Chronic Walkers, mental illness?

[CatherineZeta]

@Lute Skywatcher

I’ve been part the mental health community in Northern Virginia for a bit over 20 years, some of which were as an active member of a mental health program that functions as work rehabilitation. The program does have quite a few Walkers, some of whom always wear a heavy coat no matter what the season.

My mom is a “walker” in NOVA (she doesn’t wear a heavy coat all the time, nor is she part of a mental health program) and it’s because she can’t drive due to epilepsy. She lives in an area that’s walkable, but most people drive, so I can see how some people might assume she’s nutso even though she’s walking to a specific place to run her errands.

I walk a lot too for exercise, but I live in NYC where that’s normal. I’m also going to specific places, I just want to keep in shape without having to spend money on a gym plus save money on subway fare.

Maybe these walkers are going to specific places and you’re just not aware of it because there’s no way you can literally keep tabs on them all the time. Maybe the women are housewives and that’s why they appear to not have a job. Or they have a job with odd hours. Sometimes I’m out and about, walking around, during normal weekday working hours, but it’s because I don’t have a clock in and clock out 9-5 job and I have to travel between stores.

[Wesley_Clark]

@Loach

There is a difference between people who walk and Walkers. I understand completely what the OP is talking about. I knew the two most well known Walkers in my area. Describe them to anyone in the area and they knew who you were talking about.

Walking Jack lived around the corner from me. I delivered newspapers to his family. Big hulking scary guy. On any given day you could see him walking anywhere in the county and beyond. Obvious mental illness, probably schizophrenic. He died at a young age so no more walking for him.

Andrew walks all day everyday. Nice guy. Went to school with him. He is autistic. Wanders all around town. Usually in a parka even when it gets too hot for it. He goes to every town council meeting and they give him two minutes at the end to talk about anything. He’s a town fixture.

As a cop, did the other police officers run into this kind of thing while doing patrols? Did they have the observation that people who walked constantly like that were either homeless or mentally ill?

[Loach]

@Wesley_Clark

As a cop, did the other police officers run into this kind of thing while doing patrols? Did they have the observation that people who walked constantly like that were either homeless or mentally ill?

I have not seen the correlation to homelessness. For some reason, those with mental illness that have this compulsion as a symptom have all seemed to be those with a support system and a place to stay. This is in a community of about 50,000. I’ve observed compulsive walkers my entire career and earlier. All the ones I have encountered have been male. And all have been pretty much harmless.

[Savannah]

There’s a huge difference between the compulsive walkers, of which I’ve noticed one or two in my city, and people like me who go for a walk at lunch if it’s nice, walk the dog, walk to take in nature, or walk to a store nearby. I’m fat, and I need the exercise, and enjoy it. But a two-hour walk is a great achievement for me.

Then there are people who walk all day, every day. That’s not the norm, but if the exercise and movement eases their psyche, I see nothing wrong with it. It’s just another coping mechanism, in my books. I wouldn’t doubt there’s a mental illness, whether mild or severe, at play.