5 Tips to over come Post Trail Depression

Often times Post trail depression isnt addressed.  As a hiker thats been in the community over three years.  I wanted to express a few things I did to curb my depression.  While there is no perfect answer these might help you out.  

Below are the show notes:

 

1. Improve your diet.

· Stop eating like you are still hiking 20 miles plus a day.

· Decrease your sugar intake.  This will help stabilize your mood and decrease a manic state of mind. 

· Overall live a healthy lifestyle.  If that means cutting out Nicotine or alcohol, then you should definitely do that.

· Finding the proper diet, you either had pre trail or adopting a new diet such a whole 32 will help you tremendously.

 

2. Stay active.

· Running and weight lifting definitely help. 

· Most likely its winter so maybe take up skiing or another winter sport.

· Many hikers I’ve spoken with like to do Yoga during the winter to increase flexibility.  Hiking can make you very rigid and Yoga will help alleviate that.

· The main goal is to keep busy and exercise.

· One last thing get out of the house.  Don’t stay inside for long periods of time.  This will most likely make you more depressed.

 

3. Open up about how you feel being back home

· Share your experiences you had on trail with others. Talk about what you miss and how it changed you.  Sometime people wont understand what you are going through but that’s okay.

· Keep in touch with trail friends.  They will be able to understand you better than anyone since they went through it as well.

· Sometimes we just want to talk and don’t need any real advice.  It never hurts to ask someone if you can vent to them about what you are going through.

4. Set a routine and make short term goals.

· Most likely you are working again.  If you haven’t found work that should definitely be your priority, especially if you are low on funds.

· Build a routine around your work schedule or around looking for a job.

· Just like hiking a routine will help you achieve your goals.

· A typical routine would consist of Gym, mediation, work, and a creative outlet of some kind.

· Setting short term goals either to hike twice a month or save a thousand dollars are important to your mental state.

 

5. Prepare for your next hike.

· If you are watching this video you are probably one of the lucky few that can’t wait to get back out there and experience more trails.

· Start with small trips. Weekend and one night get aways.

· Start setting financial goals early on for that next big trip.

· If you can't leave normal life for 4-5 months there are always shorter trails out there such as the Arizona trail and long trail to name a few.

· Lastly If all of the above fail and you can afford it why not keep on hiking. There is always the Florida Trail or the Te-araroa in New Zealand. 

Thanks for watching the video or checking out the show notes.  Feel free to comment ;)