On a more personal note

[Chomerly]

Who here suffers from depression and uses gardening as means of a momentary escape?
Please, only respond if you wish too as i know that this subject is very personal.

I suffer from depression and i am going through a particular bad spell now.
The hardest part for me is being able to look after my plants in a timely manner.
Especially during sunny spells.

I struggle to sleep at night and can't get up at a meaningful hour in the mornings so find my greenhouse can be a tad too warm which doens't help my seedlings.

It is a battle sometimes and i don't mind talking about it.
i'm just curious how many other people there are out there that use gardening as a means to relax.

[darcyvuqua]

I've never been diagnosed with depression but I certainly feel after spending a day up the plot that it has cleansed my mind!

So I can understand the little pick me up that people (in general) get from it

[Plot10]

Chomerly, I too suffer with depression, usually not acute but it's always kind of there in the background.

I find that having an allotment is sometimes a double edged sword. Yes a good stint of hard physical work makes me feel a lot better but sometimes it can be a real struggle, specially if I'm trying to keep on top of other things at the same time.

I happened to get my allotment at a time when I was just about at my lowest and I found this book in the library which was really interesting as a newbie. It's a few years since I read it but I recall the author also struggled with depression so bad he sometimes couldn't get out of bed and he found that allotmenteering was a kind of therapy.

You might like to give it a read and see if it strikes a chord with you.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allotted-Tim.../dp/0330441256

Best wishes.

[Alison]

As far as I know I've never got to the point of a diagnosed clinical depression but have suffered from work related stress on several occasions which can end up with me getting quite depressed and experiencing feelings of helplessness / uselessness. I find that clearing my mind in the open air doing routine and sometimes menial tasks helps me a lot, especially if I leave my phone in the shed so am cut off from the source of my stress. I think that the fresh air helps too as well as exercise also. The thing I can find difficult it motivating myself to get up to the plot sometimes when I'm feeling bad but even an hour or so really benefits me and I'm told makes me a nicer person to live with

[The Cobra]

I can't say I suffer from depression, but everyday family life is hard work! I find escaping to my allotment, or even just escaping to my garden is a stress release for me. I work hard for what I have and it's hard to keep everyone happy, especially myself without sounding selfish! But you need time for yourself, and the allotment is my sanctuary. The mad thing is it so early in my allotment "life" as I've only had it 8 months or so. I'm working hard to get it how I want it as I know this will be my little bit of escapism for years. It's definitely something I dreamed of for many a year, and now it's reality I love making the most of it

[Chomerly]

I don't know what it is about spending time in my greenhouse, pottering away with little things like watering and checking seedlings.
I find that because i get headaches a lot, being out in the garden doing something seems to make it go away pretty quickly.
Especially if i've taken a couple of Ibuprofen tablets to help.

Perhaps there is something to be said about being outdoors during difficult periods to help alleviate symptoms that depression can sometimes bring on.
And i will definitely be taking a look at the book you have linked to Plot10.
Seems like it would be an interesting read.

[Guykp57]

Well worth a read Chomerly. Give me your adders and I'll send you my copy I've finished with.


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[Chomerly]

Lol, thank you for the offer matey but i've just gone through the order process.

[Guykp57]

Ok, enjoy...take time out for yourself and chill. Keep in touch.


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[Dotty Sarah]

Hi Chomerly, I definitely agree that it's a double edged sword. I suffer with anxiety and depression and find growing is fantastic therapy, when I can actually get to the allotment! I try to grow a variety of crops, some of which will accept a bit of neglect, and try to accept that it's ok to lose some. I went through a really bad spell at the end of last summer and couldn't get to the plot for a few months so lost my winter squash but the sprouts battled through. As a result I didn't dig at the end of season and due to this years rain it's been impossible to do anything with my heavy clay so this year will be a no dig experiment Stick with it and experiment to see what works for you, if you find it hard to get out to the greenhouse early enough then maybe the plants would cope better with the door open a crack overnight? Good luck

[Ja9]

I think that gardening can be a wonderful way to take your mind off things. I am lucky that I don't have depression but even if I find it difficult to motivate myself to go outside it is very rare that I don't feel better for it. I started gardening as an adult, after a childhood interest when I stared work in a very demanding and at times upsetting job. The repetitious ,undemanding nature of weeding etc with a sense of achievement for what you have done at the end can be so uplifting.Fresh air and the joy of watching a robin follow you around or hearing the cuckoo on a summers evening whilst watering is a healthy escape.

[Jeanied]

I think the daylight helps a lot, something to do with serotonin uptake and also Vitamin D. But I rely on tablets to help with all this. My best help has been the community on the grapevine! I have been encouraged every step of the way by some lovely grapes.

Just watch out, when I was at my most vulnerable some people like to take advantage and this is what I found to my cost. Not everyone is as lovely as they seem, and they have an uncanny knack of homing in on the vulnerable in our community.

My best advice is to get a dog and sort out at least one pot, planter, bed that you delight in!

[Chomerly]

I've got a rather large dog and his "dirt" mines he leaves about the place keep me busy.
It wouldn't be that bad but he seems to find a way of concealing the things in the longest areas of grass on the lawn.
He is funny though.

As for people trying to take advantage, i can tell you now that my other half won't have it.
She's like the proverbial bull in a china shop when it comes to how protective she can be.

I too find that this site is great and i used to love browsing it on my iPhone app until i opted for a change to an Android device and found that there wasn't an app for it.
Still, using my Nexus tablet to view the browser is almost as convenient.
I may not say much, or make many posts or create topics, but i do read it a fair bit just so i learn a bit more about what i can grow and when.

[Ja9]

If that's your dog in your profile picture he/she looks lovely .I would like to get a Bernese mountain dog but will have to wait until I retire as I'm out too long on the days I work.Would be more company than my OH.glad yours is so supportive Chomerly

[noviceveggrower]

Hi. I have had depression in the past and was prescribed tablets for it. I was on them for some time but then had to come off them when I became pregnant with my little girl, who is now six.
I can relate with the sleep problem. I would have bouts of insomnia for months then all of a sudden just go to bed one night and go straight to sleep.
Gardening is my therapy. Our little boy who is 4 has speech development problems. It is hard with him as he gets frustrated with you when you don't quite grasp what he wants. Then I go to speech therapy with him and get patronised and get the obvious pointed out to me.
He goes to school in September and I feel the pressure that if he isn't 'up to speed' then he will struggle or be sat at the back of the class being the trouble maker.
I find just planting seeds and potting on is very good for relaxing. Been down the allotment in the peace and quite watching the world go by and just watching nature doing its thing is so relaxing especially with a cuppa.
Glad your other half supports you. It is a great help if the other half is understanding