Hi I’m Emily!
I’m a thirty-something, coffee-loving traveller from London.
I decided to create this backpacking and mental health blog when I was travelling around the world, because I didn’t find many travel blogs that spoke honestly about the highs and the lows of solo travel – especially if you struggle with your mental health. It was also a way to help me with my thoughts, after I was diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety.
My story: backpacking and mental health struggles
After a particularly traumatic few years, I was determined to change my life and mentality around in 2018. I started medication before moving to Spain for two months to learn Spanish. I came home to pack a bigger backpack, and then flew to South America, travelled around India, explored Malaysia, ventured around SE Asia and started life in Australia before having to fly back due to COVID.
Over the last few years, I visited Kenya for an amazing safari, before exploring a few cities to relax, I celebrated a wonderful New Year’s Eve in the Philippines, had holidays in the Middle East and recently came back from a 3.5 month solo trip around Central America and Argentina. Throughout it all, I write my backpacking and mental health blog – although I’m often slow with my article uploads whoops – to raise awareness of travelling solo as a female who suffers from mental health issues. In years to come, I’ll got something fun and truthful to look back on – show the grandkids and all that jazz.
The future
I’m excited to see where my travels take me in the future, and to continue writing about the highs and lows with you along the way. It is my hope that people in the same position will be able to relate to the stories I open up about and in turn feel less lonely and isolated.
So join along as I share thoughts, feelings and emotions whether I’m in a hostel room, or sitting on my couch at home, as well as providing tips to fellow travellers, with or without mental health problems, to make your adventures easier to organise. I hope you have as much fun catching up with me on my journey as I have had writing about it.
You can read about the 5 things that really helped my mental health when I was backpacking here. It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
“Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert