Do any of you use travel to try and beat depression?
Apr 15th, 2008, 03:35 AM
#1
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Do any of you use travel to try and beat depression?
Over the last few years I'm aware of the fact that I tend to use trips small and large to try and give mystelf something to look forward to. In between I'm quite depressed and seem to be using travel as a crutch to keep me going. I wondered if there's anyone else out there who feels the same?
Apr 15th, 2008, 03:55 AM
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Hi f,
>Over the last few years I'm aware of the fact that I tend to use trips small and large to try and give myself something to look forward to. In between I'm quite depressed and seem to be using travel as a crutch to keep me going.<
It is neither unusual, nor something to worry about.
We all have to put up with the humdrum routine of life, and look forward to getting away from the rat race and out of the rut.
How's that for a string of cliches?
>Over the last few years I'm aware of the fact that I tend to use trips small and large to try and give myself something to look forward to. In between I'm quite depressed and seem to be using travel as a crutch to keep me going.<
It is neither unusual, nor something to worry about.
We all have to put up with the humdrum routine of life, and look forward to getting away from the rat race and out of the rut.
How's that for a string of cliches?
Apr 15th, 2008, 03:58 AM
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I wouldn't say I'm depressed but as I usually take a spring vacation the reading, planning, and thinking about my vacation sees me through the dreary winter. Unfortunately this year it's no big trips but day trips to NYC to see all those places I haven't been to yet and maybe Philly for the museums.
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:09 AM
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We just spent a long weekend with friends talking about the many, many travel horrors we have been through -- wet beds, horrible rooms, cancelled planes, mold and mildew, dirt, disgusting stuff, bad food, missed connections, "friends" who were fine at home and hateful on the trip, and on and on.
It could be risky to depend on travel to lift one's spirits under such circumstances!
On the other hand, if you go into travel expecting things to be awful, you might be happy when they are not!
It could be risky to depend on travel to lift one's spirits under such circumstances!
On the other hand, if you go into travel expecting things to be awful, you might be happy when they are not!
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:12 AM
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Travel is good. But it doesn't fix anything in the rest of your life.
Yes, we all use travel to give us a lift. But that's not the situation you are describing.
Travel is your antidote to depression, not to mere boredom.
You haven't said, nor does Fodor's need to know, why you are depressed.
If your depression is recurrent, there is something wrong in your life (or in your body chemistry) that only you (or a doctor) can fix.
Yes, we all use travel to give us a lift. But that's not the situation you are describing.
Travel is your antidote to depression, not to mere boredom.
You haven't said, nor does Fodor's need to know, why you are depressed.
If your depression is recurrent, there is something wrong in your life (or in your body chemistry) that only you (or a doctor) can fix.
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:19 AM
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I'm definitely with Ira. If I didn't travel so much, I wouldn't get so depressed. But "traveling" through other Fodor's experiences does seem to help. I'm usually planning my next BIG trip on the plane trip home. Have to keep filling the funnel. 
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:23 AM
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Depression might be too strong a word, but travel is great for lifting my spirits and giving me something to look forward to.
I agree with ira - it's great to get out of everyday life and explore new areas and just have fun with my family. Or to get away by myself and spent unhurried time in an art museum or bookstore.
My everyday life seems a bit boring after returning from a great vacation.
And - during the stressful times, it's nice to know you can leave things behind - if only for a week!
I agree with ira - it's great to get out of everyday life and explore new areas and just have fun with my family. Or to get away by myself and spent unhurried time in an art museum or bookstore.
My everyday life seems a bit boring after returning from a great vacation.
And - during the stressful times, it's nice to know you can leave things behind - if only for a week!
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:32 AM
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I don’t travel to Italy, France, and Spain to beat depression, but I do go, in part, to get away from the drumbeat of depressing news that the media batters us with every day of our lives, virtually from the moment we get up in the morning. For a few weeks I’m able to immerse myself in activities that bring joy, in places where people know how to enjoy life.
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:36 AM
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I have often wondered about this. I am an alcoholic and prescription drug addict (I used to be a cocaine addict, but I went to rehab for that about 7 years ago and haven't had any coke since then) and do get VERY depressed. (I tried to commit suicide twice.)
When I travel, I do feel better and my depression does lift a little. However, I still drink and take pills whilst on holiday.
I don't think that I can ever be happy--that is my problem. I won't allow anything to be perfect, so I could be sitting on a beautiful beach in Greece and I still have to take pills and wash it down with gin.
I am always looking for a flaw in things. And there is always a flaw in my travels no matter how beautiful the place, no matter how wonderful the weather, so I have to self-medicate to numb the pain of the failure of not having the perfect holiday.
It isn't easy living in the Valley of the Dolls.
Thingorjus
When I travel, I do feel better and my depression does lift a little. However, I still drink and take pills whilst on holiday.
I don't think that I can ever be happy--that is my problem. I won't allow anything to be perfect, so I could be sitting on a beautiful beach in Greece and I still have to take pills and wash it down with gin.
I am always looking for a flaw in things. And there is always a flaw in my travels no matter how beautiful the place, no matter how wonderful the weather, so I have to self-medicate to numb the pain of the failure of not having the perfect holiday.
It isn't easy living in the Valley of the Dolls.
Thingorjus
Apr 15th, 2008, 04:56 AM
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I think for me it's trying to escape somewhere and actually try and live like I would like to live at home. In the summer I always spend 3 weeks in France in gite or cottage somewhere in the countryside or a small village. It's like I want to pretend that this is my real life and not the one at home. Also I have had a difficult relationship with my in laws for almost 30 years and it has left me feeling very excluded and isolated. I suppose when I'm away I don't have any expectations of family life as they are not around so don't get hurt and disappointed.
I'm going to Greece in a couple of weeks and decided to watch the film Shirley Valentine. I notice she also used travel to escape and rediscover herself. Many of the things she said in the film I think are true of many people. At one stage she is talking about the parts of herself that have become buried and will never be used due to the effect her married life has had on her. She says "why do we get all this life if we are not going to use it?" She says she can't remenber the day or the hour when she ceased to be Shirley Valentine and just became what everyone else required her to be. I thought it was interesting the role that travel played in this film in shaking her and eventually her husband out ot the comfort zone and getting them to rediscover the sense of adventure they used to have as a young married couple.
I'm going to Greece in a couple of weeks and decided to watch the film Shirley Valentine. I notice she also used travel to escape and rediscover herself. Many of the things she said in the film I think are true of many people. At one stage she is talking about the parts of herself that have become buried and will never be used due to the effect her married life has had on her. She says "why do we get all this life if we are not going to use it?" She says she can't remenber the day or the hour when she ceased to be Shirley Valentine and just became what everyone else required her to be. I thought it was interesting the role that travel played in this film in shaking her and eventually her husband out ot the comfort zone and getting them to rediscover the sense of adventure they used to have as a young married couple.
Apr 15th, 2008, 05:29 AM
#14
Wow, this is an interesting thread.
I guess if I'm totally honest the answer is yes, I do.
Or, perhaps the weeks just after travel I hit a bit of a low?
While on the trip I'm usually on a bit of a high.
Does that make me bipolar?
well, I don't think so...
But my goal for this year is to work to bring the joys of travel into my life in some other ways. I'm dining out a bit more and I'm taking an art class and trying to go to more local art museums...
g.
I guess if I'm totally honest the answer is yes, I do.
Or, perhaps the weeks just after travel I hit a bit of a low?
While on the trip I'm usually on a bit of a high.
Does that make me bipolar?
well, I don't think so...
But my goal for this year is to work to bring the joys of travel into my life in some other ways. I'm dining out a bit more and I'm taking an art class and trying to go to more local art museums...
g.
Apr 15th, 2008, 05:42 AM
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This thread should inspire Fodor editors to add a travel warning label in the backcover or a subchapter:
"Using Travel as an Picker Upper"
"Where To Get Help Against Travel Abuse"
"Travel Annonymous" wwwFodors.com/forum
"Using Travel as an Picker Upper"
"Where To Get Help Against Travel Abuse"
"Travel Annonymous" wwwFodors.com/forum
Apr 15th, 2008, 07:12 AM
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ferryann - I definately think travel is a form of escapism for me. I have had to look long and hard at this. I love planning trips, but in a way it is just "my thing".
Most of us have passions and a hobby. I view travel as mine. I love to talk about it with others, I love to plan trips.
I will say that I am very relaxes generally when traveling as opposed to being at home.
I would not say that I am "depressed" between trips - but could be a tad bi-polar like Greuzi
Dawn
Most of us have passions and a hobby. I view travel as mine. I love to talk about it with others, I love to plan trips.
I will say that I am very relaxes generally when traveling as opposed to being at home.
I would not say that I am "depressed" between trips - but could be a tad bi-polar like Greuzi
Dawn
Apr 15th, 2008, 07:26 AM
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People have all kinds of things in their lives to avoid and/or alleviate depression, whether it be exercise, yoga, bingo, food, movies. My feeling is not to worry about it unless it's causing problems with relationships, money, etc.
