two years and have never felt at home or comfortable away from Greenland and the Arctic. And that was 50 years ago. Now, thank God, I know why. Bless you.
In 1974 when I was fourteen, my dad and I floated the Mississippi river from source to sea. I still have post river depression. I don't think you will ever get over it but just learn to live with it.
I've been section hiking the AT for the past decade. I only get out there once or twice a year for a week at a time. I used to get a mini depression each time. I find running is the best reconnect for me. I get dropped off on the most rural road I can find, early each Sunday when there'll be no traffic and run home. It gives me that same feeling of solitude and having a goal of getting from point A to point B that I get each day on the trail. Plus it keeps me fit for the next section. We love your channel, Dixie!
This reminds me so much of what it's like to come home from a deployment. The worst part is coming home from an amazing experience that really pushed you further than you ever thought you could go.. and then no one can relate or share the excitement with you haha. Also having the special bond with the people around you and then having to go your separate ways is so hard.
I think everyone (not just hikers) really need to look at this video. It resonates with anyone who has done anything great for such as completing project, graduating from a prestigious program and getting a promotion; there is a sense of emptiness once you get to that certain plateau.
Well done, well said....Coming out of the bush, can totally relate. Everyone should appreciate you discussing these delicate topics, good on you, have not seen one other person do this. Is it clinical or otherwise, does not matter, the fact you are talking about it is what's important.
Thank you Dixie! I thought I would be strong enough mentally after the trail considering I had such a positive outlook while on trail. After finishing, I spent a month doing trail magic for my SoBo friends and when I got back, I got down in the dumps. The thing that is driving me right now is over planning for my next adventure. Lol. This video really rang true. Thank you.
"Simplify things" whatever form it takes is Dixie's advice that is so endearing. It may take some time or a lot of time. Coming to the realization that you can not do some of the things youv'e done in the past is a part of life!
Great video! One thing that I got into after a couple of long section hikes, was barefoot walking, I don’t preach any of all that grounding stuff, I just really like that sensation of tucking those sore feet under the covers, and even just remembering that I have feet!
I agree with your “synthetic world” viewpoint. I also related to what you said about wanting to design your own life and not lead a life that feels mapped out and expected. I haven’t done a thru-hike or even hiked before but I connect to these videos because they are something out of the expected life we all lead that I’m so bored of. I crave something different.
Longest hike I have done was 2 weeks. On the way home I cried knowing I had to return to responsibilities of being a parent and sole provider. (Yes, I love being a parent.) Since that time I have to get out even for a couple hour day hike twice a week or those around me express my mood swings. Thank you for addressing this real life issue. Saving up my PTO to hit another couple week escape.
Perfect timing, Dixie! I’ve been wrestling with this since I got back from my AT thru-hike attempt right before Thanksgiving. Your tips are spot on. It’s not easy to get back the regular life, so I’m staying engaged with the trail community, planning my next adventure, and spending some time savoring my accomplishments.
I think I just figured out ( because of this fantastic video) what has been wrong with me for the last 5 or so years. I have been so depressed but couldn’t figure out why it’s been so bad. My favorite thing to do is travel. I have been doing more if it in the last few years with my kids and I absolutely love it. Then Im stuck in the same rut till my next adventure. I have been so miserable i have made myself sick. But I can’t fully travel until I retire in another year or so. I am also waiting for my son to graduate so I can sell my home and leave. Thank you. I never New I had been dealing with Post travel depression. And I am also planning on hiking in my next chapter of my life. I am 56 and I know I can do this because I feel it’s in my blood. I can’t wait to start. Thank you Dixie! You.are.amazing!!
I agree with several of the commenters that PTD is kind of like post deployment let down. When you pour yourself into somthing, it's a big transition when it ends.. Same for the end of sports or retirement. Dixie, you are exactly right that it helps to get back into training and plan your next adventure. And don't cut yourself off from other people. I usually solo hike, but I really love meeting people and making short friendships on trail; it's cliche, but it renews my faith in humanity. Thanks for the video! God bless!
Understanding that we all can choose to put our energy into things we can change seems like wisdom. So easy to choose to make a buck rather than change the world (or do both at the same time). Thanks for sharing that perspective:-)
I’ve read that we all come from an ancestry of nomadic hunter- gatherers, somewhere along the line. Constantly moving to find food, sustenance, shelter, all the while sharing that same experience with others, and experiencing true community and support. I agree with the hiker friends you mentioned: that hiking, being oversees on deployment, moving towards that shared goal/struggle alongside peers...gives us a small taste of what life was like pre- civilization. I think we all subconsciously yearn for a return to those roots in one way or another. You’re my absolute go-to girl for all hiking troubles and questions. Sending a hug and a word of thanks from Rock-sylvania! 🏕
I have friends that are experienced backpackers and every time we would meet up and hangout, they would always talk about backpacking and stuff they did together. I just didn’t get it. Finally I decided to go on a backpacking trip with them to their annual backpacking trip R2R of the Grand Canyon. I was so worried and anxious about being on the trail with them. I didn’t want to come out as not knowing what to do on the trail. I kept talking to myself, “our ancestors did this so can I” and “this is the true basic essentials of life” mentality. So I watched youtube videos, read magazines and blogs to get my perspective on R2R. Finally, day came toward the hiking.. it was amazing! We had so many jokes, talks, laughs and one goal: cross the Grand Canyon. It was such a positive experience that was emotional to me. Once we got done, I felt a little sad inside that it was over... I wanted more. Even though I was tired and knees hurting. I loved that feeling just being out there. I talked to my friend’s about it and they told me they feel the exact same way. I was surprised. I learned that’s why they talk about backpacking/hiking trips all the time. Just going out there and shedding off that “real life” skin for awhile. It felt good. I got back to work and just felt like my coworkers don’t know what the heck I’m talking about. They are shaking their heads like they understand what I’m talking about but they don’t. The intensity of my conversations I would have in telling people about my GC experience didn’t match their response. That kinda bummed me. I could only have that with my backpacking friends. Same with my family as well. They didn’t understand. So I started running and working out more to relieve that longing to being out there. Now me and my friends plan backpacking trips. We always talk about the next backpacking trip. Watching your video makes me excited to get back out there. I can’t wait!
Good word! Thanks for putting this out there! Not enough advice/discussion on this subject matter. And this type/style blog is one reason I continue to follow you. Thanks "Dixie"!
My family lived in Mexico for 1.5 years. I expected to be there much longer, but due to unforeseen circumstance we had to return to the US. The friendships and experiences made in that short time were deeper and stronger than 98% of the relationships we returned to. They are family for sure! I totally get everything you're saying in this video. Thanks for being vulnerable and human.
Thanks for pointing me here! Going from spending 5 months in the Canadian Rockies this summer to winter in the city was a huge and unexpected shock to me and hit me really hard. Unfortunately the only thing I could think of to get out of it was going back. Fortunately, that happens next week! Thanks for the advice, and knowing it's pretty normal makes me feel like less of a loser. 😀
I really enjoy listening to your advice and stories so a big thanks goes out to you Dixie. I think I suffered with post trail depression after spending a year and a half on a bicycle travelling between England and New Zealand. I'm currently looking for my next adventure and I'm using your material to help me choose. Thanks again and happy travels xx.
It's a year old but Thank you. 2020 been tough for many. Past few years I've worked from Canada to the Texas coast. Average 340 days away from home. It's a hard adjustment indeed.
This is the best video yet. There are three main things that make being on the trail wonderful: constant exercise, being quiet in nature and the satisfaction and pride that comes from overcoming obstacles. The trick is to hang on to these. Park far away from work and walk in all sorts of weather, pack in a change of clothes and your lunch; keep an eye on the sky and know when the sun sets, stay close to trees as much as possible. I think it was Dixie that said “Life on the trail can be difficult. When you focus on the difficulties you lose morale. You do not function well with low morale. This is an important skill.” “Real Life” is a challenge but if you’ve done serious hiking you have the skills to deal with it and get the most out of life.
War Eagle, Dixie! I've enjoyed many of your videos. Just started to get passionate about the AT about 2 months ago. At 53, and going thru divorce, I've realized that I allowed someone else to control and make choices for me. Now, I hope to endeavor to set my own path. That is what I respect about thru hikers...the fact that you folks decided to take control of your own lives. There is much to be said for that! Thank you so much for the encouragement! You have truly helped me. I love to hike, I know that much, and I know why too. It's because of that incredible feeling when I get to the top of the mountain. Whichever mountain.
I‘ve never done any trail but over the last few years I lived abroad for quite some time. Doing that and traveling seems like a drug to me. I got addicted to meeting new people, seeing and learning new things, crossing things off my bucket list. Eventually I moved back to my home country to find a real job and to „get a proper life with my own place and all“... i got it too then this depression because I missed traveling so much. Still working on “curing” that but I feel like your Tipps really do help. Reconnecting with old pals, going on mini adventures, sharing your experiences with others :) Good luck everyone experiencing the same! Sending much love from Germany, loving your videos :)
I had PTD after you finished each thru hike, I guess because I was living my hikes thru you. Now, I am watching your videos post CDT and enjoying the thoughts of hiking . Your channel keeps my mind in hiking mode and that keeps my mind hiking. My long hikes are over, I refuse to give up most of my equipment. Short hikes are all I can do now, max 5 ish miles, but at least I can still get out and enjoy nature and try to use my skills. Thanks for all the advice you give the hiking community.
Another great video Dixie. I've never been happier than when engaging the SIMPLE life on the trail. Coming back to the 'real' (synthetic) world seems alien. I came up with my own mantra "Simplify. Minimise. Maximise." That helps me continue the trail ethos when back in the synthetic world.. Applying 'tread lightly' ethics to everyday life. Simplify your needs, Minimise your possessions, Maximise your life. I think that when you finish the trail, BE PATIENT! Thank you and best wishes, and peace and love to all.
Now that is something I never thought about... very interesting 👌👌...👏👏👏👏👏!!! I am seeing you totally different light now ... 🙏🙏🙏❤❤!! Stay strong and blessed today and always friend ❤❤❤!!
Dixie... I've been going blind for a good while. It is pretty depressing. But my wife has been a big help. Being able to talk with/to her has been a blessing.
As always, Dixie has a good message and delivers it so well. One slight disagreement I have is that I think we all have to be involved, to one degree or another, with politics. There are so many examples of tragic events in world history, and even recently, of people tuning out and being overtaken with extremely negative consequences. I agree, be realistic and don't expect that you can save the world, but do your bit, and feel good that you did what you could.
Agreed Brian. As you get older and if you have kids, it becomes obvious that it matters to pay attention and what direction we're headed in. Just like ignoring realities in a hiking scenario, in real-life to ignore what is going on around you or in your world has dire consequences.
Agreed. Me and my partner are enthusiastic hikers, mostly section hikes over a few days. But politics are important to hikers if we like it or not. All hikers love nature, and politics have impacts on nature. Our voices need to be heard, we're the ones who give mother nature a voice.
I'm sure that was a tough video for you to make but you did the topic justice and even if it helps only one person it's worth it. As always your videos are honest, intelligent, and insightful. Thank you for being you.
As has been mentioned in some other comments I think that post through hike depression is a variety of post goal depression. This happens in lots of situations where a person has a significant goal, particularly one which takes a significant commitment of time and resources to accomplish, e.g. a big European trip, graduation, a big, long work project, retirement, a big wedding, returning from a military overseas tour or deployment, etc.. A person has invested so much psychological energy and resources in accomplishing a particular goal that once the goal is accomplished there is a let down and no good answer to, "What next?" Also, there is an inability to relate to anyone who has not shared the same or similar goal. The soldier has a hard time relating to the civilian, the through hiker has a hard time relating to someone who has not spent months in hard physical exertion (and smells good), and anyone who cannot establish a shared experience with someone else. It takes a certain kind of person to commit to a long term goal whether taking half a year out of your life to hike the AT, PCT, or the CDT or to accomplish any difficult goal. This results in a tunnel vision sort of focus which has the side effect of reducing the number of experiences and interests which can be shared with other people. This can be isolating and can contribute to feelings of loneliness and depression. My experience is that the best way to avoid or deal with these problems is to keep things in perspective. Whatever your goal is it is only part of your life experience, both before and after. Yes, for 6 months you are a through hiker but that is only half a year out of a lifetime. If you spend 6 months through hiking out of a 80 year life you have only spent 0.625% of your life on the trail. If you think of yourself as "Name, who is doing a through hike" rather than "Name, the through hiker" it will help keep your balance. In the former you are not defining yourself by what you are doing but in the latter you are and have no existence outside of through hiking. It is a matter of perspective. Don't define yourself by your particular goal at the moment. Or, for that matter, don't define yourself by what you have accomplished in the past.
![30 ชั่วโมงคนเดียว บนรถไฟชั้น 3 โซเวียต [Around The World Ep. 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MlE9boAVqDA/mqdefault.jpg)
The irony of wanting to be a millionaire, just so i can spend the rest of my life living homeless hiking.
LOL! 😆
Brilliant 🤣
Don’t need that much money 🐾
@@catman8670 but just think about the EPIC trail magic you could do with some extra money sitting around?
The richest person in the world is the one who can happiest with the least. The poorest person in the world is the one who has everything but is miserable. Think about it.
Veterans go through the same thing when coming home from a deployment. You are so ready to get back home to your family and friends but once you get back for some reason you miss it. I am on my 4th deployment and haven’t been home in 13 months and will be home in 5 days and I am so excited to see my family but I am already nervous about being back home. I know exactly what you are saying. Great video.
Truth
takes forever to adjust..
sometimes you never do. used to go to concerts a shitload now after iraq i cant stand crowds, even walking out of movie theaters. the trail is the only place i can calm down
Hoooah my brother!! I felt the same way coming off my first deployment from Afghanistan. I mean you miss home, family my ole dogs but you grow to miss your battle buddies. We go through so much together and spend day and night together for several months and deal with life changing events!! Well, you know what I mean! Great video Dixie
Thank you so much for your service!
1) Completing the AT may have been your greatest life accomplishment at the time, but now this channel is.
2) This may not be your most fun video ever, but it probably is your most important.
Aww
So real Jessica. Thanks.
pokerjoe43 why is hiking a trail a major life accomplishment ??
way way over rated in grand scheme of things
@@baroneb5043 It is around 6 months of an intense mental and physical challenge, and only a small percentage of people in the world will ever complete a long distance journey under their own power. That's probably close to an answer.
@@baroneb5043are you kidding me? Have you done it? It’s incredibly hard but even more glorious. In the grand scheme of things, something like a thru hike is one of the few meaningful things an average human can accomplish.
Two days after high school graduation I put on a backpack traveled across the country and made my way up to Alaska and backpacked all over up there. That was 38 years ago, and here is my take on this subject. I really don’t believe it’s true depression, if you know anybody that truly suffers from depression it’s clear what your feeling isn’t close to what they feel. I think when you head into nature for a extended period of time your soul gets to feel what it’s like to really live life. It’s a spiritual connection that you will carry for the rest of your life. Once you have experienced it from time to time you will have to fuel your spirit with more adventure if not then it could very well lead to depression. Maybe it’s not the same for everyone, but I have given it a lot of thought for many years and for me I feel like that’s what’s happening. Some people are more spiritual than others. A few years ago when I arrived in Sedona Arizona while hiking I sat on a rock just looking out at the beauty of the landscape and suddenly tears where rolling down my cheeks. It’s a spiritual feeling you can’t experience in everyday life. Safe adventures all
there are different levels of depression. I am going to Sedona in march & cannot wait to experience it. thanks for sharing
you're probably right about the term "depression", maybe "Cabin Fever" is closer to that feeling? and you're definitely right about the spiritual connection
@@MervinM123 Or if you do or did suffer from depression earlier in life this may trigger a minor relapse.
I think most people are associating depression with chronic depression or mayor depression, medically speaking is normal to be depressed sometimes (is not a medical condition to be depressed sometimes), but if you're often depressed that can be a sign of chronic depression, most people get depressed when a close relative dies or other reason and that's completely normal, I think that when it comes to life itself we have to embrace the good and the bad.
I experience almost daily a spiritual feeling when I see a baby smile at me. I also know life can be hard on smiles. I just hope and pray life is good to them.
I just felt numb to the world for about a month after the CDT. I felt like I was looking at the world from behind a piece of glass, disconnected from everything and everyone. Planning the next adventure DEFINITELY helps. Geting back into the gym, and starting to work on new projects. It's mind over matter. If you hiked across the entire country, you can damn sure tackle anything else in life. Screw post hike depression!!
Seeking Lost “looking at the world from behind a piece of glass” is a perfect way to say it!
Sounds like derealization
@@HomemadeWanderlust Working for Amazon will cure Post Trail Depression!!!!!
@@Unburdened_Beauty DON'T do that. Amazon dehumanized me. Unless you're saying Take a job that Beats the tar out of you !! 🤤
@@HomemadeWanderlust I feel that way right now, and I haven't even done a thru hike. I have a hard time dealing with society as it is now, let alone after an amazing adventure like a thru-hike! Thanks for this video Dixie!
My suggestion would be:
1. Plan your next thru-hike.
2. Go for regular day hikes.
3. Start and host a local work shop that introduces people to hiking and thru-hiking.
4. Get a part-time job at an outdoor store where you can be around the lifestyle and share your stories.
5. Set up your tent in your back yard, and sleep there overnight whenever you start to feel depressed. Make your dinner there.
6. Seek counselling to talk out your depression.
It reminds me of the ending to the movie Cast Away, when he has a hard time sleeping in a real bed and starts playing with a lighter. It is almost as if he was more lost after being found.
Yes, exactly.... to me, the end was the truth of the show.
And the lighter shows how convenient modern life can be. Fire was so important to his survival. Melancholy can only follow.
Just like the end of The Lord of the Rings”. When an adventure changes you, you are never the same, but you still remember the old you. There is never going back, and that’s a good thing. It is called personal growth. 👍👍
I deployed four times. The change is permanent. Part of the difference was I was just glad to be alive. I accomplished that. I suppose that was my triple crown.
Wow. Thank you for your service. I hope you are ok.
What a powerful comment. We all might feel so much better all the time if we could just manage to be happy to be alive
I’m 70 yrs old, never hiked more than 5 miles, but I’ve spent 30 yrs of my life in the military. Spent over two years total in two very different war zones. The similarities of “post action depression” between our two pursuits are strikingly similar. I have recommended your channel to my two daughters and some of my brothers and sisters in arms. You are an impressive role model for all young women (and men). Your info in this video definitely transcends the depression involved in the hiker experience. My military hat is off to you. Great video. Take care out there.
I've never even considered a through hike because of post hike depression. My longest, a 20 day backpacking trip in the late 80s nearly did me in. Folks, if you are prone to depression (like me), you had better talk to your therapist before taking on a big hike. If you don't have one - get one. Seriously - this is the most important videos that Dixie has made to date imo. This could really help people live a better life. Depression CAN lead to suicide and PTD is surprisingly powerful. Good job Dixie!
I'm wondering if part of it is a drop in endorphins or something going from a lot of daily exercise, being in the sun, etc and then going back to normal life. Double whammy of coming back to the "real world" and actual physiologica processes....
@@bunnyfire58 Its the power process. Read the book Industrial society and its future.
This is the Unabomber manifesto. Killing random people was unacceptable, but he really understood why modern life can be so unsatisfying.
Spot on. Coming home from overseas is a roller coaster of emotion. I can def see how that is relatable to being away on an extended hike.
After 13.000 miles on trail my take is that post-hike depression is a variant of a post-GOAL-depression. If you focus on a goal for months on end (and even more so if thru-hiking a trail is viewed as an achievement or accomplishment) then the actual attainment of that goal manifests itself with a certain aimlessness that follows. This may happen with many goals you set yourself, but since hiking also means a very specific daily structure and rhythm ordered to that goal, it can be pretty intense losing both goal and habituated structure at the end of the hike - hence the blues. There are two main directions, I guess, that people go to overcome it: 1) planning the next trip and chasing the next "high". 2) learning to integrate the goal of a hike into the larger goal in life. I think the first is easier, the second is more difficult but in the end more rewarding. One thing that can ease post-hike(goal)-depression already while you are on the trail is to renounce the achievement idea, be in the moment (small, daily goals - for without any goal there is no movement) but choose to leave the finish open. That might not be for everyone, since many people approach and choose their hikes to prove something (to themselves or others) and hence introduce the categories of achievement or failure. There is nothing wrong with that. It's human and healthy (in moderation, like all things). Yet if you choose to be out there for other reasons and ending a hike (any day) would be neither failure nor accomplishment, then a post-goal-depression would likely not set in. For then the goals you pursued while on trail would be either nothing dictating your moves for months on end, or would be such, that their integration into life after the hike is less difficult.
Another story is, if hiking is an escape from life because one's life is bad. Then it is like the post-vacation-monday back at a sh*tty job. If you loved your job, that feeling would not be there. Such a post-hike-depression has less to do with hiking and more with the changes that are required in your off-trail-life. If you find the strength, make them and give your life a new direction.
That was really well explained, thank you
I agree very much based on my life experience(s). I am a late 60's male with many different kinds of experiences we all go through - death of siblings, parents, great jobs, crappy jobs, addictions and recovery. What I learned turn out to be pretty simple - *enjoy the journey* !! It can be so exhausting to think about the next hill, the next valley, the "yets" (haven't done that yet - stupid or good) is missing where I actually am and where I always will be - the present, the now.
Today when facing a bizarre circumstance, or major disappointment, ie. life unexpected, I just say to myself "well this is going to be interesting..."
The other item you touched on - is to embrace the pure spirituality - recognize, and admit there is a greater power than oneself. That doesn't make me weaker, it just keeps me humble. My go to barometer is checking my expectations vs my gratitude and every single time I feel out of whack my expectations are high and my gratitude is low...
Veterans of WWII have a saying about their combat experiences "I wouldn't repeat it for a million dollars, but I wouldn't take a million dollars to have missed it..."
The power process
It’s not just about the end of a goal. You are exposed to how humans are actually meant to live only to return to a horrible artificial hellscape.
Synthetic world vs real world, how we evolved and were meant to live. There it is. And realizing that we've got stuff and people around us that are clutter.
I guess it's kinda like love. It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
What would we do without Shakespeare?
Ehhhh idk about that notion anymore
@@1Deejay7 neither does your mom.
@@hermeticxhaote4723 childish
@@1Deejay7 oh hey, you shouldn't insult your mother like that, you know you upset her when you do that.
I can certainly relate. After sailing my small boat from Texas to the Virgin Islands and back, it took me a good year to get 'normal' again. There is something about being on your own and self sufficient in nature that forever changes you. I had a longing to get back out there so bad, at times that I just ached. I didn't feel like I fit in with the world as it was now.
The footage of you climbing down from the summit monument says it all. I heard your first on backpacker radio and you've become on of my favorite backpacking youtube advocates. You're definitely an inspiration. Ive felt this in smaller degrees after endurance sports, i hope i bounce back well after my first through hike. CT 2023!!!
You have taken an adventure and "found your self." Through U Tube, and your own initiative, you have found your self. Excellent !
I have found myself living through you and your adventures. Others, which have post trail depression need to keep their trail relationships. People are what matter, not things.
As one who has Major Depression, I already know how some of my accomplishments have affected my mood afterwards. I go camping when I can and I usually go into a bit of a funk when it’s over. Anyway, I just decided recently that I want to backpack, and you have definitely had an influence as to making it real (not synthetic). So, my first accomplishment will be to do a section of the AT through Connecticut. It’s only 50 miles so I think I can do this if I get in good enough shape by Spring of ‘20. It will take a lot of perseverance on my part, but I believe I can do that.
So thank you Jessica for helping me through this...yes, you have! After watching you go through all you did, and the courage it took to do it, you’ve given me hope for this endeavor I’m about to get into. Thank you so much! Your new fan, Peter.
I'm experiencing it right now. It's been... 4 months since I summited. Everything seems pointless and all I can think of is the woods. For me, it's a very bittersweet kind of depression; sure, it sucks, but its cause was something incredible. I think staying in touch with your tramily is key, followed closely by staying active. Most importantly though is talking with a therapist if you need help managing it.
Thank you for touching on this topic! There were so many good bits I'll be taking with me.
stillhuman Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I love your perspective of it being bittersweet ❤️
I really respect that you opened up and talked about this topic. Loved your advice and vulnerability. THANK YOU Dixie
My post trail suggestion: Find an occupation that uses your unique skill set. Mountain Guide. Ski patrol. Leave no trace instructor. Expedition leader. Rafting guide. These are all seasonal so you can easily get time off to hike your own hike, and you can do more than one to have gainful employment as often as you like.
Thanks buddy
Good piece. As a 30+ yr High School football coach, I have seen the same thing in many of my players. They struggle and work for months on end, 7 days a week preparing and working for a single goal. Then...after the last game, many seem to struggle. Grades drop, disciplinary actions come etc. When discussing this with the kids, they all seem to say things like "Coach, I just wish we were still playing". The dramatic change in lifestyles, from a supreme effort like yours, affects people profoundly. My players (even those very well adjusted) would almost seem "lost".
I think I had post depression from just watching your journey...when it ended I was like now what am I going to watch
Better dealing with post trail depression than dealing with " no trail depression". Your channel is the best.
It helpful to know others go through this. I've not been on a through hike, but I hiked Isle Royale with my sons this past summer and it was one of the best things I've done. Now all I can think about is hiking and nature. It's really hard to be motivated to do anything else.
I have yet to thru hike but this reminds me of the depression my friends and I had after summer camp ended. Especially when we “graduated” at age 17. We grew up together and spent months of our lives on an island camping, and being together. All of these tips would have been so helpful when I was a child. As an adult though I think these are still really valuable ideas to learn. Thanks! 🙏🏻
Just wanted to add something. I’ve had a few serious bouts with depression over six decades, and I have sometimes dealt with it by joining a group. Whether it’s joining a bowling team, a hiking club, a musical group or volunteering, there’s almost always someone in a group who you can could connect with to help make the days enjoyable again.
great ideas, while I don't hike but hope to someday, I do suffer from small bouts of depression why who knows but I do know if there is something that gets me out of the house it's better so having a group event to attend does help allot, I do pet visits at nursing home and libraries and this gets me out even when there's a strong desire to stay in my recliner.
You guys...post trail depression hits everyone who takes that break to go from your everyday life to going back to the regular day to day. It is really tough, but cutting the people who really don't offer a positive view are worth cutting. Keep going, and remove the negatives.
This is such a real thing!! While my husband and I can only section hike for now when we finished our first section hike over the 4th of July we didn’t want it to end!! So we went back out to the trail and gave away some of our food and snacks we had left over. And yes we did give our food and have connected to some of the people we had met on trail and we also helped give a lift to some hikers a few days later!!
What goes up must come down. After living such a :" HIGH" for so long, it is normal to feel down. Keep your mind focus on the next challenge and keep the drive going...Great subject Dixie!!!
I can totally relate. I was so depressed after watching you finish the PCT. Going back to my everyday life was really hard. Then I realized I could just watch you hike the trail again. Phew, crisis averted.
I think you did a great job with this video. Hit most of the major points. Volunteering is the only thing I can add.
I’m way too late to this video but I’ll never forget how I felt after the first time I went camping. I used to not be outdoorsy at all, but after getting into hiking I wanted to give camping a try, so my bf took me for our anniversary. We planned for 3 nights, but the day we were supposed to go back I was having so much fun and feeling so at peace that we decided I would call out of work and stay an extra day… and then one more. I was upset to leave, as one is after a vacation, but WOW how I felt the next few days after getting back home. I had never ever before been so sad after returning from a holiday/vacation/road-trip. It felt so weird to me. (Especially because being my first time and we didn’t plan it out much, our stuff was horrible, we slept like trash for 2 nights and had to run back and forth to Walmart like twice a day). It was almost relieving to see this kind of thing is common for others and glad it’s talked about. I was obviously hooked after that one time and so happy I got to try it out. And now I come back home to plan my next hike or camping trip or at least talk about it with others 🎉
Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing this fine video. You are a Lady of infinite wisdom. You did a fine job in handling this delicate topic. Please take good care of yourself, be safe and always have fun. 🤗
Well said Dixie. We have many choices in our lives. Make them wisely and positive! My great-grandmother once taught me... “Life is not at all about what you cook for dinner. It is more about the manner(s) in which you serve it”. As i was very young and perplexed with her teaching. I asked her for a clear explanation. She merely stated “It is not about how you feel, what you must say or the task at hand. It is all about the way you perceive it and how you will respond.” I will not venture to say how many times I have drawn from this teaching. Moreover, how many times I have passed on the same advice. I will say that you have done you homework and done it well. I started following you long ago. I must add, your adventures are truly life like to the multitude that cannot get out on the trail. Thank you for taking us along on your adventures.
I didn't get PTD too seriously, but it is a REAL thing. I think knowing that there is PTD and being self aware that it can happen is half the battle. Don't think it won't happen to you. My online trailjournal was more beneficial AFTER the fact because I can go back and relive my adventure by reading old post. The other thing that helped was a took a week off AFTER I was done with my daughter and SLOWLY drove back home with her. We camped, visited museums, anything not to rush back home. Great topic!
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for making this video. Your words of wisdom are applicable to so many paths in life involving change. My previous job was on the road for the company. Over 15 years, I traveled to 6 of the 7 continents with a small team of coworkers who became my travel family. Only those friends can really understand what it was like. Now I'm based at a single location (engineer) and no one cares about all the crazy, amazing things I experienced. It's too easy to become isolated in a very personal way. I've followed you through all 3 of your through hikes and look forward to each new video you post. Keep up the great work and I wish you all the best in finding your peace and purpose in life. Love ya!
H. Collier I would love to the crazy that you’ve live through 😅
Hi Dixie. This is my absolute favorite video from you. It hit me right in the heart. What you said pertains not only to trail life, but life life! I'm currently 34 and miserable. I'm wasting my life away at a soul crushing job. I love camping. It's my favorite thing. It let's me get out there away from everything and everyone and I can clear my head. I'm thinking about backpacking every second. You've inspired me to start planning my first trip. This channel is a blessing. I love your videos. They woke me up and I see that the "real life" I'm living is not the way it's supposed to be. Thank you so much for all that you do. It means so much more than you know. -- Marina ❤
You are the BEST motivational speaker I've ever listened to! Thank you so much for all the work you have done creating these videos. I can't wait to get back to the mountains. Peace
Great video. I agree with Perk. The similarities between a through hike and a military deployment are very close. In both situations, you refer to "the real world". Commiserating with your tramily (or your squad buddies) is the best therapy. Venting with people with similar experiences helps too. Gardens are great therapy. Most of the Dads that I knew growing up, were WWII vets. They all gardened and talked about them. Good Luck, Rick
I volunteered deep in the Peruvian Amazon for 8 weeks after I finished University in 2010, when I first got back to Canada, even the simple act of switching the light on, turn on the faucet feels really out of place, the trip definitely changed my life...I just don't know if it's for better or worse. I returned to the Amazon two years ago for a 2 weeks stay, and I was so overwhelmed with emotions on the bus into the jungle.
I just want to say thank you for sharing your amazing adventures with the internet.
I think "implement some passion into your everyday life" is an important one. The feeling you get after a trip is much more than post-vacation blues and I think it has to do with the immediacy of life on the trail. Every day is full of tasks and each one is immediately rewarding once it's completed: you're not hungry any more, you're not cold any more, you're closer to your goal. It's really hard to get that much feedback and sense of achievement from a job or everyday life. Great video!
The way you connect and explain your experience is so clear and helpful. You’re awesome!!
I have watched and enjoyed many of your videos, but this one really highlights what an intelligent and amazing person you are.
Thank you Dixie that is one powerful message. I have now thru hiked yet (planning on 2020 AT) but I worked as a contractor in Afghanistan for 5 years and had the same lost feelings when I came home. You made a beautiful presentation of the feelings I experienced and had trouble overcoming. Thanks again and I am thankful to have found your channel. Happy Trails
It's nice to know someone understands...THANK YOU!!!
This could possibly be the best TH-cam video I've seen all year, on any topic. Thanks for sharing your experience and your fantastic wisdom.
There is so much wisdom in this video. I think people miss the sense of control over their time and the community. Modern life is very isolating.
As having two thru hikes under my belt....I don’t think I’ve ever heard it explained that spot on....great job on this video! I hope you realize how many people you are gonna help! Great job on ALL your videos! Your inspiring so many people and I love it! So I want to say thank you for such great content!!
You rock Dixie!!
My wife and I did the TransAmerica trail with our Jeep last fall, it was 42 days depending on our vehicle and our own skills to complete it. We are in out 60s and it changed us deeply, not a day passes that we aren’t thinking about the connection with each other and nature we felt out journey. Recently we’ve been watching more thru hike videos because it feels relatable and helps us cope with the depression of not having that freedom we felt on our trail. It’s just nice hearing others we can relate to.
Great Job! I was a Army Medic, 11years total service that ended in 05. To this day we watch for signs however we can.FB posts and such. You never know how far we can fall. Thank you for using your voice to spread the message.You're not weak, you are ill just like the flu. Get help however.
Excellent tactful presentation on a complicated and difficult topic. Well done again, Dixie!
So much wisdom. As a long-distance touring cyclist, I certainly recognise most of these symptoms post-tour. Thank you for sharing your perceptive insights!
My husband and I just started backpacking last year. We decided to go to Florida for 2 weeks to visit my sister. We camped and backpacked into a campground, Lived out of our suitcase for 2 weeks, came home and we totally felt a lot of this. I didn’t want to come home. I got home and saw all our "stuff" and hated it. We realized we really need to buckle down and get rid of this life we don’t want. So we are camping and backpacking all every other weekend all summer and saving way more money to start our full time Rv and backpacking life. Thanks so much for making this video.
This reminds me a lot of how it feels to have postpartum depression/anxiety. I think once you experience real reality it’s very hard to go back to “synthetic reality”. Great advice. Thanks for the video!
Intense experiences (and relationships) rewire your brain. Your expectations adapt to that reality and when the reality changes, the adaptations are no longer beneficial. What came naturally no longer seamlessly works and the new inputs are more like noise that has to be sorted through. Even working through it so you can function, that past intense experience is still imprinted on your brain and impacts you going through life. A 1971 hitchhiking trip, a lost job, a first love, the 1959 death of my grandfather and 2012 death of my son are all intense memories that continue to bend my thinking in subtle ways even decades on. Wonderful video, Dixie.
I absolutely get the never being the same or going back.
when I emigrated from Scotland to Canada, so much changed. the biggest change was me.
we have only been back once in the last ten years, we miss our family and friends daily but when we went back I felt out of place, I felt like a tourist. everything was familiar but just not as it was. it was the most odd sensation. life moves forward and things change. landscapes change and people change, that's what makes the new experiences more unique.
Jessica ... stay awesome!!
Dixie you speak to my soul. When I am depressed I listen to you and suddenly I am excited about my life.
Thanks for another great video Dixie!
This past summer, I rode my bicycle from Dallas to Eastern Virginia and while it wasn't a thru-hike, I can relate to a lot of what you spoke about. I was only gone 3 1/2 weeks, but I still felt "out of touch" or "distant" from everyone when I came back. It was like they couldn't relate to me and I couldn't relate to them. The ride was such a great experience (with plenty of ups and downs) and it felt very hard to relate to anyone or anything in the real world for a while. The good news is I knew something about post-trail depression from watching your videos and reading what others talked about with their trips (beit thru-hikes or bike rides) and am back to "normal" now.
So, thanks for putting it out there and talking about not only what it is but also giving great suggestions on how to deal with it.
Thanks for talking about serious issues which makes me re-think about trying thru-hiking as excuse for escaping from society.
I'm sick and tired of work watching monitor everyday and cosmetic relationships in company.
But you gave me insight that just quitting my job and going thru-hiking just to escape this situation is not going to solve any problems.
Thank you.
Best regards.
From Republic of Korea.
After returning from deployment I'm always impressed that we have hot and cold running water all year round that we can drink out of the tap. You hit the nail right on the head in this video, good job.
Thanks so much, Dixie. Just returned from the Colorado Trail and was feeling down. You have been so helpful in all phases of my trip - from planning to even this. Thank you.
Very useful, Dixie. I lived in Greenland for two years and have never felt at home or comfortable away from Greenland and the Arctic. And that was 50 years ago. Now, thank God, I know why. Bless you.
In 1974 when I was fourteen, my dad and I floated the Mississippi river from source to sea. I still have post river depression. I don't think you will ever get over it but just learn to live with it.
Now there's an adventure.
Now, this gives me chills! I’ve read of some who have done this and presume you were traveling in a canoe? Wow and 14!
I've been section hiking the AT for the past decade. I only get out there once or twice a year for a week at a time. I used to get a mini depression each time. I find running is the best reconnect for me. I get dropped off on the most rural road I can find, early each Sunday when there'll be no traffic and run home. It gives me that same feeling of solitude and having a goal of getting from point A to point B that I get each day on the trail. Plus it keeps me fit for the next section. We love your channel, Dixie!
This reminds me so much of what it's like to come home from a deployment. The worst part is coming home from an amazing experience that really pushed you further than you ever thought you could go.. and then no one can relate or share the excitement with you haha. Also having the special bond with the people around you and then having to go your separate ways is so hard.
I think everyone (not just hikers) really need to look at this video. It resonates with anyone who has done anything great for such as completing project, graduating from a prestigious program and getting a promotion; there is a sense of emptiness once you get to that certain plateau.
Well done, well said....Coming out of the bush, can totally relate. Everyone should appreciate you discussing these delicate topics, good on you, have not seen one other person do this. Is it clinical or otherwise, does not matter, the fact you are talking about it is what's important.
This was very well thought out Dixie. Great video!
Thank you Dixie! I thought I would be strong enough mentally after the trail considering I had such a positive outlook while on trail. After finishing, I spent a month doing trail magic for my SoBo friends and when I got back, I got down in the dumps. The thing that is driving me right now is over planning for my next adventure. Lol. This video really rang true. Thank you.
"Simplify things" whatever form it takes is Dixie's advice that is so endearing. It may take some time or a lot of time. Coming to the realization that you can not do some of the things youv'e done in the past is a part of life!
I gotta agree with Perc here. This sounds a heck of a lot like coming home from deployment.
Great video! One thing that I got into after a couple of long section hikes, was barefoot walking, I don’t preach any of all that grounding stuff, I just really like that sensation of tucking those sore feet under the covers, and even just remembering that I have feet!
I agree with your “synthetic world” viewpoint. I also related to what you said about wanting to design your own life and not lead a life that feels mapped out and expected. I haven’t done a thru-hike or even hiked before but I connect to these videos because they are something out of the expected life we all lead that I’m so bored of. I crave something different.
Don't let it ever get you down Dixie, there are a whole bunch of us out here that love you.
Longest hike I have done was 2 weeks. On the way home I cried knowing I had to return to responsibilities of being a parent and sole provider. (Yes, I love being a parent.) Since that time I have to get out even for a couple hour day hike twice a week or those around me express my mood swings. Thank you for addressing this real life issue. Saving up my PTO to hit another couple week escape.
Another excellent video. I totally agree with your synthetic world analogy. I don’t feel I belong in it and hiking makes me feel more Me.
Perfect timing, Dixie! I’ve been wrestling with this since I got back from my AT thru-hike attempt right before Thanksgiving. Your tips are spot on. It’s not easy to get back the regular life, so I’m staying engaged with the trail community, planning my next adventure, and spending some time savoring my accomplishments.
I think I just figured out ( because of this fantastic video) what has been wrong with me for the last 5 or so years. I have been so depressed but couldn’t figure out why it’s been so bad. My favorite thing to do is travel. I have been doing more if it in the last few years with my kids and I absolutely love it. Then Im stuck in the same rut till my next adventure. I have been so miserable i have made myself sick. But I can’t fully travel until I retire in another year or so. I am also waiting for my son to graduate so I can sell my home and leave. Thank you. I never New I had been dealing with Post travel depression. And I am also planning on hiking in my next chapter of my life. I am 56 and I know I can do this because I feel it’s in my blood. I can’t wait to start. Thank you Dixie! You.are.amazing!!
I agree with several of the commenters that PTD is kind of like post deployment let down. When you pour yourself into somthing, it's a big transition when it ends.. Same for the end of sports or retirement. Dixie, you are exactly right that it helps to get back into training and plan your next adventure. And don't cut yourself off from other people. I usually solo hike, but I really love meeting people and making short friendships on trail; it's cliche, but it renews my faith in humanity. Thanks for the video! God bless!
Well congratulations grasshopper. You are now prepared to move to the next level. Good luck.
Understanding that we all can choose to put our energy into things we can change seems like wisdom. So easy to choose to make a buck rather than change the world (or do both at the same time). Thanks for sharing that perspective:-)
I’ve read that we all come from an ancestry of nomadic hunter- gatherers, somewhere along the line. Constantly moving to find food, sustenance, shelter, all the while sharing that same experience with others, and experiencing true community and support. I agree with the hiker friends you mentioned: that hiking, being oversees on deployment, moving towards that shared goal/struggle alongside peers...gives us a small taste of what life was like pre- civilization. I think we all subconsciously yearn for a return to those roots in one way or another.
You’re my absolute go-to girl for all hiking troubles and questions. Sending a hug and a word of thanks from Rock-sylvania! 🏕
I have friends that are experienced backpackers and every time we would meet up and hangout, they would always talk about backpacking and stuff they did together. I just didn’t get it. Finally I decided to go on a backpacking trip with them to their annual backpacking trip R2R of the Grand Canyon. I was so worried and anxious about being on the trail with them. I didn’t want to come out as not knowing what to do on the trail. I kept talking to myself, “our ancestors did this so can I” and “this is the true basic essentials of life” mentality. So I watched youtube videos, read magazines and blogs to get my perspective on R2R. Finally, day came toward the hiking.. it was amazing! We had so many jokes, talks, laughs and one goal: cross the Grand Canyon. It was such a positive experience that was emotional to me. Once we got done, I felt a little sad inside that it was over... I wanted more. Even though I was tired and knees hurting. I loved that feeling just being out there. I talked to my friend’s about it and they told me they feel the exact same way. I was surprised. I learned that’s why they talk about backpacking/hiking trips all the time. Just going out there and shedding off that “real life” skin for awhile. It felt good. I got back to work and just felt like my coworkers don’t know what the heck I’m talking about. They are shaking their heads like they understand what I’m talking about but they don’t. The intensity of my conversations I would have in telling people about my GC experience didn’t match their response. That kinda bummed me. I could only have that with my backpacking friends. Same with my family as well. They didn’t understand. So I started running and working out more to relieve that longing to being out there.
Now me and my friends plan backpacking trips. We always talk about the next backpacking trip. Watching your video makes me excited to get back out there. I can’t wait!
Good word! Thanks for putting this out there! Not enough advice/discussion on this subject matter.
And this type/style blog is one reason I continue to follow you. Thanks "Dixie"!
My family lived in Mexico for 1.5 years. I expected to be there much longer, but due to unforeseen circumstance we had to return to the US. The friendships and experiences made in that short time were deeper and stronger than 98% of the relationships we returned to. They are family for sure! I totally get everything you're saying in this video. Thanks for being vulnerable and human.
Thanks for pointing me here! Going from spending 5 months in the Canadian Rockies this summer to winter in the city was a huge and unexpected shock to me and hit me really hard.
Unfortunately the only thing I could think of to get out of it was going back. Fortunately, that happens next week!
Thanks for the advice, and knowing it's pretty normal makes me feel like less of a loser. 😀
I really enjoy listening to your advice and stories so a big thanks goes out to you Dixie. I think I suffered with post trail depression after spending a year and a half on a bicycle travelling between England and New Zealand. I'm currently looking for my next adventure and I'm using your material to help me choose. Thanks again and happy travels xx.
It's a year old but Thank you. 2020 been tough for many. Past few years I've worked from Canada to the Texas coast. Average 340 days away from home. It's a hard adjustment indeed.
This is the best video yet. There are three main things that make being on the trail wonderful: constant exercise, being quiet in nature and the satisfaction and pride that comes from overcoming obstacles. The trick is to hang on to these. Park far away from work and walk in all sorts of weather, pack in a change of clothes and your lunch; keep an eye on the sky and know when the sun sets, stay close to trees as much as possible.
I think it was Dixie that said “Life on the trail can be difficult. When you focus on the difficulties you lose morale. You do not function well with low morale. This is an important skill.” “Real Life” is a challenge but if you’ve done serious hiking you have the skills to deal with it and get the most out of life.
War Eagle, Dixie! I've enjoyed many of your videos. Just started to get passionate about the AT about 2 months ago. At 53, and going thru divorce, I've realized that I allowed someone else to control and make choices for me. Now, I hope to endeavor to set my own path. That is what I respect about thru hikers...the fact that you folks decided to take control of your own lives. There is much to be said for that! Thank you so much for the encouragement! You have truly helped me. I love to hike, I know that much, and I know why too. It's because of that incredible feeling when I get to the top of the mountain. Whichever mountain.
I‘ve never done any trail but over the last few years I lived abroad for quite some time. Doing that and traveling seems like a drug to me. I got addicted to meeting new people, seeing and learning new things, crossing things off my bucket list. Eventually I moved back to my home country to find a real job and to „get a proper life with my own place and all“...
i got it too then this depression because I missed traveling so much. Still working on “curing” that but I feel like your Tipps really do help. Reconnecting with old pals, going on mini adventures, sharing your experiences with others :)
Good luck everyone experiencing the same!
Sending much love from Germany, loving your videos :)
I had PTD after you finished each thru hike, I guess because I was living my hikes thru you. Now, I am watching your videos post CDT and enjoying the thoughts of hiking . Your channel keeps my mind in hiking mode and that keeps my mind hiking. My long hikes are over, I refuse to give up most of my equipment. Short hikes are all I can do now, max 5 ish miles, but at least I can still get out and enjoy nature and try to use my skills. Thanks for all the advice you give the hiking community.
Another great video Dixie. I've never been happier than when engaging the SIMPLE life on the trail. Coming back to the 'real' (synthetic) world seems alien. I came up with my own mantra "Simplify. Minimise. Maximise." That helps me continue the trail ethos when back in the synthetic world.. Applying 'tread lightly' ethics to everyday life. Simplify your needs, Minimise your possessions, Maximise your life. I think that when you finish the trail, BE PATIENT! Thank you and best wishes, and peace and love to all.
Now that is something I never thought about... very interesting 👌👌...👏👏👏👏👏!!!
I am seeing you totally different light now ... 🙏🙏🙏❤❤!!
Stay strong and blessed today and always friend ❤❤❤!!
Dixie... I've been going blind for a good while. It is pretty depressing. But my wife has been a big help. Being able to talk with/to her has been a blessing.
As always, Dixie has a good message and delivers it so well. One slight disagreement I have is that I think we all have to be involved, to one degree or another, with politics. There are so many examples of tragic events in world history, and even recently, of people tuning out and being overtaken with extremely negative consequences.
I agree, be realistic and don't expect that you can save the world, but do your bit, and feel good that you did what you could.
@@pokerjoe43 If we leave politics to those kind of people, we are pretty much doomed.
Agreed Brian. As you get older and if you have kids, it becomes obvious that it matters to pay attention and what direction we're headed in. Just like ignoring realities in a hiking scenario, in real-life to ignore what is going on around you or in your world has dire consequences.
Agreed. Me and my partner are enthusiastic hikers, mostly section hikes over a few days. But politics are important to hikers if we like it or not. All hikers love nature, and politics have impacts on nature. Our voices need to be heard, we're the ones who give mother nature a voice.
Thanks for sharing these great and valzable pieces of experience and addvice about such an important topic to balance and vole with.
I'm sure that was a tough video for you to make but you did the topic justice and even if it helps only one person it's worth it. As always your videos are honest, intelligent, and insightful. Thank you for being you.
As has been mentioned in some other comments I think that post through hike depression is a variety of post goal depression. This happens in lots of situations where a person has a significant goal, particularly one which takes a significant commitment of time and resources to accomplish, e.g. a big European trip, graduation, a big, long work project, retirement, a big wedding, returning from a military overseas tour or deployment, etc.. A person has invested so much psychological energy and resources in accomplishing a particular goal that once the goal is accomplished there is a let down and no good answer to, "What next?"
Also, there is an inability to relate to anyone who has not shared the same or similar goal. The soldier has a hard time relating to the civilian, the through hiker has a hard time relating to someone who has not spent months in hard physical exertion (and smells good), and anyone who cannot establish a shared experience with someone else.
It takes a certain kind of person to commit to a long term goal whether taking half a year out of your life to hike the AT, PCT, or the CDT or to accomplish any difficult goal. This results in a tunnel vision sort of focus which has the side effect of reducing the number of experiences and interests which can be shared with other people. This can be isolating and can contribute to feelings of loneliness and depression.
My experience is that the best way to avoid or deal with these problems is to keep things in perspective. Whatever your goal is it is only part of your life experience, both before and after. Yes, for 6 months you are a through hiker but that is only half a year out of a lifetime. If you spend 6 months through hiking out of a 80 year life you have only spent 0.625% of your life on the trail. If you think of yourself as "Name, who is doing a through hike" rather than "Name, the through hiker" it will help keep your balance. In the former you are not defining yourself by what you are doing but in the latter you are and have no existence outside of through hiking. It is a matter of perspective. Don't define yourself by your particular goal at the moment. Or, for that matter, don't define yourself by what you have accomplished in the past.