Franck Wang 
Millions of people around the world suffer from some sort of mental health disorder. This could be PTSD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, addiction, and many others as well. The truth is there is not just one treatment that will work for everyone who has these issues. Yes, there are many different types of medications that are prescribed. However, there are also some holistic treatments to help manage these mental health illnesses. One of the treatments often used in non 12 step recovery and by others who have a mental health condition is gardening. There are numerous benefits someone can gain from getting outside and gardening. You could even garden inside as well.
Keeping Busy
One of the many benefits of gardening is to keep busy. Those who suffer from any type of mental health disorder may find chaos in their mind and in their life. It can be difficult to manage the symptoms of a mental health illness. However, gardening can help. After living an addictive lifestyle or while in recovery from a mental health disorder, gardening can give you something to do. It takes time to garden. You need to take care of the plants or the food you are gardening. Do you need something to help you keep busy, a hobby perhaps? If so, gardening may be just what you need.
Via CNN.com
Reconnecting with Nature
When you are in recovery from a mental health disorder or any kind, it can help to reconnect with nature. Spending time in nature can help you to feel better. Being outdoors can improve physical and mental health. Many people believe that being in nature can allow you to feel more connected, grounded, and satisfied with your life.
If you want to recover from a mental health disorder, you need to find the best version of yourself, and live it. Reconnecting with nature can allow you to do that. Studies have shown that gardening can improve overall well-being, improve self-esteem, reduce stress, and reduce the risk of heart issues as well. Gardening can even help to reduce cortisol in the body. This is a stress hormone. By spending just a few hours every week in nature, you could obtain some or even all of these benefits. If you want to live the best life possible, a happier life, you can allow gardening to help you with that.
Here is a great tree service company in Chicago: https://www.thelocaltreeexperts.com/il/chicago/
Get You Moving
Those who suffer from a mental health disorder often find themselves in isolation. They may avoid spending time with their loved ones and friends. Some people with a mental health disorder don’t want to get out of bed or even leave their house. However, to treat symptoms of a mental health disorder, you often need to get moving. Gardening is one of the ways you can do that. You need to get up, weed the garden, put the plants in the dirt, and take care of the plants as well. By moving around while gardening, you can feel better, improve your energy levels, reduce anxiety, lower stress levels, and so much more.
Improve Communication and Bonding Time
Many people who have a mental health disorder don’t communicate well. However, those who garden with their loved ones and friends, often have improved communication skills. This is because while gardening, you are working with nature. You are making a connection to keep something alive. That fire builds inside you and encourages you to talk to those around you. If you garden with your spouse, for instance, you may build a better bond with him or her. Working together with someone, to create a healthy garden, can open up the pathways to healthier communication.
Via Diygarden.co.uk
Improve Social Skills
Gardening can also help to improve your social skills. Many people who suffer from a mental health disorder don’t have the greatest social skills. These skills take time to develop. If you spend time gardening with your family or friends it can help. You can learn how to garden with your best friend. While doing so, you will be talking to one another and making plans to keep the garden alive. In addition, improving your social skills can increase your chances of building lifelong friendships.
Increase Awareness
Gardening helps you to use all your senses. These are senses you may not have had activated in quite some time. This is especially true for those who have a mental health disorder. Anxiety and stress often suppress some sensory levels. You may not stop to “smell the roses”, for instance, if you suffer from anxiety. When you are in recovery from a mental health disorder, you can use gardening to increase your awareness, by using all your senses.
If you have a mental health disorder, that doesn’t mean you can’t live the best life possible. You can allow gardening to help you be happier. Working in a garden can increase your awareness of what is going on around you. Gardening can reduce stress, anxiety, and other symptoms of a mental health disorder. You can increase your awareness, get moving, reconnect with nature, and keep busy. Gardening will also help you improve social skills, communication, and bonding time as well.
Improving your mental health does take time. There isn’t just one solution for all people who suffer from a mental health disorder. However, research does show that gardening has helped many people to improve their mental health state. Whether you are suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health disorder, gardening can give you a range of different benefits.
Building a garden allows you to have a safe place to step out of stressful situations. Any time you are having a bad day, you can head out to your garden and work with your plants. You may have a gardening shed, outdoor area, or even an inside garden as well. If you need to improve your mental health, gardening may be one of the tools you need to make that happen. It does take time to get a garden started, but once you do, the benefits might help you more and more overtime.
