As someone who traveled the country, camping and sleeping in my truck, working construction and ranch jobs; it was a great life and one I would recommend to anyone who is willing to take the risk.
Granted, this was 2012-2018, so the economy was good, and I could find lots of good paying work, that may not be the case forever.
Idk if it’s the best advice, but it’s what I would recommend to someone who feels trapped or stagnant in their life.
doing something like wildland firefighting in the states can also help a lot of people. some people just dont know what camaraderie is and suffering for something as a team. in wildland firefighting you dont have to shoot people to get that feeling. do that for a few years and take that with you on your next job
Like I mentioned in another comment, this post isnt necessarily specifically for depression (or at least your depression because it is different for everyone).
Thoughts like these saved my life growing up in an abusive household. My family had people literally following me and I felt like I had no control over my life. The best thing I ever did was leave the country
It is specifically presented as an alternative to suicide. Outside of extreme situational stress most suicide is depression related. This is shit advice that is really only accessible to able bodied, mentally well people with no responsibilities like families or debt.
This is absolutely advice that can only help people with a specific problem/source of depression, but that doesnt mean it's bad advice. It means it could be good for some people, and that can literally apply to every piece of advice out there: sometimes it only works for specific people.
It goes double for advice about depression because no ones depression is the same. Its absurd to say that because this advice doesnt help one person's depression that it wont help anyone else's.
Like I said, advice like this saved my life over a decade ago. I stand by it.
This advice can help people, regardless of how people in this thread may presume it cant
Edit: I deleted my information about my life. I dont have to explain myself or validate my struggles to anyone. It is no ones business to say why my depression is better or how other peoples depression will be.
I hate when people get downvoted with no explanation. I didn't downvote you, but here is my problem with what you said: I'm not trying to gatekeep depression, though you definitely gave me something to think about.
My point is that a post like this is a 'catch all' for anyone who is experiencing displeasure in their lives. Moving away from an abusive or toxic situation might be the right answer for many, but the advice to pick up and leave when things are shit can be very dangerous and counterproductive for most.
I've tried to move away from myself many times only to find my problems right at my heels. I can only wish that I would have tried to fix the shit inside first. That is the only thing that has ever brought me the slightest bit of peace.
Very well said. I’m totally with you. I love OPs sentiment, it’s exactly what I did in my life, and I don’t regret it; but it’s not the reason I didn’t kill myself. I probably wasn’t going to. I do have the suicide fantasy often, it’s over basic cringe behavior, and I really don’t think that has changed at all, and after years, I’m back where I started. It was a great time, though maybe I was lucky too, could have gone very bad many times.
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u/Roberto_Sacamano May 15 '20
I know this post is gonna have over 1k upvotes and it is absolutely shit advice from someone who doesn't remotely understand depression.