TRAVEL IS THE ULTIMATE DRUG. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
That rush you feel when you get off the train in a new foreign city. That high you experience when you reach an epic viewpoint. That buzz you get from being surrounded by new noises, smells, and people. Travel truly is the ultimate intoxicant, altering your mind in ways you didn’t think was possible, exposing you to new sensations, all while keeping you constantly coming back for more. So if you think you’ve lost control of your raging travel habit, there’s no shame in seeking out help.
Travel is all about chasing that adrenaline surge. The one you feel when you zip line over a massive gorge or bike down an active volcano. Jonesing for that boost is what it’s all about, and if it comes at an expense to your productivity at work or your relationship with your friends and family, it might be time to consider talking to someone. The warning signs can be fucking next level, and also dangerously easy to overlook. Something as simple as getting overly jacked for an upcoming trip, or buying a new GoPro when your current one works just fine, could be a sign that your relationship with exploration has crossed into unhealthy territory.
We’re talking about travel here, there’s nothing more extreme. Once you experience the stoke of body surfing in Fiji, it will be pretty tough to go back to your run-of-the-mill office job. And then before long it will become harder to maintain an appetite, your sexual performance will suffer, and you’ll need to search Kayak every five minutes to keep your skin from itching. Which sounds pretty gnarly.
Live life on the edge. Tell your comfort zone to go fuck itself. But be wary of gateway destinations like Ireland or Mexico. Sure they seem innocent enough, with their low barriers to entry and recognizably Americanized drinking holidays. But Mexico opens the door to Central America, then maybe a trip to Machu Picchu, then before you know it you’re hitchhiking from Colombia to Buenos Aires and referring to your friends from home as gringos. Travel foul!
When you travel to the max you truly feel like you’re living the rock star life. Nothing but good vibes, nonstop parties, and crashing in a new bed every night. But responsible travel can be a lot of fun too, and has even been shown to help reduce your chance of heart disease if done in moderation. It doesn’t take much for a casual trip here and there to turn into full-blown “I earn money from my laptop so I can travel the world and you can too.”
So kick open the door and chase down that rush. Once you find it you won’t be able to stop. And once you get to that point, please contact the nearest trekadone clinic and get some help.
