Embracing Nature's healing touch. Nick Ray on dealing with depression through a lifetime of adventure.

The Proper Mental Podcast

Welcome to episode 226 with Nick Ray, who is a sea kayaker, wild walker and adventurer who also lives with treatment resistant depression and is a suicide attempt survivor.

Nick has undertaken many adventures by sea and over land. Throughout 2022 and into 2023 he undertook a 12-month solo sea kayak journey around Scotland, paddling over 3000 miles.

This year he walked 1000 miles, over three months to reach each of Scotland’s four corners.

In this episode Nick joins me to talk about these expeditions, what they’ve taught him and the struggles with depression that have inspired and informed his adventures.

We chat about how his upbringing in Zimbabwe that sowed the seeds for a life time of adventure, his experiences with depression and how his mental health has impacted his life over the years.

We also chat about some of the incredible insights he has gained from undertaking these challenges and spending weeks at a time on his own and submerged in nature.

We chat about hopelessness and hospital stays and we chat about the power of solitude, the beauty of nature, embodying change and the joy of living simply and quietly.

It was a joy to chat to Nick and I found him to be insightful and wise and really lovely man. This conversation offers up a lot to think about!

Follow Nick on Instagram @nick_lifeafloat and X @Lifeafloat

More info about his adventures, writing and speaking can be found at www.lifeafloat.co.uk

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Thanks for listening!