- Kamal Kaur shared her journey of defeating her anxieties and conquering the World’s highest peaks.
- Teens and young adults with psychological issues should discuss with a trusted loved one and seek therapy help.
Due to a variety of emotional and environmental factors, psychological problems are rapidly increasing among teens and adolescents. According to a 2014 study, 20% of young adults are likely to experience some form of mental illness in India.
Kamal Kaur, a 36-year-old mountaineer and certified yoga teacher, shared her journey from battling with her mental illness to conquering the World’s highest peaks. She talked about how she didn’t let her difficult childhood decide her future. Whether it is climbing the Himalayan peaks or battling her anxieties, she faced every challenge in her life with utmost grace.
Kaur spent her childhood with her mother in England. In her early 20s, she started finding solace in adventure. She realized the importance of dedication and sincerity in achieving what one desires. She shared that she volunteered for various NGOs working with women’s rights.
She started experiencing severe mood swings and drastic behavioral changes at the age of 11. Over time, she started feeling extremely frightened and distressed. She was struggling to cope with her heightened emotions. “I went through multiple stages of mental illness. I even went to a psychotherapist after which life seemed to fall back on track,” she said.
She was diagnosed with eating disorders, anxiety, and anger issues at a very young age. The sudden death of her mother adversely affected her mental health and she started having episodes of severe anxiety attacks.
Two years later, she started her physical fitness training without being aware that it would play a significant role in her life. Physical exercise worked as a coping mechanism for her and helped her beat stress and negative emotions.
In 2010, Kaur decided to take the ‘Three Peaks 24-hour’ challenge encouraged by her loved ones. The challenge was associated with the fundraising of a UK-based charity. “The challenge was to cover the three highest peaks in England in 24 hours. I had no professional training, and yet there I was along with other mountaineers ready to summit in freezing temperatures,” she added further.
She never looked back since then. “My first climb was Mount Kilimanjaro in 2010. The experience was one of the most exhilarating and liberating, to say the least, it opened up a whole new world for me and my freedom,” she said further.
After that, she has conquered several global summits, including Mount Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Mount Meru, Elbrus, Denali, Mount Everest, and other high altitude mountains.
When talking about her journey, she mentioned that she wants every person with psychological issues to believe in themselves.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that any teen or adult struggling with psychological issues should discuss their problems with a trusted loved one and consult with a psychotherapist if they find it difficult to manage their symptoms.
