Amy Hudson - Cycling and Mental Health

Amy Hudson is a cyclist and mental health advocate.
In this episode we discussed: how Amy found and developed her love for cycling, why she left her job as a mental health nurse, the power of sport to get us through tough times es, Johann Hari's book Lost Connections, balancing authenticity online and being kind to ourselves, how Amy uses her mental health journey to help others, and much more!
Listen to episode 37 of the Happy Smiling People Podcast on Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
Follow me online: / emilyereilly
Find Amy online:
Instagram: amy.cycling...
KZbin: / @amy.cycling.adventures

[@tinapreece5935]

Well done Amy for speaking out about mental health. When my mum passed away I also started the menopause. I went through some very dark times. I then decided to buy a mountain bike and dusted off my running shoes. I honestly believe my bike that cost £300, saved my life. I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for my cycling and running. I recommend it to anyone.

[@seanbanning2855]

I am a recent and avid follower of Amy and Kyle's cycling videos. I really resonated with their humility and authenticity. I was totally unaware of Amy's back story until today and this makes her an even more inspiring and remarkable individual.❤

[@KeithHarrison-ho9nj]

This has to be one of the best interviews I’ve ever seen, well done both

[@josephlyne8290]

Thanks for this. Amy, youre pre-habbing people’s mental health, helping thousands with your videos :)

[@KeithHarrison-ho9nj]

This has to be the best interviews I’ve ever seen, well done both😊

[@nickdalby5450]

Cycling is saving my life. Thankyou for being so open. "It's good to talk".

[@richardbolt287]

I love cycling too. I always say being on my bike is my Happy place. My daughter has suffered with her mental health from the age of 13. She had been doing well. Stopped self harming. Now 19 she is back in a low. She has been sectioned under the mental health act. Hopefully she will sort her head out. Love watching your videos.

[@garycwikla6385]

I love cycling but it could be anything as long as you leave time to enjoy something away from the everyday pressures that we all face. When you can leave the everyday behind for a while, life becomes so much more enjoyable.

[@duncanmacphee200]

I absolutely love Amy's videos. She's such an honest, funny and inspirational person.

[@malcontent510]

Love Amy's honesty & exuberance. She's a magnificent advocate for cycling as a foil for mental health struggles. I watch all her videos while contemplating my own issues.

[@davidmailander8165]

Excellent work Amy. You’re a wonderful witness to how cycling has helped you deal with problems and sustainability of life to the fullest. Kudos to you and Kyle

[@markrathkamp7681]

And as well, Amy is a very strong rider. She pushes lots of power for long distances. Great inspiration.

[@user-jo5ce7bp8x]

This is so honest and appreciated. The paradox is that while Amy’s KZbin channel is so honest I also see Amy as such a strong person. The ability to adapt, distract while connecting is so therapeutic and powerful. I have never really had to struggle with mental health but currently I think Amy is giving so much to others, more than she potentially did as a nurse. She is still a mental health nurse but she practices in a different way. I started my career as a nurse but moved to a different area of healthcare for the majority of my career. Amy has simply adapted her practice through social media, Once a nurse always a nurse I believe,

[@enricoflor3601]

Since Amy's on the top of her mental game now, she deserves a dance at the top of the hill! Yippeeee! And now, inspired to go out biking.... 😊

[@philiplaycock8944]

Brilliant open & honest conversation . Well done 👍

[@CreativeCyclingCollective]

Amy & Kyle are incredible inspirations for all of us beginner cyclists. I started to cycle totally randomly 10 months ago, hoping to get a little better shape as I am close to 50y old. I had clue what incredible impact it is going to have on my mental health. I do not think I had any severe problems before, but I am much happier, sillier, things do not get to me that easy. Thank to REAL no BS channels like Amy's I keep being inspired. I hated to exercise all my life, now I started to other exercises as well in order to improve my cycling. Amy is right! You should try it and if you enjoy it only half as much as we do, you are in for a treat!

[@ChinChannelOne]

Thank you so much for being so open and for a wonderful interview ❤

[@user-iy3op1wb1m]

Everyone needs to talk about mental health. It's so Important. Amy and Kyle are such lovely people. They have a fantastic positive attitude towards everything. The great outdoors is a healer. Thank you😊😊

[@ronaldweed6103]

So enjoyed this, honestly. It's not easy being out there,but you're AWESOME because of it.

[@simonm7776]

Amazing. Well done indeed.

[@Parr_World]

This just hurt my head lol

[@junebugcomputer]

Wonderful podcast

[@HappySmilingPeoplePodcast]

Thank you :)

[@Cycle.every.day.]

The late,great Robin Williams said "cycling is the closest you can get to flying"

[@philiplaycock8944]

A very open and honest video - well done 👍

[@upendasana7857]

Can I just say that training as a "mental health nurse"is not a training that educates you what is going on in your brain,your body or your overal emotional and mental wellbeing.In fact it does anything but and as Amy here exemplifies it often doesn't train those who work in it how to either look after or understand their own mental health or "illness". Often what mental health training does sadly is seperate out too often those who are "mentally ill"from those who are supposedly "mentally healthy"often based purely on a persons ability to cope and function at certain time in their life. What Amy's expereince shows is that anyone under certain conditions can become "ill"or have a breakdown or however you label it,it only takes certain circumstances some apparent and some maybe not so and a person can exhibit the signs of distress or "illness"that often sadly get labeled and can easily become a persons whole identity. Its a shame that those who actually in the mental health system are not helped more to do things such as this like cycling,being in nature,or finding any other number of things which could help their mental health other than just being given drugs which is so often the only port of call. Mental health nursing and the system in general needs to stop medicalising so much people's "illnesses"and start seeing them as people who have unmet needs and often unresolved trauma and wouldn't it be nice of more people had access or could be supported to find such therapeutic activities as well maybe meds too when required.

[@clausm2203]

Great video

[@HappySmilingPeoplePodcast]

Thank you!

[@PEDALSnPROJECTS]

Sometimes mental health is just spoiledness and not happy getting your way. Ive watched her and get the feeling she was spoiled as a kid and has fits if things don't go her way. Also mental health can come from not getting enough attention

[@bikes7cats1dog]

This is a very naive comment.

[@simonsharman5518]

Love for you to expand on your qualifications to make this comment. Not the full detail - just a couple of your peer reviewed papers on this would be fine as a starting point