The Simple Ways Are The Best Ways

By ALICE O’BRIEN Churchview Therapies, Millstreet

I met a farmer from the heart of Duhallow in recent weeks. I won’t reveal his age but I’ll just say his farming practices were old school and he was preparing to happily hand over his stronghold to the generation beneath him who were eagerly awaiting the modernising they longed for.

We got to chatting about mental health, therapy and the practices of my work. He respectfully told me he would have no need for my services but was curious about the type of work I did. After our chat it is safe to say that I came away with more than I brought as I learnt a lot from him.

Here’s what we discussed and here is what I learnt:

· He asked me about seasonal affective disorder, to which I began to discuss behavioural activation and its benefits as well as light therapy. He replied “That’s like when my father would take to the bed in the winter and stay there until my mother threw him out”. He described it a “suffering with the nerves”. Did I disagree? No. · Our conversation turned to mindfulness and mediation and their great benefits. “Is that the same as when I turn the engine off when I’m in the bottom field and listen for the cuckoo in May, and look at the Whitethorn and the Ash trees growing side-by-side?” Was it a true description? Absolutely. · Next I told him about forest bathing and the benefits of being in nature to regulate our moods and balance our mental health. “A walk in the Island wood will sort that”. Was he right? Of course.

What I learnt from our chat was that mental health is a complex area, everyone has different ways of balancing their moods and regulating their emotions. I learnt that after twenty five years of working in mental health, there are many skills and interventions to use to help people but often the simple ways are the best ways. And I learnt to never underestimate a farmer form Duhallow.