{"id":198393,"date":"2024-12-23T08:22:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T16:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=198393"},"modified":"2025-03-03T08:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T16:24:14","slug":"hiking-with-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/hiking-with-anxiety","title":{"rendered":"I told my anxiety to take a hike. Here\u2019s how it went."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong>\u00a0This article is written from one REI Co-op Member’s perspective and is intended to provide general knowledge; it should not be used to replace medical care or diagnosis. Consult a doctor or mental health professional before setting out on a hike if you are concerned about anxiety or feel panic. Your safety is your responsibility.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tolmie Peak Lookout<\/a> is nestled in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park<\/a>. On a clear day, those who hike roughly four miles to the lookout are rewarded with picture-perfect views, face-to-face with greatness: The mountain stands so close, it\u2019s as if you could reach out and touch it. (Don\u2019t try, though. It’s steep up there.) Glacial Lake Eunice, found along the way, makes a spectacular resting point or even a destination on its own, as people swim<\/a> in its vibrant blue waters during warmer months. The hike has something for everyone, from strenuous challenges to moderate strolls.  

My husband, Jon, and I had driven here countless times. We even brought our daughter here for one of our first family outings when she was just a few weeks old. But I\u2019d never been brave enough to trek to the old fire lookout, perched at nearly 6,000 feet.

The reason? I have anxiety.  

I want to be adventurous, but racing thoughts intrude. Each mile I venture deeper into the woods, my excitement is matched by dread. How can places that bring me such peace also induce such fear? I\u2019ve often wondered. 

So it was with Tolmie Peak. My spinning head always found a way to convince me that climbing to the lookout was too far, too high, too risky.  

Now that I\u2019m in my early thirties, I\u2019ve wanted to shake off these heavy feelings that prevent me from fully enjoying what I love. I also want my daughter to grow up fearless in the outdoors. It was time to look Tolmie Peak square in the switchbacks and say, \u201cI\u2019m gonna hike you.\u201d  

First, though, I turned to Yasith Yasanayake for professional advice. Yasanayake, an REI Experiences guide, has led REI Co-op members on dozens of hikes throughout the wilderness of the Northeast. Their first suggestion for battling anxiety outside: Don\u2019t go alone. <\/strong> 

\u201cThere are many variables that can lead someone to feel like they\u2019re in panic mode, especially in an unfamiliar environment,\u201d Yasanayake says. \u201cIt\u2019s best to have people you trust nearby to help you work through those emotions when they come up.\u201d 

If you struggle with anxiety, it\u2019s important to recognize how you feel before, during and even after a hike, Yasanayake says. Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life<\/a>, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, but for people with an anxiety disorder, the feeling doesn\u2019t go away easily; symptoms can interfere with daily activities. There are several types of anxiety disorders. For example, people living with generalized anxiety disorder have difficulty controlling feelings of worry, and restlessness, or the feeling of being \u201con edge.\u201d People with panic disorder, meanwhile, can experience sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort or a sense of losing control even when there is no clear danger. (This is also known as a panic attack.) 

My anxiety presents differently depending on the situation. Yasanayake suggested that thoughtfully processing each part of the hike as it was underway could help me learn how to control my feelings. Here\u2019s how that looked in practice for me.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparation and Packing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My first step was securing a hiking buddy. I asked Eva Seelye<\/a>, an adventure photographer and my longtime friend, to help me navigate to Tolmie Peak. We set a date for my first-ever sunset hike, because I knew it would put me outside of my comfort zone. Hiking after dark is something I\u2019d never have agreed to before, let alone suggested. There were too many unknowns, like the possibility of getting lost, injured or running into a wild animal. But with proper preparation and a knowledgeable guide at my side, the idea seemed a lot less scary.   

As I loaded my car, I kept another of Yasanayake\u2019s tips in mind: Adhere to the <\/strong>Ten Essentials<\/a> as a fail-safe packing guide.<\/strong> I tossed these must-haves in my trail pack:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n