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7NEWS
03-08-2025
- 7NEWS
How traveling to every country helped this American cope with a mental health disorder
He had struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder since childhood but Cameron Mofid says one thing helped him cope — traveling the world. Mofid, who is originally from San Diego, found he was constantly replaying and over-analysing conversations or 'obsessively needing closure or certainty'. But the 'freeing' sensation that came with being able to hop on a plane and travel to a new destination made him feel as though he could 'live with uncertainty'. 'OCD feeds on control: controlling your environment, routines, and outcomes,' Mofid tells CNN Travel. 'But when you're navigating chaotic borders, sleeping on floors, or figuring things out in countries where you don't speak the language, you're forced to surrender control. It's uncomfortable but also freeing.' Huge goal Mofid says the mental health condition — which the Mayo Clinic describes as a 'pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions' — can 'dominate your thoughts and actions in ways that are exhausting' and difficult to explain. 'Travel became my way of coping — first as an escape, then as a form of healing,' he says. And then, travel turned Mofid into a world record breaker. He had already clocked up visits to many destinations while playing tennis competitively when he came up with the idea — while grappling with OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic — of traveling to every country in the world. And in April 2025, Mofid, who is of Iranian-Egyptian descent, finally completed his quest to visit all 195 UN-recognised countries and territories after jumping on a plane to North Korea with some of his closest friends. While it's a feat that has been achieved only by an estimated 400 people, it was particularly significant for Mofid as he became, by some reckoning, the youngest person to do it. His record didn't stand for long but he says being exposed to so many different cultures has changed his perspective on life completely. 'Visiting every country wasn't just about geography,' Mofid says. 'It was about learning how to live with uncertainty, find calm in discomfort, and connect with people from every walk of life.' Mofid says the decision to try to visit every country came as a lifeline during a particularly low point. 'One day, I was in my apartment, and my anxiety, my OCD is kind of spiraling out of control,' he recalls. 'And I was on my computer just looking up randomly how many people had ever been to every country. 'More people had been to space than had been to every country in the world. I thought that was crazy.' Mofid soon realised that while the Guinness World Record for being the youngest person to do this was held by 21-year-old, he was technically able to beat the record listed by online platform NomadMania, which requires interactions with locals and visits to cultural or geographical landmarks in each country for it to count toward the record. 'The record was (held by) a guy who was 25 and a half,' he says. 'At the time I was 20 and I said, 'Maybe that's an amazing, crazy goal that I could reach'.' Feeling inspired, Mofid, who had previously worked in marketing, set up an event marketing company to earn enough cash to be able to achieve his goal, giving himself a three-year deadline to begin the challenge. 'I told myself, after I graduated college I would (begin,) which is what I did,' he says. Although he'd traveled to some countries as a child, he decided to 'restart' — only counting those countries he'd visited from the age of 18 onwards. Thanks to the 100 or so countries clocked up during his extensive travels for tennis, as well as trips he'd manage to squeeze in during his studies, Mofid needed to travel to just over 90 new countries to complete the challenge. In order to ensure that he did so 'legitimately,' Mofid came up with a list of his own personal requirements, while adhering to those set out by NomadMania. 'My rule was I had to do something in each country,' he says. 'Something meaningful. Most countries, I stayed at least four days.' 'Logistical nightmare' Mofid then created a 'massive spreadsheet' detailing the numerous combinations of flights and routes he could take, along with the many visas he'd need to obtain. 'It was a logistical nightmare,' he says, explaining he opted for the combination of flights and routes that 'made the most sense financially to do on such a budget'. In late 2022, Mofid 'threw a bunch of clothes into a Nike duffle bag,' along with some shoes, and began the journey to join the club of travelers who have visited all 195 UN-recognised countries and territories in the world. 'I started with the countries around Europe,' he explains, admitting he wanted to work his way up to the 'ultra-dangerous countries' by beginning with those he was more comfortable traveling to. 'And then maybe the South American ones. Australia, these sorts of countries that are not seen as dangerous.' To keep costs as low as possible, Mofid took many overnight buses and stayed in budget accommodation. 'I stayed in some two-star hotels,' he says. 'I stayed in a hotel in the country of Niger with no electricity and no running water … I've hitchhiked in crazy countries to get to the next border.' During a visit to his 115th country, West Africa's Nigeria, in January 2023, Mofid visited a floating village named Makoko and was so impacted by the experience he went on to found a non-profit organisation named Humanity Effect, to support children in the community. 'That's something that kind of is the biggest legacy for my travels, I suppose,' he says, explaining he has returned to the village several times over the years since. However, Mofid's journey certainly wasn't without its setbacks. After traveling to North African country Algeria in April 2024, Mofid became extremely ill and says he was unable to move from his bed for 15 hours. 'I couldn't even reach over to grab my phone to call anyone,' he recalls. 'I started having weird visions, hallucinating, sweating like crazy. I was so hot, and then I was freezing.' Mofid concedes this was probably the only point in the journey when he seriously considered giving up. Highs and lows 'That was the closest I got to a breaking point,' he says. 'I just thought to myself, 'Why am I here? Why am I essentially in a state of paralysis in the middle of the Algerian Sahara?'.' Thankfully, he recovered after being admitted into a hospital and was able to fully experience Algeria, which Mofid describes as 'unbelievable'. 'It's one of my favourite countries in the whole world,' he says. 'The countries that receive the least amount of tourism are often the ones where you have the best experience, because you feel totally immersed in their culture.' Mofid was also incredibly taken with Yemen, visiting the destination in February 2023, and says walking through the streets there was like 'going back in time'. 'To see people dress the same way that they were hundreds if not thousands of years ago,' he says. 'To see people living in mud houses, to see people still using flip phones.' Both Algeria and Yemen are subject to US State Department travel advisories. Caution is urged in Algeria due to 'terrorism and kidnapping. In March 2025, an advisory said travelers should avoid Yemen 'due to terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines'. 'It's a country that's obviously in a very politically and economically difficult spot right now,' Mofid says about Yemen. 'But again, what you find is that the countries that are in some of the worst situations have the kindest people.' While he says he was grateful to be doing something so few people have either the time, means, or desire to take on, Mofid admits he felt incredibly lonely a lot of the time. 'The reality is that 95 per cent of the time I was alone,' he says. 'You have to really learn to get comfortable being lonely and kind of love it in a way. 'To love really getting to know yourself, because you're going months on end without seeing anyone you know in places where there's maybe not a lot of connectivity … 'So that sort of loneliness can be very isolating at times. But at the same time, it really pushed me to make friends and meet people.' Aged 25, he visited North Korea — the final country on his list — by participating in the Pyongyang International Marathon, an annual race held in the capital city. 'That trip was just incredible. I mean, getting off the plane and touching down in my 195th and final country…' he says. 'I became the youngest person to ever visit every country per NomadMania, barely. I beat the guy who was the previous record holder by, I think, six weeks.' Big celebration Mofid celebrated reaching his 'grand finale finish line' by heading to a bar with his friends. 'That was the big celebration, to have some beers in the world's most isolated and remote country,' he says. 'We went to a dive bar. People don't even know they have those in North Korea, but they do.' Pferdmenges Lucas, 23, from Germany, may have since beaten Mofid's record, according to NomadMania's UN Master's list. Mofid particularly enjoyed getting the opportunity to watch people in North Korea 'going about their daily lives' and doing simple things such as running, commuting to work, and playing games with each other. 'I think that kind of sums up what I had learned throughout the whole journey,' he says. 'We have shared interests, we have shared hobbies … 'So those sorts of things, seeing that innate ability of humans wanting to connect with each other in the most isolated country in the world was something extraordinarily powerful.' Now back in California, Mofid is slowly readjusting to being in one place for an extended period of time. Reflecting on his journey, he admits he's incredibly proud of himself, and has learned 'no one is going to believe in you as much as you do yourself'. 'When I told my friends and my family that I had this mission, I was going to visit every country in the world, not a single one of them told me that I could do it,' he recalls. 'They all said, 'You're going to go to Afghanistan and North Korea and Somalia and Yemen and the Congo, and you're going to get yourself killed'.' Mofid was able to make 'hundreds of friendships' throughout his travels and is still in touch with many of the people he met along the way. 'It just goes to show the goodness of humanity,' he says. 'The fact that I could walk down a street and a busy slum in Central Africa and be welcomed with a smile, a glass of tea and an invitation of dance.' During the course of the journey, Mofid met many others who struggled with mental health disorders like his, and says this helped him immensely. 'Travel helped me recognise that mental health disorders don't discriminate,' he says. 'People from all over the world shared a lot of the same plights and challenges that I did with my own mental health, and there's something very comforting in that.' Mofid still struggles with OCD to this day, and says he's accepted it will always be a part of his life in 'some capacity'. 'But being able to accept that and speak so openly about my experiences makes it so much less scary,' says Mofid. 'And I feel like now, seven years after this whole journey began, I'm in control of my OCD, whereas before it was in control of me.'
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Forbes
This Traveler Visited Every Country By 25 — Here's What He Learned
Cameron Mofid in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Cameron Mofid wrapped up his life-long mission in North Korea this spring when he crossed the final country off his list — completing a journey that spanned all 195 nations. Originally from San Diego, Mofid is more than just a traveler. He's a social entrepreneur, former international tennis player, MBA valedictorian and TEDx speaker who managed to balance academics, work and global exploration in pursuit of his dream. He visited his last country in the world by participating in the Pyongyang International Marathon in North Korea alongside fellow international travelers — and several close friends who had accompanied him on different legs of the journey around the world. Cameron Mofid (top right) pictured with other travelers at the Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea in April 2025. His achievement is recognized by NomadMania, the world's largest and most respected travel verification organization with over 40,000 members. While Mofid didn't qualify for the Guinness World Record due to differing criteria, his journey followed stricter standards — excluding airport transits and brief border entries. Unlike the current record holder, who couldn't visit North Korea due to U.S. travel restrictions, Mofid, a dual national, spent five days in Pyongyang, entering on his other passport rather than just stepping into the DMZ (the demilitarized zone at the border between North and South Korea). Mofid now joins the ranks of roughly 400 verified travelers who have visited every country in the world — a feat rarer than going to space. (Roughly 682 people have done that, by comparison, according to the World Air Sports Federation). Pictured in Bangladesh. How did his journey begin? 'I've always loved geography and learning about different cultures since I was a child,' Mofid says. 'We had a giant map covering the garage wall, and my brother and I would race to point out countries our grandmother called out. I wanted to learn about every place and had memorized every country in the world by age 12.' Pictured in South Sudan. Though an American citizen, Mofid is ethnically Egyptian and Iranian — something he says shaped his global outlook early on. His time competing abroad as a world-ranked player on the International Tennis Federation Junior Tour further sparked his love of travel. After his playing days ended, Mofid then took a gap year before starting university to work at professional tennis tournaments around the world. 'When I got to university, I didn't want to stop.' Pictured in Palau. He began exploring Central America and the Caribbean during long weekends and school holidays, working evenings and co-founding an events marketing company to make money. When the pandemic hit, he seized the opportunity to plan a longer round-the-world journey. By the time he graduated with his MBA in 2022, he had already visited over 100 countries. Anyone who has traveled extensively, especially solo and off-the-beaten-path, learns many lessons that expand their worldview. 'The world is so much more nuanced than we're led to believe,' Mofid says. 'Politicians and the media often frame issues in black and white, but in reality, almost everything falls into a massive gray area. Travel is an incredible avenue to seek truth: to be able to foster a deeper understanding of geopolitics, culture and history.' Pictured in Iraq. We've all heard the adage that history is told by the winning side, and nowhere is this become more apparent than when you travel. 'Every country has a political agenda. But there's two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in between,' he explains. 'Travel is a way to find that truth and to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the world.' The most growth comes at the edge of our comfort zone, and some of the hardest places Mofid visited were the ones that impacted him the most. 'Iraq was one of the first so-called 'risky' countries I visited, and I was so surprised by how kind and welcoming the people were,' he recalls. 'As an American, I was expecting to be met with resentment because of the U.S. invasion. But that couldn't have been further from the truth. In Baghdad, strangers would offer me tea and food on the street just because they were excited to see a tourist. That trip really opened my eyes to the fundamental kindness of humanity,' says Mofid. 'And honestly, that theme held true across a lot of countries that have seen political or economic instability. The tougher the place, the more generous the people.' Pictured in Burundi. Behind the scenes, this journey required meticulous planning: complex visa requirements, navigating flight routes to remote airports, shifting regulations and language barriers. 'During COVID, it became a full-time job just keeping track of which countries were open and what kind of tests or quarantine rules applied,' he says. Many countries also require local fixers, on-the-ground guides who help navigate logistics, legalities and security in challenging destinations, adding to the cost of a trip. 'You can fly to a country like Italy and wing your trip, but you can't do that in places like the Central African Republic or Niger,' he says. Visiting North Korea proved especially complicated. 'It took me three attempts to get in over the years,' Mofid says. The country is notoriously difficult to enter, with Pyongyang considered the most secretive capital in the world. When Mofid discovered that the city was hosting a marathon that would allow him to enter as part of a sporting delegation, he leapt at the opportunity but stayed cautiously optimistic. More photos from the Pyongyang International Marathon in North Korea. 'Even a few days before my trip, I wasn't sure it was going to happen.' But on April 3, 2025, he joined the first group of Westerners to enter Pyongyang in over five years, following the country's prolonged closure during the pandemic. When you travel off-the-beaten-path, so many diverse scenarios come up, from military coups to natural disasters and political unrest. And that doesn't discount personal challenges, like navigating the loneliness of traveling alone for long periods of time, or setbacks you encounter on the road. Did he ever feel like giving up? 'I got seriously ill in the Algerian desert and had a moment of wondering 'Why am I doing this?' But I reminded myself that if you have a dream, you owe it to yourself to see it through. So I gave it everything I had,' he says. Cameron Mofid with children in Makoko, Nigeria, where he runs a nonprofit called Humanity Effect. For Mofid, the journey became about more than just ticking off countries. His proudest moment came in Nigeria — his 115th country — where he visited Makoko, a floating slum in Lagos where most residents live on stilts and survive on less than $1 a day. 'I'd seen enormous poverty before, but not on that scale,' he says. 'I met kids who were genuinely happy despite having so little. It was humbling.' Mofid launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $5,000 for the local school — and a few weeks later, received a surprise $45,000 donation from NBA star Kyrie Irving. 'That was the turning point,' he says. 'I realized I had a responsibility to do something meaningful.' Cameron Mofid at his nonprofit, Humanity Effect. That campaign evolved into Humanity Effect, a nonprofit Mofid founded to support children in the community. In just a few years, it has funded the construction of a second school, is halfway through building a medical center, and now supports more than 750 children in Nigeria. 'When you travel and meet people, hear their stories, and witness their realities, you understand how interconnected everything really is,' Mofid says. 'So much of life comes down to luck — where you're born, your passport, your opportunities. That realization pushes you to help.' His message to others? 'We must look out for one another and be the change we want to see.' To learn more about Cameron Mofid, visit his website, Instagram and his nonprofit, Humanity Effect.
South China Morning Post
15-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
American's ‘craziest experience' at North Korea marathon, completes record task
When American Cameron Mofid stepped out of the airport in Pyongyang he became one of the first tourists to visit North Korea in more than five years – and completed his mission to visit every country in the world. Advertisement Mofid was one of about 200 foreigners who travelled to the secretive state's capital last week for the Pyongyang International Marathon, which took place on April 6 and had not been held since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic. North Korea reopened to Russian tourists in January 2024 and allowed visitors from other countries to enter the eastern city of Rason in February 2025, but later cancelled those tours without giving a reason. This year, Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based agency listed as the marathon's 'exclusive travel partner', got foreigners into the capital – but as athletes, not tourists. 'I've been to every country in the world. And I can say that's the craziest experience I've had my entire life,' Mofid, who took part in the 10km event, said. 'It's hard to explain the feeling, but the adrenaline that you have going to the stadium with 50,000 people is like no other.' Advertisement The marathon was part of the country's birthday celebrations for its founding leader, Kim Il-sung, and allowed Mofid to visit his 195th country.
