Although fall is my favourite time of year, there are times when the change of seasons bogs me down. Particularly on cloudy, wet days - and especially longer periods of such days - when the sun doesn’t make an appearance. During these times I don’t feel like I have any gas in the tank. Everything seems to be a chore. I think to myself that a day of fishing or hunting would be good for me, but I just don’t feel like making it happen. It seems like so much work.
I’ve learned over time to recognize this feeling, and just what to do about it. The remedy is forcing myself to follow through on my sentiments to get into the wilderness for a day or two. Regardless of what pressing matters may - apparently - be in the way. It’s like I have this alter-ego, kind of well-being-coach so to speak, that prods me with a sharp stick to pack my gear and get out.
Recently I did just that. I packed my stuff and headed out to my cabin in the woods. Took my dog, my shotgun and my fly rod and did some hunting and fishing. It was like magic.
The outdoors has always been a respite for me. Many others share in this sentiment. All in all, it’s good for what ails you.
Depression comes in many forms. And just about everyone suffers from it in varying degrees. I believe it has always been prevalent in the human condition; but up until this generation it has not been openly discussed, and in many cases, taken seriously. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major contributor to depression in my former line of work, policing. But of course it can occur in every walk of life.
Many suffer from seasonal affective disorder that occurs every year often in the winter. Its onset occurs in the fall coinciding with the reduction of sunlight.
Depression can also be triggered by illnesses - especially those that linger and seemingly take forever to resolve. Relationship and family troubles are another root cause of depression.
When I started my career in the 1980s, I never heard the term PTSD. Of course we all knew that soldiers suffered from things like “shell-shock;” which was a term commonly used to describe the mental illnesses sustained by veterans of the 1st and 2nd World Wars, Korean and Vietnam Wars. But by the time I had completed my 30 years in 2011, PTSD diagnoses in emergency service workers, and soldiers, was clearly on the rise.
The summer after I retired, I participated as a fly fishing guide for Project Healing Waters. It’s a program dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military personnel and veterans. I also joined another group of anglers from the project a few years ago.
Both times it was a remarkably rewarding experience. Although I was never in the military, my experiences in policing were somewhat transferable, affording me more compassion for their recovery.
I also knew how to get fish. And the soldiers appreciated that very much. I watched with amazement as their demeanour transformed from frowns to smiles in just a matter of days.
My experience with Project Healing Waters, combined with my own observations about the benefits of spending time in the outdoors, has convinced me that self-care in the outdoors is more than just fluff. It is solid therapy for healing.
So this fall and winter, make sure you spend time in God’s creation. Do whatever it takes to get outside on a regular basis. Prod yourself with a virtual sharp stick, or even give a loved one permission to do it with a real one. No excuses - just “get-r-done.”
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