Walking For Wellness

After 20 years in the mental health system as a patient, I felt as if I was going nowhere. I was constantly trying to hide my illness and attempt to live a 'normal' life. Due to regular psychotic episodes, depression and overwhelming anxiety, maintaining regular employment and being able to conduct everyday tasks such as grocery shopping became increasingly difficult. Added to these stresses I was a solo parent and raised my sons on my own. I cannot express how challenging this period of my life has been. The end result was locking myself away for the last 4 years, refusing to interact with anyone due to the overwhelming turmoil inside my mind.

At the end of 2017, I began walking every day to deal with my weight issues (medication related), smoking addiction and generally to get myself fit. I only walked a little at first, maybe 1-2 km per day as I had to combat the negative and intrusive voices that have plagued my life. Soon I began gaining a little more confidence, I could say hello to other walkers and could look them in the eye. I was feeling less paranoid or threatened. As my fitness improved so did my ability to face my fears; dogs, loud noises, busy places and people. Within a couple of months, I was walking 15-20 km per day and my self-esteem was on the rise. In May 2018 I achieved my biggest milestone in years, I competed in the Whitianga Half Marathon. The walking wasn't my challenge, it was being around others. I absolutely loved the experience.

My personal transformation hadn't gone unnoticed and I was invited to talk about my experiences at Community Mental Health groups. Both practitioners and patients were inspired and began to start their own walking journies. The results were amazing and the buzz in our little Mental Health community was infectious. My confidence was growing rapidly and I began to really challenge myself and my walks became longer and longer until one day I walked a marathon. Actually, I walked 43.9 km. I knew then I was able to truly realise one of my long-held dreams; to walk the Te Araroa Trail. 3000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

Coming from a background including psychosis and depression it is difficult to convince family and friends that an outrageous idea like walking the length of New Zealand is tangible, however, as time went by everyone began noticing the positive effects my training was having, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. My abstract plan began forming a solid foundation. Mental Illness is disabling and support is extremely important. In order to live a happy and fulfilling life, we must accept help from family, friends, support workers and mental health practitioners, no matter how proud we are. I'm extremely lucky I have such an awesome support network who believe in me and believe I can make this journey a success.

So why the Give-a-little page? To be honest this is the wish of so many amazing people who I have met on my journey so far. The lovely people who stop me while I'm out training with my hiking pack and walking poles. They are interested in my story and so generously offer a donation to help my cause. Sure, it's extremely difficult to achieve anything like this on the Supported Living Benefit and yet again I am humbled how many people mostly strangers have been inspired by my story and journey so far and have selflessly offered to help me achieve my dream. I look forward to being able to share my experiences with others when I return and hopefully enrich their lives.

My name is Rhys Nicholas; solo dad, musician, teacher, nature lover, walker, survivor. Thank you so much for your donation and I hope you can follow my journey at www.walkology.co.nz.