Cameron Mofid, a man from San Diego, has lived with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since he was a child. He says that traveling the world was the one thing that helped him manage his mental health condition.
OCD often made Cameron replay conversations in his head and feel the need for control and certainty. But traveling forced him to face uncertainty, which felt both uncomfortable and freeing.
“When you’re dealing with chaotic borders, strange places, and languages you don’t understand, you have to give up control,” Cameron told CNN Travel. “It’s hard, but it also helps you feel free.”
OCD is a mental health disorder where unwanted thoughts and fears take over a person’s mind and actions, making life exhausting. For Cameron, traveling became more than just an escape—it became a way to heal.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cameron set a goal to visit every country in the world. By April 2025, he completed his journey, visiting all 195 United Nations-recognized countries and territories, including North Korea.
This achievement is rare; only about 400 people have done it. Cameron was one of the youngest to complete the challenge, which required him to meet locals and visit important cultural sites in each country.
He says the experience changed his life. “It wasn’t just about seeing places,” he said. “It was about learning to live with uncertainty, finding peace in discomfort, and connecting with people everywhere.”
Cameron’s journey began as a way to cope with a difficult time in his life when his anxiety was overwhelming. He was inspired by the fact that more people had been to space than had visited every country.
To support his travels, Cameron started an event marketing company and gave himself three years to complete the goal. He planned carefully, choosing the most affordable flights and accommodations, often staying in budget hotels or taking overnight buses.
Along the way, he faced challenges, including a severe illness in Algeria that nearly made him quit. But he kept going, driven by his passion and determination.
During his travels, Cameron also founded a nonprofit called Humanity Effect to help children in a Nigerian floating village called Makoko, showing how his journey was about more than just travel—it was about making a difference.
Cameron’s story shows how facing challenges and stepping outside comfort zones can help people living with mental health disorders find healing and hope.
Read more:
- How To Stop My OCD Thoughts?
- How Long Does Postpartum OCD Last?
- The Pure OCD: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
