From Struggles to Self-Discovery: Thomas Chichester’s Journey Abroad
From Struggles to Self-Discovery: Thomas Chichester's Journey Abroad
Anxiety disorders and depression are not solitary battles. They are the world’s most common mental health disorders, affecting millions of people globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression. Again, WHO in 2019 reported that 301 million people are living with an anxiety disorder.
In Australia, Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health illnesses. Data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2022 showed the leading burden of disease for males aged 15 to 24 was suicide, with 14.1% of males suffering self-inflicted injuries. For females aged 15 to 24, the leading burden of disease was anxiety, with 10.2 % of young women experiencing it.
There are a variety of factors that can affect our mental health – from job dissatisfaction and heartbreak to social pressure and the death of a loved one. It is important to have a coping mechanism.
So what can help? Perhaps taking some time off to travel.
In 2022, Thomas Chichester discovered that travelling and living abroad would help him further overcome his trauma.
In 2016, after completing the HSC and before getting his results, he moved to Melbourne to pursue a career as an AFL player.
“I spent a whole year down there playing, but I failed because I didn’t play any first-grade games, and I didn’t live up to any expectations that were on me. I had all these coaches and got all this extra work put into me, and I just failed. I just kept letting people down, and the people I let down were my Dad and my coaches. I thought I was letting down my friends and my teammates,” He said
When Thomas left Sydney to pursue a football career, the club believed he would succeed and become a professional AFL player. When this didn’t happen, his mental health was negatively impacted.
“I don’t remember it as I was checked out, but my mum talks about how when I got home, she had to wash me, shave me, and cut my hair. She put me on a diet. I was sick for a few weeks and was literally in bed,” Chichester said.
This experience with failure affected Thomas; for three years, after not making it as an AFL player, he attended therapy to try and overcome this; however, this was not his last experience of failure.
“I realised I’ve got all this trauma from this game that I tried to play and really failed at. Why don’t I commit to relationships? Why do I not think I can’t succeed? I went to uni, but I didn’t really try because I didn’t want to commit to it. I didn’t want to fail again, so I thought, well, I won’t try so that I won’t fail. I had that perspective on trying now because I tried really hard at footy, and it failed, so why would I try with anything else?” He said.
Thomas feels that when you have depression and anxiety, your brain doesn’t function logically.” He is right. Depression can change your ability to think. It can affect your attention, memory, information processing and decision-making skills. When you’re anxious, the emotional system overwhelms the rational system. Thomas shared that he couldn’t justify or make sense of his feelings.
“All of a sudden, I failed at football, the love of my life, and then I fell in love. The football was my fault, and the relationship wasn’t mine fault, but I still failed,” he said.
As a result of his trauma, he felt nothing was going to work out; nothing was going to be successful for him regardless of whether he tried or didn’t try, whether it was his fault or not his fault. A poor opinion of himself and his future developed. He believed nothing would work out, he would never fall in love again, and he wouldn’t have a good life, money or a job.
Once the international borders opened after the pandemic, Thomas knew he wanted to travel again. COVID-19 made him realise that life is really short and unpredictable. However, he did not realise that this trip would improve his life.
He decided to backpack through Europe, which he initially thought would be for 3-4 months; however, it turned into 15 months away from home when an opportunity to work in Amsterdam presented itself.
“I will never forget that I just had this thought in my head: this is a great opportunity,” he said.
Chichester remembers it being a complicated process, and there were days when things were tough and did not go according to plan.
“Getting a visa is not easy, and moving countries is not easy, but when you have yourself and your backpack, the world is your oyster, and you kind of have this bit of self-belief that you can do anything,” Chichester said.
He struggled to get to Amsterdam because he ran out of money.
“I FaceTimed my dad and told him, ‘Dad, I’m moving to the Netherlands. Can I have $500 to help me get by?’ He said no. ‘You’ll be alright,’ he told me. ‘Just stop drinking beer.’ He didn’t give me the money because he wanted me to prove myself. He wanted me to focus on my goal—living abroad—and not waste money on things I didn’t need.” He said.
Having his Dad not give him the money was a pivotal moment for him. He realised that if he wanted to live overseas and keep travelling, he would need to be responsible for it. Relying on others was not an option. Taking responsibility for his life was a huge factor for him. Travel was starting to change him positively.
“The responsibility placed on me, and the fact that I could take on that responsibility after failing, helped me regain my belief. It helped me mentally.
“There were so many hard times living in Amsterdam, but one day, I was riding my bike through Vondelpark, finished my job, and had money to pay for a meal; I could ‘smell the flowers’, and that was like a moment where I was like, I am good at things, I am a good person, I am nice, I am able to succeed, I am worthy, I am attractive. After that failure, I finally gained through travelling and living abroad.” he said.
Now, at 25, he can see how his 15 months in Europe have changed his life. Thomas feels he has changed so much since leaving Australia in 2022, travelling around Europe, and living in Amsterdam for a year. He became a man, and his experiences have benefited him since returning home at the end of 2023.
“I’ll be at work and going through a hard time or have something going on in the business that is hard to deal with, and in the back of my mind, I know I slept on floors Bosnia, and I’ve hiked up mountains in Montenegro, and I have met incredible people you have had harder stories than me, and those types of things keep me going. The fact that I know I’ve got it in me now, and I know I can do it. The whole solo thing of travelling and moving abroad has made me realise that I can do it and that I will be okay,” Thomas said.
Thomas realised that travelling and living abroad was the best therapy for him. He found meaning again. The way he perceived himself and viewed failure and success has changed.
Temporary physical and mental removal from our everyday environment can restore the spirit. A change of air can bring psychological restoration and reinvigorate our senses. Travel may be what psychologists should prescribe.
While seeking help from a psychologist is a viable option, it’s important to note that travel might not be a suitable solution for everyone. It’s crucial to consider the potential risks of using travel as a sole coping mechanism, such as financial strain or the risk of exacerbating mental health issues in unfamiliar environments.
As mental health issues like anxiety and depression continue to affect millions globally, it’s essential to explore diverse methods of coping and healing.
While traditional therapy and support systems remain crucial, travel can be a powerful complementary therapy, offering experiences that rejuvenate the mind and spirit.
As illustrated by Thomas Chichester, travel offers a unique and transformative escape for those grappling with anxiety and depression. It provides a break from the routine and an opportunity to rediscover oneself and gain new perspectives. Individuals can find healing and a renewed sense of purpose by immersing themselves in different cultures, facing new challenges, and experiencing life beyond their comfort zones.
For many, travel becomes more than just an escape; it becomes a path to personal growth and emotional restoration.
