About the author

Tim Moss

Tim Moss has supported over 100 expeditions across all seven continents. He has climbed new mountains, crossed a desert on foot and recently cycled 13,000 miles around the world. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society London and a Guinness World Record Holder. He aims to encourage more people to live adventurously. Read more...

17 Comments

  1. 1

    Dylan

    I hear you Tim, I’ve been there myself and am currently starting my third year of a circumnavigation, almost 15000 miles in after having previously never cycled for longer than day- trips there and back. No sponsorship all my own efforts and hard work.

    I planned this after realising that my mental outlook was my own responsibility and that I needed to take control of my future happiness rather than deferring it to my career or my bosses.

    As soon as the decision was made my life was revolutionised and my old spark returned. Sure there’s times I wish I wasn’t doing it alone or that I feel massively homesick but I wouldn’t change a bit of it.

    Freewheelin Dylan

    https://www.facebook.com/FreewheelinDylan/

    Reply
    1. 1.1

      Tim Moss

      Thanks for sharing that Dylan. Best of luck with the next however-many-thousand miles!

      Reply
  2. 2

    Nancy B

    Thank you so much for sharing. It really helps everyone who is still on the dark side of mental illness to see that you can get better.

    Reply
    1. 2.1

      Tim Moss

      Excellent. That alone makes it worthwhile.

      Reply
  3. 3

    Kathy Morton

    A beautifully written insight into how depression can sneak up on you and knock you completely off track without any obvious reason.
    The way you have written this is so enlightening for anyone who has never suffered depression but is struggling to understand the behaviour of someone close to them, that I would like to share it with patients (I’m a GP) who struggle to explain it themselves. I’ve never read anything before that gives such a clear and honest and understandable account .
    Thank you very much for sharing this Tim Moss.

    Reply
    1. 3.1

      Tim Moss

      Hi Kathy,

      Thank you for the kind words. I’m really glad that you think it’s a good explanation for those who haven’t suffered depression before.

      Everyone has low periods and it’s so hard to convey why this is different and why it’s not in one’s own power to get better, any more than they could heal a broken arm.

      I’d be delighted if you thought it might help your patients and shared it with them. Let me know if I can help with that in any way.

      All the best,
      Tim.

      Reply
  4. 4

    David Pearson

    Hi Tim, it’s rare to read such an honest blog post as this and I’m sure it will resonate with more people than you can ever guess. It’s a difficult topic, but it shouldn’t be. Personal accounts like this help to remove the stigma from mental health and the internet needs more of them. Well done that man. I can’t wait to read your book. Dave

    Reply
    1. 4.1

      Tim Moss

      Thanks Dave. Much appreciated.

      Reply
  5. 5

    Steve Tomlin

    Hi Tim
    Thanks for writing this. It is so important that people write about mental health and the gap between ‘adventurers’ and ‘ordinary people’ gets challenged so we all feel capable of adventure, in whatever form that takes.
    I just realised from your comment profile pic that I’ve benefited from your advice on other websites too and am looking forward to hearing you speak at the Cycle Touring Festival in May too.
    All the best
    Steve

    Reply
    1. 5.1

      Tim Moss

      Thank you Steve. Look forward to meeting you at the Cycle Touring Festival in a couple of weeks!

      Reply
  6. 6

    Andrew Welch

    Well done Tim for putting this out there and being open. Just got a copy of your book.

    Reply
    1. 6.1

      Tim Moss

      Cheers Andy. Your copy is already in the post!

      (For everyone else, you can read about Andy’s own bicycle travels in his book Weave of the Ride).

      Reply
  7. Pingback: Your Responses to Me Talking About DepressionThe Next Challenge | The Next Challenge

  8. 7

    Keith

    I am looking forward to following your life adventure Tim. Well done Laura for standing by with support when it mattered… great site found when linked to you by Alastair Humphreys Regards Keith

    Reply
  9. 8

    Jules Prentice

    Thanks for this Tim …It makes me see people like you as more ‘human’. By that I mean I tend to see the likes of big adventurers as super human; as if they are on a pedestal, doing things that are far beyond most people’s capabilities. So you sharing this rootsy stuff about depression (which has been a travelling companion of mine too at various points in my life), makes what you do seem all the more real . Respect to you Tim. Thank you.

    Reply
    1. 8.1

      Tim Moss

      Thanks Jules. That’s the exact reason I shared the story – to demonstrate that just because someone has a website with glossy photographs, it doesn’t mean they are any different from anyone else – so I’m glad that’s what you’ve taken from it.

      All the best,
      Tim.

      Reply

What do you think? Please do add your thoughts below...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2015 - Tim Moss - The Next Challenge

%d bloggers like this: