Hello, and welcome to my therapeutic garden!

Life has a way of wearing on all of us as we move through it, and all of us carry our own burdens. They impact us all in unique ways, furthering us down our own paths, and each of us finds our own ways of dealing with them. Some types of burdens are easier dealt with than others; there are challenges that are very concrete, definable, and visible, just as there are challenges which are more intangible, internal, and difficult to define.

Those of us who struggle with mental illnesses usually face challenges that directly stem from them: articulating how the illness impacts you, getting others to see it and understand, being able to get a firm grasp on what it is yourself, or finding those things in life that help you manage, rise above, or work through it to name a few. There are a wide variety of mental illnesses that get swept under the rug, and which most people don’t really understand unless they’ve experienced them.

Depression is just one of these, and it is the one that I carry with me. Here in this blog, I’ll be writing about my experiences with depression and how gardening has become a significant tool when managing and pushing back against my depression.

It is my hope that in sharing these experiences with you, those of you also experiencing this particular type of burden will be reminded that you aren’t alone in these challenges.
It is my hope that in sharing these experiences with you, I may pass on some ideas for coping to others who need them.
It is my hope that in sharing these experiences with you, we will have the chance to exchange stories, knowledge, and support as we all make our way down our own paths.

So, once again, welcome to my therapeutic garden. I’m glad you’re here, and I hope that the stories you find here will pass on the knowledge, support, and comfort that you need.