We can never have enough of nature.
–Henry David Thoreau
Last fall, I found myself in an unfamiliar and stressful family situation. This situation made me feel extremely anxious and literally scared. I was afraid I might lose my job due to debilitating anxiety. After a couple of weeks of trying to tackle the feelings alone, I called my primary care physician and a therapist. Asking for help is not something I usually do, but I did not like how I was feeling.
I received a prescription for anxiety medication from my doctor and began weekly virtual counseling sessions. Both the medication and the therapy have helped tremendously, but I believe designing and creating xeriscaping in my yard this summer also helped. As a long time gardener and landscaper, I believe dirt therapy may help people who suffer from anxiety or other mental health issues.
I dug up sod and invasive common Bermuda grass one section at a time. Knocked off the top soil, bagged the sod and weeds separately and leveled out the ground. While knocking off the soil, I also knocked off some of my anxiety. Then, I drew out a landscape plan and bought the metal edging, plants, and mulch. Designing and planting are probably my most favorite parts of the process and are probably the most therapeutic as well.
After working on this xeriscape project for most of the summer, it is probably 95% complete and I am pleased with how it turned out. I’m not even close to 95% finished with my therapy, but I am getting closer. My anxiety levels have dropped, along with my need for medication. Revamping my landscape was a lot of hard work but it was good exercise and it was good dirt therapy for my stressful situation.
How does dirt therapy help?
- It takes your mind off troubling issues. Creating a landscape plan or a new flower bed gives you a new focus, something you can control. I find even going through a gardening magazine for ideas is a pleasant distraction. Shopping for plants, mulch, seeds, and beautiful containers can be an uplifting activity with a goal rooted in nature in mind.
- You are accomplishing something you enjoy. You don’t have to tear up your yard and put in a xeriscape garden like I did. You can plant a container garden or grow vegetables in your flower bed.
- Sustaining plant life can give you a sense of control in a small part of your life. I have begun harvesting zucchini, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, beans and peas. They grew due to daily watering and locating the garden in a sunny spot. Through my care, the plants survived and grew. Through self-care you can survive and grow.
- Working in a garden puts you in touch with many of our agricultural roots. For me there is something about working the soil, nurturing plants or even pulling weeds that feels cathartic. “Numerous studies have shown a connection between time spent in nature and improvements in cognitive health, including memory, attention, concentration, impulse inhibition, and mood.”
- As my zucchini plant started producing, I started baking zucchini bread and giving it to friends and family. This brief social interaction is helpful as I tend to stay to myself when I am out of sorts. I do not like to go out and see people, which adds to my anxiety and loneliness. Making others happy often makes you feel better as well.
- Gardening provides physical activity and, in my opinion, it is more fun and rewarding than going to the gym.
“Nature encompasses almost everything. One could do outdoor gardening (which might result in cooking, baking, making potpourri), nature photography, drawing from nature, writing poetry about nature, birdwatching, butterfly watching, or building a scarecrow. Indoor gardening could include innumerable propagation of cuttings, seed propagation, nature crafts, terrariums, sand art, rock tumbling, or wreath making.” (Horticulture as Therapy, Principles and Practice by Dr. Sharon P. Simson and Martha C. Straus) I would add, taking a walk through nature can change your whole mood and outlook on life.
Is it time for you to get your hands dirty?
