Two years ago I went into a `mental meltdown` always a positive, happy and smiling gardener I withdrew from the world, walked out of a job I loved, shunned everybody, gave up on my garden and my allotment. I chose not to take medication, n was referred to a `depression group` which helped me to understand why meltdowns happen! I decided to go back to nature and basics.. I virtually lived in my greenhouse sowing anything and everything, replanted my small front and back garden, watched the birds, walked for miles and gradually started to smile again! I have decided to put a sign up in my front garden offering my services as a gardener and perhaps try and sell some of the plants that I grew in my sowing phase...all I know is that if I hadn`t had my garden and greenhouse I`m pretty sure I would`nt be here now....so to everyone out there in a `black phase` I`m sending you all a big hug xx go garden xx sit in a park n listen to the birds xx sow a few seeds in a pot and grow with them! You`re never alone in a garden...xx
Thank you all for sharing. I too struggle with the loneliness of depression, although people never guess, and my garden has always been a great place to find solace .
I am a sociologist doing some research on different ways in which depression is experienced, treated and alleviated. I'm very interested in the link between gardening and wellbeing. Would anyone be willing to be interviewed for my research? The interviews would be done under conditions of anonymity, and I could supply an ethics form for us both to sign, stating that you wouldn't be identified by name.
For me, gardening is so very theraputic. When life was bad, my garden was my sanctuary. All the problems and worries I had seemed to evaporate and I gained strength to get through another day. I wish everyone could find this release.
Hi lezdennis, I fully understand what you are talking about having come through maybe something similar to yourself. Gardening, which I only took up about five years ago has helped me so much. It has revealed a part of me that I never new existed. I feel I have grown and healed so much and it has been and continues to be a beautiful journey, and an ongoing healing for me. There is nothing like being in a garden, I just I love it all. It has opened up a whole new way of life to me.
I had to have quite a few emergency operations 3 years ago which resulted in me then having panic attacks and phobias. I couldn't go to work or leave the house for fear of having a panic attack. I gave medication a try as I was at my wits end but they made me feel worse and I was then referred to have Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which was fantastic. The panic attacks started to ruin my life, I couldn't work, go out or perform on the stage which was another hobby of mine. The one thing that kept me going was gardening. We had an allotment so I would spend alot of time there in the peace and quiet with the birds. I now live in France with my partner and best friends running a self-catering, camping and B & B business in which there is a huge garden and vegetable plot. Since moving I have only had a few panic attacks and spend pretty much all of my time outdoors enjoying rural life. Sowing seeds, digging and nurturing what you have sown gives me so much pleasure. I have bird feeders all over the garden and even hanging from the hanging tiles outside the window!! I can't tell you how much better I feel being able to enjoy nature. I still have blips but not as bad. It's good to know that I am not alone and it's great to be able to share experiences. Keep gardening!!
There have been some scientific studies which show that specific bacteria in the soil may be a mood enhancer, and exposure to it can lift our spirits. Now I know why I love to get my hands in the soil (don't like hearing it called dirt)
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Two years ago I went into a `mental meltdown` always a positive, happy and smiling gardener I withdrew from the world, walked out of a job I loved, shunned everybody, gave up on my garden and my allotment. I chose not to take medication, n was referred to a `depression group` which helped me to understand why meltdowns happen! I decided to go back to nature and basics.. I virtually lived in my greenhouse sowing anything and everything, replanted my small front and back garden, watched the birds, walked for miles and gradually started to smile again! I have decided to put a sign up in my front garden offering my services as a gardener and perhaps try and sell some of the plants that I grew in my sowing phase...all I know is that if I hadn`t had my garden and greenhouse I`m pretty sure I would`nt be here now....so to everyone out there in a `black phase` I`m sending you all a big hug xx go garden xx sit in a park n listen to the birds xx sow a few seeds in a pot and grow with them! You`re never alone in a garden...xx
Thank you all for sharing. I too struggle with the loneliness of depression, although people never guess, and my garden has always been a great place to find solace .
I definitely find gardening is a mood enhancer. If I have had a bad day in the office I feel so much better the moment I walk out into my garden.
Hi
I am a sociologist doing some research on different ways in which depression is experienced, treated and alleviated. I'm very interested in the link between gardening and wellbeing. Would anyone be willing to be interviewed for my research? The interviews would be done under conditions of anonymity, and I could supply an ethics form for us both to sign, stating that you wouldn't be identified by name.
If anyone is interested, please let me know.
Will
For me, gardening is so very theraputic. When life was bad, my garden was my sanctuary. All the problems and worries I had seemed to evaporate and I gained strength to get through another day. I wish everyone could find this release.
I had to have quite a few emergency operations 3 years ago which resulted in me then having panic attacks and phobias. I couldn't go to work or leave the house for fear of having a panic attack. I gave medication a try as I was at my wits end but they made me feel worse and I was then referred to have Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which was fantastic. The panic attacks started to ruin my life, I couldn't work, go out or perform on the stage which was another hobby of mine. The one thing that kept me going was gardening. We had an allotment so I would spend alot of time there in the peace and quiet with the birds. I now live in France with my partner and best friends running a self-catering, camping and B & B business in which there is a huge garden and vegetable plot. Since moving I have only had a few panic attacks and spend pretty much all of my time outdoors enjoying rural life. Sowing seeds, digging and nurturing what you have sown gives me so much pleasure. I have bird feeders all over the garden and even hanging from the hanging tiles outside the window!! I can't tell you how much better I feel being able to enjoy nature. I still have blips but not as bad. It's good to know that I am not alone and it's great to be able to share experiences.
Keep gardening!! 
There have been some scientific studies which show that specific bacteria in the soil may be a mood enhancer, and exposure to it can lift our spirits. Now I know why I love to get my hands in the soil (don't like hearing it called dirt)
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/mood-boosting-bacteria-found-dirt-213800904.html