How Gardening Helped Me Heal From PTSD

Planting seeds and watching them grow isn't all gardening is about; it's about connecting with nature, finding peace during chaos, and cultivating a sense of purpose and control. My topic today is gardening and how it helped me heal from post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that a traumatic event can trigger. It can manifest in various ways, such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression, making it difficult to navigate daily life and relationships. I was diagnosed with PTSD after multiple long-term hospitalizations, and for a while, I was in disbelief. I thought that PTSD only happened to people who had been in war or suffered severe abuse. I thought I could outsmart PTSD by reading about it and that I'd just get over it. I thought I could wait-it-out, and it would disappear. Those proved to be incredibly unsuccessful. My PTSD began to infiltrate into every aspect of my life.

For me, PTSD had a profound impact on my mental and physical health and my daily life. I felt like I was constantly on edge, struggling to find a sense of calm and control amidst the chaos in my mind. Any minor stressor felt as big as the most dangerous stressor. Did I really spend hours frozen while standing in the kitchen? How long has it been since I bathed? I found that therapy and antidepressants only took me so far. I needed to incorporate a daily practice into my routine to help pull me from the depths. Due to my medical trauma, I also found myself to be incredibly overweight and also limited mobility. My doctors recommended that I start exercising daily; however, exercise seemed impossible with all my limitations. It was a daunting journey, but one that ultimately led me to discover the therapeutic power of gardening.

I never intended to become a gardener. I'd always admired my siblings' green thumbs and didn't think it came naturally to me. However, I was gifted some herbs who needed a home, and thus, I began gardening. The herbs found a home in a pot, and they did very well. I enjoyed tending to them and decided to try planting some seeds. First came the zinnia seeds. Then, I couldn't turn down a great deal I saw on some succulents. After that, it was a slippery slope of planting rosebushes, drought-tolerant bushes, and my pride and joy – the pumpkin patch.

Gardening became my sanctuary, my haven where I could escape the noise in my head and connect with the beauty of nature. I found solace in the simple act of planting seeds, tending to my garden, and watching as life bloomed before my eyes. It was in the quiet moments spent among the flowers and foliage that I began to heal, slowly but surely.

Instead of researching symptoms related to my medical issues or PTSD, I found myself researching gardening practices. I still followed my trauma groups on social media, but I also joined several local gardening groups. Suddenly, my social media feeds replaced medical posts with greenery and ideas to cultivate.

I soon learned about ecotherapy - the healing power of nature in PTSD recovery. Being surrounded by greenery and fresh air had a calming effect on my mind, helping me to find peace and clarity amidst the storm. The morning sunlight increased my Vitamin D exposure. I took my shoes off and tried some barefoot gardening - also known as grounding. It helped me to move more and find a purpose for walking. Eventually, I started taking walks around the neighborhood and even made my way back to the gym. My family and I became members at an arboretum, and we continued to admire nature, move, and heal. Gardening became my therapy, my lifeline in times of darkness.

It provided me with a place where I was safe to cry every day. Rather than crying all day at any random moment, I could schedule my weeping sessions for the morning and plan to release my sadness. And boy, did I release it. I cried and cried and cried. Daily. Sometimes for the entire time I was out gardening. And then, slowly, the crying began to subside, until one day I realized that I couldn’t remember when it was the last time that I cried.

Through gardening, I cultivated a sense of calm, control, and purpose that had been missing from my life. I learned the value of patience and persistence, of nurturing something from seed to bloom. I faced setbacks and challenges in the garden, but I found strength in adversity, resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Moreover, gardening allowed me to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who shared my passion for plants and healing. I found support and understanding in their stories, and together, we built a gardening community that was rooted in love and growth. It helped me to reach out to a sibling that I hadn’t spoken to in years, as I’d always admired their green thumb.

As I continued to tend to my garden, I found that my mental wellness was sustained through the practice of gardening. I integrated it into my daily routine, setting goals for the future and dreaming of the day when the weather would permit specific plantings.

In conclusion, gardening has been a lifeline for me in my journey of healing from PTSD. It has taught me resilience, patience, and the power of nature to heal our minds and souls. So, if you're struggling with PTSD or any mental health condition, I encourage you to dig in the dirt, plant some seeds, and watch as your healing journey blooms before your eyes.