Healing Gardens: Depression

The power of therapeutic healing gardens, a six post series.

Post 1: Depression

Let’s be honest – depression is not fun at all. If you suffer from it, you already know that. If you don’t, try and understand that those who do want nothing more than to “just be happy”.

While we know medication helps many sufferers, there are also natural remedies that can be effective. Exercise is a proven one. That said, just getting to the gym can seem insurmountable to someone suffering from depression.

Being outdoors is another natural remedy, and this is where the concept of a Healing Garden can come in.

A healing garden is an outdoor area that makes you feel good. This means different things to different people, but almost always involves a mix of plants, paths, seating, and outdoor decorations. It can be just a small bed of flowers with a small bench, or it can be an elaborate maze of paths that encompasses your entire backyard.

One thing all therapeutic gardens have in common is the healing effects of 15-20 minutes. Recent research has found that plants and trees give off olfactory provoking chemicals called phytoncides that can alter your mood on a physiological level. Whether you are aware of them or not, they can sedate and/or stimulate, and lower the production of stress hormones. In short, being around nature makes us feel good.

I once designed a healing garden for a recently divorced (and depressed) woman. Not only was it filled with nature, but being real about what stress relief looks like, I also included an ax-throwing area and a place to smash plates that could be made into mosaic art at a later date.

Depression is very isolating. Having a healing, familiar, natural space that is warm, covered and intimate can open the possibility of inviting a friend over without worrying about cleaning your house first. GardenGirl works with each client to come up with solutions that will help bring light to the darkness and provide mental health benefits for years to come.