Outdoors and opening up. Mental Health Awareness Week

Join me as I set out for a walk around the beautiful Peak District. Today I'm at the stunning Padley Gorge.
As we already know, taking a walk is beneficial to help mental health. And what better way is there to relax than taking in some amazing sights, the sound track of nature and breathing in the fresh air.
As it is mental health awareness week I take it upon myself to open up on the struggles that I am facing. This was a challenging thing for me to do, but I realise that with me doing this it may encourage others to take the first step to tackling the battle of their own mental health.
Its OK not to be OK. To struggle is not a weakness, and it takes great strength to confront the challengers that you face. You are not the only one in this situation, and you don't need to go through it alone.

[@GarethZoeWildcamps]

Welcome to the crazy club Dave 😁 Suffered bad most of my life with the devil that is Anxiety. It's horrible describing your symptoms to people who've never experienced it. Thanks for sharing your video mate and I'm always at the end of a FB message buddy if you want to talk about any of your symptoms and the effects they have (can be very worrying at the time to the point of thinking your dying, as crazy at it sounds). All the best mate, Gareth and Zoe

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

I know what you mean mate. I don't think it's caused by the pandemic, but I think it did make me loose my coping mechanisms. Being out is certainly helping. Thanks for the support, it's really appreciated 👍🏻

[@DaveOutdoors]

Dave, well done mate for opening up about this, alot of people including myself have felt the struggles of life and lockdown. Despite the smiley face on videos, nobody sees what's happening behind the camera... As I said, inbox is always open chap.. Take care, ATB Dave 👍

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Cheers mate. As I said I didn't do it for me, I did it to encourage others. Granted, planning this added extra stress on myself that wasn't necessary, but I do think it helped being able to vocalise what I was feeling. Just need to #embraceit!! Cheers for the support mate 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ksgonewild]

Really good vid and I so get what you mean about anxiety. I don’t think people do understand unless they’ve experienced it. So glad you’re getting some help and really proud of you for putting yourself out there to help others. Xx

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Cheers K. I added pressure on myself to make that vid but but it is for a worthy cause. I never thought too much about mental health, even with it being all over the media, until it started effecting me. Now I can relate to everything i hear. Thanks for the support x

[@brimingtonchurch1736]

Awesome video Dave. Great to let people know they are not alone. You were (and still are...) a massive help to me with my anxiety issues, here for you buddy. From Daniel (don’t know why it won’t let me post as myself and not church channel!)

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Cheers mate (or building lol). I pushed myself to make this. And in some ways it was easier to talk out loud to myself than others. Even easier the second time round (first draft was over powered by the sound of the brook). Thanks for the support mate.

[@JALANJALANID]

Thanks for sharing this is good video i love this

[@smithysmith5256]

💪🏻💪🏻

[@bluemonkey227]

Great video Dave! Anxiety is like a monster mate. You’ve done the hardest bit now. Stay true to yourself always pal and try to keep an open mind on your journey. 🧘‍♂️

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Cheers mate. Yes your right, but it has gotten easier the more I've spoken about it and spoken about what situations give it me instead of bottling it up inside. Cheers for the support mate

[@dustybaggins9914]

Brilliant video mate! I am here if you need to walk, chat etc, you know you can talk to me mate, just keep reaching out.

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Will do pal. I know your there for me mate. Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@mickswanderings7500]

Waiting for some drone footage!

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

I know mate. Me too to be fair. I've taken it out twice. Once to a field near me to practice the controls and that went well. Second time I flew it from my garden. It went up, straight at me, I panicked and it ended up crashing into my roof and slid into next doors garden. I need to build my confidence with it again before and memories the controls and calibrations before I take it on a hike.

[@TJ_into_the_wild]

Good shout, Dave...and a class vid :)

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Cheers for watching Mate. It needed to be said and blokes need to understand that they too can struggle and it doesn't make them weak 💪🏻

[@LouandLolsTravels]

Thank you for providing such an open insight into your life. We're glad to hear you seeked help and yeah, anxiety is a pain, Lou gets it worse at night. You are very welcome to join us at Kinder at the end of the month if you fancy it. We're all here for you should you need us ❤️

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Thanks for your support. I'd have loved to have joined you but I have double booked with a wild camp that day. I'll try to make the next one 👍🏻👍🏻

[@marksadventures3889]

Ay up! Good video Dave, very pertinent to the times. I don't know anyone who hasn't been effected by the pandemic period. I thought I was immune but I found myself even more distancing myself than I usually do. So like you, where'd i go? Outdoors, to my church, nature. that were good, subbed.

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

Thanks for the support mate. Appreciate it. I too thought I was immune to it too. I'd think why are people struggling with it, why can't they just get on with not seeing anybody The hardest thing I found was telling my wife (I did speak about that but it wasn't recording 🤦). And then the friend that made me realise. Since then I go for walks with that friend as i feel comfortable talking to him with the journey that I'm now on. Again thanks for the sub

[@marksadventures3889]

@@grizzlydoutdoors5115 😎 that's what proper mates do.

[@grizzlydoutdoors5115]

They sure do.