Be careful of David!!

Re: Beware of David!!!!

He sounds as if he's suffering from an illness. Hopefully he can enjoy his Camino without further incidents! Buen Camino!

Re: Beware of David!!!!

That sure sounds like bizarre behavior and I am glad that you are raising the flag to BEWARE.

This sad incident brings back a recent article I read on the astonishing rise of undiagnosed mental illness in the United States. There are thousands and thousands of people walking around fully functional in many aspects of their lives but who are completely out of touch in many others. The current practice of overmedicating anxiety disorders is like placing a band-aid on a hemorraghic limb-- absurd and dangerous.

I am going back to the Camino in May and I will like to thank you for putting the word out there of what seems like disconcerting behavior.

Beware of David!!!!

Please be gentle with anyone you come across who is mentally ill. They cannot help their condition and it can be every bit as devastating as cancer or another physical illness. Obviously we need to be sensibly cautious if a person behaves erratically but what they need is help and support, not judgements.

On one of my caminos I found myself walking for a short while with a young fellow who was obviously quite ill. He said his parents had sent him to walk the Camino "to get well" but he kept getting turned away from albergues "because no one wants me. They tell me to keep walking, but how far do I have to go?". He had walked all the way from Holland and by my calculations that day he had covered over 50 kilometres. I was alone and as there was no-one around to help I could do little but he really needed medical treatment. He walked on ahead (I'm a slow old lady) and never saw him again. He is on my conscience to this day.

We already talked extensively about mental illnesses on different threads so I will not start again.
But please be gentle and openminded when you come across someone with a mental illness or a psychological vulnerability.
Certain " mad " behaviour isn't always a sign of mental illness.
Two examples of my Camino this year...

One guy ( just retired ) we called el loco ( the mad ) German because he was angry all the time and criticising everything. Seems he was a high powered businessman who just got away with lots in his life.
Then I met a young guy whom I got talking too. In his country he was diagnosed (and on official sickleave ) for a bipolar disorder. He took his medication very strict, looked after himself : never any alcohol and limiting his distances daily, stopping in small places. He was a gentle soul and did not do anyone any harm.

And please you have to know that people with a psychiatric diagnosis ( as schizophrenia ) are more likely to be a victim than making victms! And now I'm talking with the knowledge of working 22 years as a social worker in mental health.
Ok, my rant is over....;-)

It can be an uncomfortable experience to be in the company of someone who is mentally ill. But we should try and remember that their lives can be a hell on earth.

Bit of a shock there but, he isn't necessarily mentally ill. He could have been jet-lagged and terribly over-tired and this may have been his very first time abroad in what to him would be an alien environment - so, he could just have had a panic attack and run.

We just don't know ....
I hope he is ok, I hope he got a good nights sleep and is now feeling a little (a lot) sheepish about his behaviour, I hope he is well.