What Motorcycling Taught Me About Dealing with Anxiety | Benjamin White | TEDxBlinnCollege
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- Learning how to ride a motorcycle made Benjamin White anxious. But he also shares lessons about being present in the moment while riding, and how he applies the same principle to deal with his anxiety. Benjamin is a professor of psychology, an avid motorcyclist, and is always looking for connections that show us how to live happier lives and to be more present in our lives. Before the summer of 2017, Benjamin had never ridden a motorcycle but it had, for a long time, been on his bucket list. As a challenge, he took a riding course, got his license and now is a motorcycle rider, but he never expected that learning to ride a motorcycle would give him a different outlook on how he approaches dealing with anxiety This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
As a motorcycle coach, I tell people all day long, “Chin up, look where you want to go, relax, and focus.” I say this constantly as this not only the best way to ride a motorcycle, but how to live life. Wonderful video, thank you for this!
I'd also remind them to "dress for the slide, not for the ride". Having your tore and burnt skin brushed with hard bristles is something you never forget, and everyone would be better off without experiencing it.
I always tell new riders “don’t look where you don’t want to go”
"A little alcohol goes a long way"
Motorcycling is actually a philosophy on how to live, to transpose mindsets and how to approach the vulnerabilities of life.
How do you feel about people listening to music with earbuds while riding?
I've personally seen two friends (who claim it doesn't affect them) almost make deadly mistakes because they didn't hear vehicles coming.
I’ve been riding for years & what I’ve learned is that it takes complete focus to do it well. It forces you to block out so much else in life that is stressful - it’s like a brief vacation!
Unless you are riding in a heavily populated metro area full of distracted and ding-dong drivers.....then it is a vacation in survival mode.
@@Turco949still fun
Couldn't agree more. It's hard to be stressed about life when you're 101% focused on staying alive.
It works for me!
@@TFlo1020 Absolutely! It keeps my senses and reflexes sharp plus it makes me a much better, more alert driver overall.
Then don't use music player, phone or any other distractions
"I've had many problems in my life...most of which never happened." Mark Twain.
Great quote! 👌🏻
"We suffer more in imagination than in reality" - Seneca
I had lots of worries in my life most of which never happend
😌I think it was: “ I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened”
As a Motorbike rider of 30 years who still even now commutes to work on a ZX10R... I can say this 100% true. I am never more focused, alert or alive than when I am on my bike. I watch cars like a hawk as they are near me on the freeway while singing songs to myself in my head and looking at the time on the dash to make sure I will land at work in time.
Riding a motorcycle is an odd combination of extreme focus and extreme relaxation at the same time. At least for me.
@@TheJoker-dj4yq roflmao.
@@TheJoker-dj4yq doofus is a doofus term
Love your choice of bike.
Then you just arent driving fast enough. A bike or car can both focus you whenever riding or driving agressively. And both can bore you too the point you lose focus when going slow enough.
Funny how these two topics are in this ted talk. I ride and have an anxiety disorder. It's my therapy.
It’s my throttle therapy too
I hope riding helps me with my anxiety my anxiety is telling me it will make me panic I’m sure you understand
Preach brotha!!!!!
This may sound weird but I have Hyperhidros and Anxiety. Hyperhidros makes me sweat so much that all my clothes are dripping wet. Like ive just hoped out of a pool. When I am riding my motorcycle all the sweating dissappear. And remember my sweating disorder is linked to anxiety. So everytime I ride I have visual proof that my stress dissappear.
I'm sorry if this is hard to understand or a little gorss. :(
@@716bikelife5 get a royal enfield
Just saw this 4 year old video today. But amusingly it describes a pet expression I came up with just a couple weeks ago after 16 years of wanting to ride a motorcycle. plus 49 years of riding. All the time asking myself why is motorcycling such a powerful and important force in my life.
When you drive a car your mind is on where your going and where you've been.
When you ride a motorcycle, your mind is on where you are.
I am not watching the scenery from the car. Passive.
I AM the scenery. Interaction.
Love this
So absolutely true. You absolutely have to be present when riding a motorcycle.
@@MikaelLewisify It's easy because if that's how your tuned it's exactly where you want to be.
love it
The best advice I've heard about motorcycling and anxiety is that every bit of brain power you divert into worry is reducing your ability to avoid what you're worrying about. Focus on the task.
at last a TED Talk about motorcycles
I returned to motorcycling after a break of 30 years when i was on the waiting list for a liver transplant. Having an interest in and riding my bike literally saved my life and turned me from a victim into a survivor. On the darkest days if i was physically well enough a god ride saved me from the deepest darkest moments. Now 7 years after a successful transplant i ride as often as i can and have done a number of long 4,000 miles + trips all over the world. Ride to live live to ride. Ride safe y'all. ❤😂🏴
Well done to you. I suffered a heart attack last year and am listless. I rode a Royal enfield the other day and instantly felt better, and more motivated.
@@sanatandharma4435 keep it up be a survivor 💯😊❤️
@@therealrobertbirchall
Thank you.
Awesome talk. I started riding recently and it has helped me with depression, anxiety, confidence, and PTSD after being homeless for five years. Also it got me off mass transit and that has made me incredibly happy.
Glad u made it through
@@Ben-ef1ik thank you.✌️
Kudos bro !!💪💪
Motorcycle riding is therapy.
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychologist's office!
Congrats! Riding means so much to you, I'm happy to hear your story.
I periodically have sessions of depression and anxiety. No one aside from my wife would know.
However, riding a bike is the only time my mind completely focuses and forgets about life aside.
Track days are my therapy. I feel like a new person afterwards
You have to ride in the moment. Worrying about the future just interferes.
for me when I started to have above my normal level of fear I started working out and in a couple of days I got better.
Good to hear hope it continues
I have anxiety, ride motocycles and do woodworking as a hobby. Both activities -woodworking and ride my bike- are similar in one important aspect: I have to focus 100% in the present moment. A single second of distraction can lead to a serious crash on the pavement or a severe wound with a saw. Focusing 100% in the present is the most difficult thing for those who has anxiety. And ride consciously helps to change the mindset. Nice TEDx talk!
I honestly love the huge adrenaline rush I get from scary situations. Everyone has fear and anxiety, but learning how to beat them is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
Fear is an amazing emotion.
It increases your heart rate and it sharpens your focus.
If you use fear, when it comes about, it can save you from disaster.
or smoke weed helps alot
A hint, if your riding on the street, going over 80% of your ability, something bad will happen.
There has to be a buffer zone of talent and skill and speed. Riding at max adrenaline rush is going to end badly even though you get away with it a lot.
Dirtbikes are where the limit is pushed and hard, really hard. A lot to be learned there.
Riding is not a safe hobby, however we know how it makes us feel. Being side-swiped I understand that our riding is completely out of our control. We must be ready and "geared up" and doing all we can do to prevent injury if the time ever comes. Throttle therapy will forever be part of my life.
It's about as dangerous as anything else we ever do
Thank you for this outstanding video. I also ride a motorcycle and I'm 75 years old. This is my 4th motorcycle and I bought my first one when I was in high school.
I boight my first road bike 2 years ago and have put 11 thousand miles on it. This guy is spot on, i never had anxity, but my bike has taught me alot.
When I drive to work in my car I’m always shaky and sweaty from the anxiety of driving. When I ride I arrive calm with a smile on my face
Yep! As they say: "With motorcycling, it's the journey, not the destination."
Interesting talk, and I agree, but I personally take it a step further. Putting on my gear allows me to tackle the “What-ifs” and prepare for the worst, but I also see that as a never ending spiral, that, if left unchecked, can cause one to over prepare to the point of immobility. I take that mentality and add a sprinkle of “life is ultimately out of my control” and accept the risk that something, despite my best efforts or preparation, can still go wrong, and if it does, I have given myself that allowance to let go mentally, and not hold myself 100% accountable for what is ultimately, out of my control.
True but a little safety gear can go a long way,
@@derekperry9139 Wear as much gear as you feel safe, I wear gloves, boots,{work} a decent motorcycle jacket and kevlar jeans and any more would not make me feel any safer.
well said.
This is exactly what I experienced. I am a re-entry rider of 25 years and being a new rider again in 2023 has made me a better person. I am more in touch with my senses, and having neuropathy in my feet makes me lose balance from time to time, but ever since I started riding my balance when I walk is near perfect. Riding elevates my mood, it's fun, and I look cool !
This is so odd. I have anxiety and was doing research to see if riding would be beneficial to me. But the way it was explained made me realize it could be a way of grounding and being in the present.... Needless to say, I think I need a motorcycle.
Go for it! I have terrible anxiety but somehow it goes away when I'm riding
I was homeless for five years and have been dealing with PTSD, I started riding last year and it's done wonders for me. Go for it, but, do it the right way. Take lessons from an accredited school, take safety courses and start on a smaller bike to build your skills up. Get full safety gear before you get on a bike.
@@kd_76 What Kevin said is true in my case also. I'm glad I got back into riding again.
You definitely need a motorcycle. I say that with such confidence because I believe everyone does. 🙂
I too have anxiety and I've been riding since I quit drinking 5 years ago. It's helped me tremendously in my recovery process. I still have anxiety ofc, but I've grown immensely. I hope you heed the advice to get proper training. I also hope that you live in a rural area and do not have children. I live in a major metro area, and it's extremely dangerous to ride here. It's so dangerous that I can't recommend it to anyone who has a family they're taking care of. When I'm paying attention I can read about 1 fatality a week on average with sometimes multiples per week. It's always a mix of scenarios ranging from no helmet to speeding/aggressive driving to the driver that "Never even saw him" pulling out in front or cutting you off. People are far more distracted nowadays since the smartphone became so prevalent. It's horrible. Every day I go out my mind set is everyone and everything is trying to kill me .. some intentional and some unknowingly.
What I think he missed here is Submitting to Forces Outside Your Control.
You might think exercise, good diet and safe hobbies guarantee immortality. It doesn't.
You can live in a cocoon, in a safe room, in a fortress on an island. Your hair will still recede, your teeth fall out and your loved ones pass from illness and old age.
Throwing a leg over a motorcycle is saying I embrace life, the moment and the world skipping by is a reminder that time passes regardless.
You plan prepare focus and embrace and just accept what life throws your way.
Excellent comment 👍
yes, excellent comment.
Riding a motorcycle is an act of radical accountability in an age where every entity seeks to protect us from ourselves.
Well said
Riding a motorcycle, make me focus on the Here, on the Now, and thats my Meditation while riding, great talk thank you 🙏🏼
I agree with the speaker. I have been riding motorcycles since I was a teenager. Riding a bike implies a big focusing. It definitely increases attention, concentration, self control, self esteem, physical condition and common sense. Besides that, the sense of freedom is rewarding. I do not doubt that it helps with depression and anxiety.
6:05 I love what Ben says here: “When I first started learning to ride a motorcycle, I figured I’d be nervous and anxious-and I was. What I didn’t expect was that doing something that caused me anxiety can teach me so much about how to deal with the anxieties I feel.”
To me it seems like the common solutions to anxiety today are to either avoid the situations that cause anxiety, and/or to dull the feeling with medication. Ben reminds us of the time-tested way to best master our anxieties-face them head-on, then do it again. It’s the least comfortable way (versus avoidance or medication), but I’d argue the most effective.
Very true, also have anxiety, my motorcycle is my therapy, grounded in the present and enjoying every moment the ride presents to me,I forget about all the what ifs in my brain and focus on the moment.
Thank you for this video. I too am a motorcyclist with anxiety. I accidentally taught myself a life-long lesson years ago when my motorcycle would'nt run properly. Lacking confidence and not wanting to further harm my bike, I put off tinkering with it for years until one summer I decided to tackle the job. In the end it was a 90% success, but what I learned was that if you TAKE YOUR TIME, FOCUS, AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, you're capable of a lot more than you think. I forget who said it, but there is an analogy of a baby circus elephant tied to a stake that struggles and fights to get free until it decides it can't free itself. Years later the massive elephant is still tied to the same little stake. It could easily rip it out of the ground and walk away, but it has accepted that it can't. Never assume that because you failed before, that your goal is unattainable.
"If we prioritize the solution, and not the problem, we can disengage from that anxiety, and move in a direction of our own choosing". There is nothing you can do to make God love you more than He does right now. Thank you, Ben, and congratulations on being a real trouper.
I've been riding m.c's for the last 15 years and grew up around them. There's definitely a connection between smart riding and smart living. You should ride the road of life the same way you ride the winding roads of your local canyon. WITH VIGILANCE A GIANT SMILE ON YOUR FACE.😊
Riding a bicycle is just as if not more dangerous (which nobody talks about) but trains your navigations too. Heck you can live in your house all day but can die of a stroke or whatever nothing is guaranteed. These modes of transport just makes you more appreciative of life in the moment.
A bicycle is slower though giving you more reaction time. A motorcycle requires quicker reflexes.
Can a bicycle do 70mph on a highway? I ride both and sorry, the biggest dangers that come from bicycles are doing things like blowing through stop signs, riding down the wrong way of a one way street, going through red lights, and generally being unsafe. So, no, a bicycle is not more dangerous than a motorcycle. Bicyclists are the cause of that problem.
@@VincentStevenStudio yes but on a bicycle you have zero protection
@@steve00alt70 that's a choice one makes. I've seen motorcycle riders with zero protection. It's one part of the equation one has complete control over.
No, riding a bicycle is not more dangerous.
5604 casualties per billion miles for cyclists
6043 casualties per billion miles for motorcycles
However, when fatalities are considered, the reality is more evident.
31 deaths per billion miles for bicycles
117 deaths per billion miles for motorcycles
Story of my life. I become totally calm on my bike,. 40 years on the road .But I don't over analyze like he is.
@BigMoeFo
I been riding motorcycles since my early teen years. I am 57 years old and like you said this guy is over analyzing the ride. This is a form of fear.
I never think "what if".
When I ride I know what I need to do in every situation and it is a natural response conditioned by training and regular practice to keep my skills fresh and automatic.
I don't always ride with full gear and leave the helmet on the back of the bike many times and ride one handed most of the time.
I don't fear crashing and I don't think about crashing either.
When we fear something, that very thing we fear WILL come upon us.
Live long, ride free. ✌
I took up motorcycling at 50, but I learned to fly aeroplanes in my 20s. Flying really does concentrate the mind as unlike motorcycling, the accident that could not have been avoided by the pilot doing something differently (often in preparation and planning for the flight as much as in executing it) is vanishingly rare. There is no equivalent of the motorist pulling out of a side road in front of you in flying. It's no coincidence that many pilots are also motorcyclists.
I was just telling someone when growing up only time I didn't have anxiety was when I was motocross riding. Had no fear of even wrecking. If I did would get up think we'll I'm done for the today wrecking then take more chances! Puts me in complete control if I wrecked was my fault and learn from it. Tried to put that into my life always less anxiety in life when I ride for some reason. Seems would work with anything we love to do.
Yes, I totally agree. I'm one of those all the gear all the time riders. Yes, my "what if" machine works quite normally. Thank you for the great illustration, Benjamin. I loved it, and it gave me a lot of food for thought about daily life. I'll prepare more for those accidents that happen "off the bike". Also, I rode my bike about 3 miles in a t-shirt and jeans the other night. I felt unnecessarily unprepared and vulnerable, and kind of like "why am I doing this?". Thank you again for the talk.
I'm a biker with Complex PTSD and this was a great talk. The only time i can get a break from myself is when I'm riding. I had an interesting though regarding target fixation, maybe we should do that constantly in everyday life, fixating on the positives we desire.
Riding has helped with my depression. I don't wear gear. Something about dancing on the edge is extremely freeing. I'm not suicidal, but dying is less painful than living!
I hope you at least wear a helmet that is all
I dont know how but I experienced increase in productivity after I started riding since last two years. Good talk. Never thought someone would even speak on this topic.
Hey! That guy was my teacher!
AWESOME talk Prof White! :)
I’ve been riding for 3 months now and I have anxiety. I cannot say enough about how being terrified on that bike has put everything else in perspective. Now I’m settling in and am thoroughly enjoying it. My anxiety has improved so much since then.
I saw a video recently about the benefits to the brain motorcycle riding has. I don’t remember what it was called but I bet it’s pretty easy to find
Found it search “proof motorcycling is amazing for the brain”
This is a wonderful video. I have anxiety, and I'm currently struggling with extremely heightened anxiety waiting for my ABATE course, taking permit tests and learning proper riding techniques. I'm incredibly excited, but also stressed. Nervous I'll drop the bike, nervous I'll hurt myself, stressed I'll fail permit tests. It's a suffocating mix of emotions. Realizing a good chunk of my anxiety is based on what ifs helps me step away from that. The anxiety is there, I'm still nervous, but it's not suffocating. I'm still stressed, but I'm not alone on this path, I've done tons of research, and I have plenty of time to practice. I could not have found this video at a better time. I'm gonna do great. Might not pick it up immediately, but I won't give up.
As a motorcycle rider I was hoping to hear something more mind blowing especially being on a Ted talks but good for you discovering those things! 🤙🏻
Thankyou professor White can I take your analogy a little further.
I'm sure most of us have anxiety in our lives but just like ridding a motorcycle if we train ourselves we can deal with the obstacles ahead. Also as with motorcycling it is the mindset that set's you up to be a good rider or a reckless rider. You may have for example years of riding experience or years of as in the case of the analogy life experience but what happens if that experience is years of mistakes.
So with anxiety and bike riding it is you who can change the way you think, perhaps ask yourself is there more to know, have I been doing this wrong for those years and can I achieve more by learning some extra skills .
I was never taught at school how to deal with my emotions, I only had the experience of other people's behaviour to go by that is why I am who I am but this also why I can learn to be a better person as well as a better rider..
Some months ago, I rode my motorcycle again after a long time from having a fall. I was anxious and felt insecure. My riding ability had decreased and the same machine felt weird to my body.
On the highway, I thought I was going to fall again. I felt unstable, and my body did not respond as I wanted.
I paniqued, but had to force myself to focus and remain as calm as possible.
I never considered myself a great rider, but most of the times I try to ride as safely as possible. So I lowered the speed as much as I could, and stayed on the right until I was able to get out of highway.
My best advice would be the following: dont be scared, but drive as safely as you feel you have to. Dont push your luck, and be aware of your surroundings. Take corners at lower speed and always maintain distance between other vehicles.
And check you gear before you ride. Use protection.
Thats all you need for a safe riding.
I've been riding for well over 50 years. Chin up, look where you want to go and stay focused is the best advice for any rider. My wife passed away about 2 months ago and grief can be overwhelming. It makes you feel completely lost and you don't know where you are headed. You future plans disappeared. Figuring out where you want to go is important because if you don't you'll either go in circles or off the side of the road. I'm close to knowing.
Chin up, and stay focused brother. I'm positive your late wife would have wanted you to keep moving forward and focus on living your life and be happy for the both of you. Keep her memory alive by moving forward and remembering what she gave back to this world. Best wishes.
i love how something that comes as easy for me as riding, is layed out with this insight on how it all works, as for anxiety i believe everyone has a percentage of it ( unless you are a sociopath) what feels as the most natural thing to do is made so logically in this video. especially for me, a guy that likes to stunt having a fixation on what happens next, what could and will happen next is always the thing crossing the mind of a rider even tho we dont think about it. great vid.
This is an excellent example of how to deal with many of life’s problems. The logic is pure.
With reference to riding motorcycles, wearing riding gear is the best safety net we can have to protect us from those if/when a ‘what if’ moment occurs. The secondary effect of wearing proper protective riding apparel is that you won’t look as arrogant and dim witted as you would if you only wore shorts, t shirt and trainers, and you’re far more likely to be given greater respect by other road users.
As a (now retired) police advanced rider, ex motorcycle racer and still current track day instructor, you go where you look. Be aware of the hazards, whether they are life’s hazards or motorcycling hazards, but make sure you look and focus on the places you actually want to go. For all the motorcyclists out there… my parting words; Keith Code, ‘Twist of the Wrist’ - wide vision! I’ll say no more, but it’s worth looking up. Be safe and successful both in life and on your bike 👍
There were typos 🙄
J used to be a courrier in Paris, right after my licence ... My tongue was floating beside my cheeks all day long for about ten years ... A rider in me instantly woke up and after 40 years of 2 wheels is still in control as soon as balance starts to make me fly ... It taught me few things : How fragile we are, how heavy a body can be when sliding, leading me to dive into physic with wonder. It taught me also to behave myself. J've learned how to slow down and give my peaceful mind time to thinks about what's really going on in front of my wheels ... A good courrier is a courrier who's going home at night ... In one piece ! Same thing for a motorcyclist ! Take care and ride safely.
1:29
3:15 target fixation
5:08 pound-for-pound we can't compete with that
Still don't really know what he's on about. I thought he was going to say it takes his mind off things, not focussing on wearing a helmet and avoiding danger, as my reaction to anxiety is avoidancy in the first place.
I bought my motorcycle more than 3 months ago, I learned to drive two months ago and at the beginning of the year my anxiety grew due to my hormonal thyroid problem. When I get on and know where I have to go, my mind clears completely, magically, I don't think about anything but my destiny. It's actually very therapeutic.
Motorcycling trains me to relax, anticipate and proact. If I find myself reacting to fast moving situations I start to panic, and panic leads to mistakes. When my head's on a swivel, and I have my escape routes on a rolling, constant update, and what's in front of me is where I'm guiding the machine to go, I feel relaxed but alert and more importantly alive and in charge of my own destiny. As headspaces go, there's nowhere I'd rather be.
I have been riding fourty years and rode my Motorcycle around Africa and also around South America
Meeting beautiful people and spending time in Fantastic Places.......Live Your Life Meet great People
Nice idea, but sadly there's a whole industry devoted to making motorcyclists anxious: Am I safe enough? Am I fast enough? Am I cool enough? Is my bike powerful enough? Are my chicken strips too wide? Why can't I get my knee down? What if my bike is stolen? The solutions presented to these anxieties are buy more riding gear, fit an expensive exhaust, buy new riding gear and a new bike, upgrade to a bigger bike, pay for track days, buy a bigger lock... The industry's cures for the anxiety the industry promotes are all things that make more money for the induistry. Meanwhile, some of us just ride the bike we have in the gear we have, keep a look out for hazards, and enjoy riding. It isn't difficult.
Very true 👍
I live in Alaska and ride a duel sport I love that I can ride on the street and be on the trails in a second
Vancouver Island here on a clapped out KLR .
wow, I had never drawn the connection between target fixation and rumination.... both have the same cure. Great work
This is excellent! Thank you.
For me the solution has for my 53 years of motorcycling has been to always drive fast though that keeps the attention and focus full On instead of sputter around almost half asleep and prone to accidents 😉
I have been riding motorbikes for 27 years and driving for 33 years. 51 now. Riding motorbikes safely is all about using your commonsense, not being worried and paranoid, relaxing and not riding beyond your own skill level and never showing off to others or acting like a hero. Just ride for yourself and have great fun especially when away from populated areas.
I have suffered with terrible mental health problems all my and I've ridden motorcycles most of my life and it takes me to a wonderful place and it keeps me ok
Great thought..wonderful idea,inspiring to be better and happy thank you sirji
Riding let’s you take a break from life. You’re free from your phone and all the distractions that come with it, unless your com system is giving you alerts on your TFT if you have one. Riding sessions are mini vacations. It’s a battery reset for your soul and your brain. It’s a great way to figure your problems out in life too. You are left alone with your thoughts.
It’s relaxing because you set aside time to ride. Doing so, puts your mind at ease because you’re focusing on yourself and enjoying life for a change. what’s fun about riding is that you can go down roads and explore making you feel like a kid again. It’s adventure. This is why I have less anxiety.
I encourage everyone to ride.
Im lucky, I learned to ride when I was about 11, and was racing flattrack by age 14, and dirt riding in general well before I got a license for street riding at age 16. Learning dirt before street can really help in lots of ways, you are well ahead of the game.
I mean, if you can stay up going sideways sliding and bouncing on dirt/rocks/sand/gravel..............how hard can it be to stay up on a wide paved road? Main thing is learning that for the most part, its up to you whether a car smacks you.
You have to put you and the bike in the right places all the time. I always keep space between me and anything else when Im riding the bike. Space is life, space is safety. If you cant concentrate the whole time riding a bike?
Your gonna have problems. Those who ride once or twice a year? I have no idea how they survive,its like Yoga, you have to keep the practice up.
Jump in, focus, be solution centric, ride on - biker for life
I feel more at ease and relaxed riding my motorcycle than behind the wheel of my car. Most Other vehicles keep their distance. Obviously there are numerous obstacles, it’s all about lane placement and focusing on all your surroundings. My anxiety disappears while riding. Focus, breath, relax. Riding my motorcycle is my meditation.
Best time of my day is when I'm riding my motorcycle either to commute or just for fun 🤟🤟
this is exactly why you can tell a lot about a person by their riding style.
I'm a biker and I agree 100% with this. But one thought: On the motorcycle, the stressful problems we encounter like an inattentive driver or a giant pothole arise, are dealt with, and are behind us in seconds. Also, they're concrete problems, not conceptual ones (muffler in the road vs. a failing marriage, for example). As someone with generalized anxiety disorder, my stressful problems are far less concrete, and often are waiting for me months, or even years, down the road.
Riding {successfully} can be summed up in 3 words, "be here now"
Since riding a motorcycle i feel i am more confident in life overall. I am a better car driver, i make clearer decisions, i am more disiplined, i value my time more. Life is good when riding a motorcycle
I don’t know a better de-stresser then riding, you don’t need music, but it only gets better if you do. You don’t need friends, but it gets better if you can.
At lunch I go on a one hour ride around lake minnetonka most days, the highway back to my job has a lot of crosswinds aand a road seams, and every time I get on my first impulse is to tense up and hold my breathe, I catch myself a little sooner every time and remember to loosen up a little, take deep breathes and trust the bike.
This is exactly why im in the process of getting s bike. I want to go on rides to relieve stress
theres no bikes parked at the shrink.
Awesome talk !
I ride and am a self employed gardener, anxiety is something that happens to other people.
it gets rid of all my anxiety cause the open road clears my mind and I just focus on riding. Better than any anti-stress medication or CBT.
I didn't expect my former professor to show up on my CZcams page while researching motorcycles.
Lol. Im researching my next bike and this pops up iny feed. Its a sign. I don't suffer from anxiety but of stress and motorcycling takes me to the now and present. I had a fall and dislocated my shoulder. Took the insurance money and paid some bills. Now 15 months later its time to ride again. This time a 700 sports tourer somewhere got my name on it. Keep safe.
Leaning isn’t really what causes your bike to maneuver. It’s counter-steering. If you lean to the right you are likely putting pressure on the right handle bar which turns the bike right. You can do this same maneuver even sitting up straight
There no time for anxiety on a motorcycle. You have to think about riding the motorcycle and have your head on a swivel.
I bought a motorcycle and learned to ride, took the safety courses etc.
All because I had always wanted to and KNEW it would scare me.
OMG Professor White!!!!! My idol!!!!
Riding a motorcycle and anxiety ARE the most likely of combinations.
I suffer with anxiety, CEN, loneliness, emotional abuse, and PTSD and have from a very young age, growing up in a dysfunctional home. My life on two wheels started out with a bicycle and then dirt bikes to highway bikes.
I fear nothing, have no respect for authority other than God, and have nothing to lose. Riding is the only place I have ever found an escape the trauma in my life.
That’s not a very good mindset bro, you got the most valuable thing in the world to lose, your life. Ride safe
@@dumbodum
Here's the thing.
When I ride it is just me, God and wind.
As a man of God I really don't have any to lose.
If for whatever reason I were to die prior to Christ returning I would be with the Lord.
I guess there would be something I would lose. The emotional trauma I battle every day. I don't want it anyway.
Harley Davidson did a study with a University (forget which) where they hooked up a modified brain monitor. They said the brain waves of a motorcycle rider while riding were similar to those of a person in deep meditation. The conclusion was that riding is actually therapeutic.
YES!!! I felt the same benefits!
I think he's definitely on to something. Maybe nothing new. I likely have Asperger's, but awaiting diagnosis. I know what it's like to be anxious. And taking the motorcycle safety course was very nerve wracking. I couldn't even sleep the night before the first day, and did the day on zero sleep! It wasn't actually very hard for me. Mostly it came naturally, and what didn't came well enough to get me through the course to master it on my own bike.
But riding requires so much focus that it really is difficult to do much else most of the time (except for out on the highway with few cars around, your mind can still wander).
To put this into perspective, when I first started riding 10 years ago, I noticed that when I got on my motorcycle to commute to work, my hangover became non-existent. I understood it being from having to focus on so many things so intensely that I wasn't able to notice the discomfort/pain anymore. No bandwidth left to deliver that message. It was almost like instant pain relief.
The only way I find to relax and have a little bit peace .
as a long term motorcyclist, i have several rules: 1. everybody, including yourself, is trying to kill you. 2. don't ride too fast for the environment or weather conditions. 3. don't fall off or crash into anything, eg anything solid like tree or a truck. 4. ride every day. that way you'll experience your errors and learn how to correct them quickly.
i've been riding for nearly 50 years and i'm still alive.
also, 4. never go into a situation where you don't see an exit from your possibly wrong decision... life in general i suppose.
Well said.
There's a lot of people who ride because of MH problems....me included. It's brilliant for invasive thoughts because you have a choice carry on thinking, get distracted and die OR stop thinking! It's almost like your survival instinct overrides your need to think obsessively. I can thoroughly recommend it.
His talk was interesting but I was hoping he would talk about his feelings and emotions while riding. I’ve been riding for 35 years and I feel free, comfortable, relaxed, focused, excited, and calm…..all of these at once.
Great video very informative thank you
LIVE TO RIDE AND RIDE TO LIVE
Same process with cycling, which helps me..and sailing.
I personally, as a person living in Southeast Asia who is well known to many motorbike users, admits that those who cannot drive a motorbike have problems dealing with anxiety.
Focus on the solution and not the problem, nice lesson.
Motorcycles can teach many things to the open minded.
The crash and death stats are so bad because of the repeated reckless and irresponsible choices of some.
To those who are interested but fear motorcycles. The problem ain’t the bike.
The stats are very different for people who train, take courses, practice and plan and always have situational awareness.
You never see a motorcycle at a psychiatrist office. Motorcycles ARE the psychiatrist. Nothing more relaxing in the world then a beautiful ride.
Excellent!
I have bad anxiety and panic attacks and have ridden and raced for 40 of my 50 years. Motorcycles caused it because the massive adrenaline so often multiple times a week for decades made my body respond to everything in life even little things with fight or flight because I needed that to race and ride extreme or it’s because I’ve had 5 major concussions and have brain damage.
He must have ridden his motorcycle to his TEDx Talk, he didn't sound anxious at all.
I tell everyone that I love riding motorcycles because "I trust myself to keep myself safe."