Gardening + Mental Health

-

There is something healing about being outdoors surrounded by nature. The smell of fresh air, the feeling of the beaming sun or cool breeze, the touch and smell of the flowers, plants, and leaves. The sound of chirping birds and the sight of passing butterflies. All of which allows a person to feel grounded, connected, and aware with all of their senses. These little moments create big impacts.

 

Whether one is planting vegetables, flowers, or plants it all is good for one’s mental health. The process of gardening produces endorphins, and this is one reason people feel good when they are gardening. There is research that shows gardening can help to improve one’s mood, decreasing depressed symptoms and easing anxiety for several reasons. Being outside in the sun offers exposure to Vitamin D, which is a synthesizer of serotonin also known as “the happy chemical.” There is also a natural antidepressant in soil known as Mycobacterium Vaccae, which has been found to stimulate areas of the brain by touching it and/or smelling it while gardening. This bacteria produces an increase in serotonin, helping one to feel more calm, relaxed, and happy.

 

Studies have also shown when a person is pulling weeds out of a garden and/or planting new vegetables, flowers, or plants, it helps to reduce cortisol levels, which is the chemical produced due to a stress response. The reduction of cortisol has incredible results on the brain and body and one’s overall mental health and well-being.

 

Gardening is a mindfulness-based experience and mindfulness is linked to improved mental health. You don’t have to have a “green thumb” to reap the amazing benefits that come from gardening. It’s proven just playing with dirt can create positive change in one’s life. 


Stephanie Robilio, LCSW
Published Author
Clinical Director at Agape Behavioral Healthcare 


To learn more about Stephanie visit www.themindfulliving.com and follow her on Instagram @mindfulliving.now, Facebook @mindfulliving, and subscribe to her on YouTube Stephanie Robilio. Find all of Stephanie's books on Amazon: WellNow, Mindful Makeover, Painted Soul, and Bonafide Spirit. To join real conversations about what it takes to achieve optimal wellness in mind, body, and spirit, check out The Mindful Living Podcast on Spotify.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Never Assume, Always Ask Questions

-
  Assuming is Dangerous.  We all have assumed or perhaps even have a pattern of assuming only to later realize we were way off or wrong completely.  There was a time in my life when I took everything personal and I was a pro at assuming the worst possible case scenario and all it did was cause me unnecessary pain, hurt, and all-around negative feelings.  I was doing this automatically without even realizing I was until after the fact. They say better late than never, but imagine how good it would feel to have the awareness you’re doing it so you can stop yourself before you create an entire story without any evidence to support it. The big joke used to be I was quite the story teller because I would come up with an entire story about something and none of it was true. As an author, who has a love for writing quotes and poetry and personal development books, I used to joke and say maybe I should start writing fiction books because I was that good at making stuff up....
Read more

Alcohol Treatment

-
 1. What is the most effective treatment for alcohol addiction? I don't think there is one box that fits all. The course of care and treatment has to be individualized in order to achieve long-term results and positive outcomes. For someone struggling with alcohol addiction, I believe it's best to start with detoxification to aid in keeping the individual medically safe and stable then continuing at a lower level of care to begin identifying underlying core issues that have perpetuated the alcohol use and begin treating such. It is proven that when an individual addresses the "core issue" and makes a daily commitment to do the work it takes to maintain sobriety, individuals are able to achieve  long-term sobriety. It is also proven that group therapy is a highly effective intervention, specifically because it allows for  peer-to-peer feedback, relatable connections, support, and accountability.   The recovery rate from alcohol use has been documented in the Uni...
Read more

What if the worst thing that happened to you was the best thing that happened to you

-
  Have you ever had a flashback moment? I have.  Recently, I returned home from Greece. Truly, the most beautiful place I've ever experienced. I visited Santorini and Mykonos. I went there as a girlfriend and returned home as a fiancé. It’s crazy to hear myself say that out loud. Five years ago, if anyone told me I’d be married one day, I would have never believed them. For so long, I didn’t believe I was worthy of love and quite frankly I became incredibly comfortable with being alone. True story, I actually told myself that my life’s purpose was to be a single parent fostering child that had been removed from their parents due to abuse, neglect, and abandonment. I even started foster parent classes. At that time, I lived in a one-bedroom apartment in a downtown area of West Palm Beach. In order to foster through the agency, I was working with I needed at least a two bedroom, so it didn’t work out and I truly believe that was a Divine Intervention. God knew there was more for...
Read more