Mental Health on the Road: Dealing with Anxiety While Traveling

Alright so this one's gonna be a little different from our usual stuff. No gear reviews, no trail recommendations. Sam wanted me (Jake) to write this one solo because honestly it's more my story to tell.

I deal with anxiety. Like, actual diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder. Got the diagnosis at 24, started van life with Sam at 26, and let me tell you — living in a 2019 Ram ProMaster with your brother while your brain is constantly telling you something terrible is about to happen is... an experience.

Here's the thing nobody talks about on Instagram. You see the van parked at some gorgeous overlook in Big Sur and everyone's like "living the dream bro!" And yeah, it IS incredible. But you know what's also happening in that photo? My chest is tight because we don't have cell service and what if something goes wrong, and I'm calculating how far the nearest hospital is, and I'm wondering if that weird noise the engine made 40 miles ago means we're about to break down on a cliff.

That's anxiety on the road. It doesn't care how pretty the view is.

What actually helps me (not what Instagram says helps):

Routine. I know that sounds boring and un-vanlife but having a morning routine is the single biggest thing. I wake up, I make coffee in the AeroPress, I sit outside for ten minutes even if it's cold, and I write three pages in a notebook. Julia Cameron calls it "morning pages" and my therapist recommended it and yeah it works. Sam knows not to talk to me during this time lol.

Exercise, but not in a "just go for a run bro" way. Like, I need to actually exhaust myself sometimes. When we were at Smith Rock in Oregon I climbed until my forearms were screaming and that night I slept like a baby for the first time in weeks. Physical tiredness quiets my brain in a way nothing else does.

Telehealth therapy. This is huge. I see my therapist Dr. Patel every two weeks over video call. We use BetterHelp when our insurance doesn't cover it and honestly it's been worth every penny. Finding a reliable wifi connection for appointments can be stressful (ironic) but most library parking lots work fine.

Medication. Yeah I'm just gonna say it. I take 10mg of Lexapro every day. No shame about it. Some guys in the outdoor space act like fresh air and cold plunges cure everything. They don't. If you need meds, take your meds. Talk to a doctor about it.

That's brotherhood right there.

What doesn't help:

People telling me to "just relax and enjoy it." Oh wow thanks I'm cured. Also doesn't help: drinking. I know campfire beers are like THE van life thing but alcohol makes my anxiety ten times worse the next day. I still have a beer here and there but I had to get real honest with myself about using it as a coping mechanism.

Doom scrolling at night when I can't sleep. Terrible idea. I bought a Kindle Paperwhite and now I read sci-fi instead. Way better.

Look, I'm not a mental health professional. I'm just a 28-year-old dude who lives in a van with his brother and happens to have a brain that works overtime on the worry department. But if you're out there traveling and your anxiety is telling you you're the only one struggling — you're not. Not even close.

Hit us up in the comments or DM us on Instagram if you wanna talk about it. Seriously. No judgment.

— Jake

(Sam here: proud of you bro. Also you left your wet towel on my sleeping bag again. Love you.)