1. I think I wrote in a past post about a number if studies where 88% of people working in their garden said they felt less anxiety and felt more relaxed afterwards.

2. If you really read the Herbs Post. There are a huge amount of things that herbs can do for you if you grow them. From depression/anxiety. To helping reduce many types of pain. Or giving ppl more energy etc. etc.

3 also.... Plants that BLOOM, studies show if they are IN your home. Certain colors calm you. Make you feel better. Smelling Rosemary can help with memory. Smelling lavender helps you sleep.

Many physical and mental benefits to plants and gardening.

Water gardens are one of the most relaxing things to listen to.

Having plants in an office space helps people work better... Studies have shown.

Yea, my bad, but expert studies just make me feel somewhere between hopelessly flawed and generically bored. How do I translate the experience of people I do not, cannot and will not ever know into real, living steps I can take in my strictly personal psychosis?

But that doesn't invalidate the plethora of expert studies available. The experts can't help it if I am hopelessly flawed in my own strictly personals. Not their problem.

I have anxiety which is sometimes off the charts. Winter is the worst time. In spring and summer when I'm busy in the garden, I still have anxiety but much less. Why? First off I'm busy . Too busy to worry about other stuff. The garden is demanding and I won't let it fail. Secondly when you are so physically tired you think less about your problems real or perceived and just want to relax. Third, the amazing beauty is so fulfilling. You know that you did something awesome for the planet. I have people walk by my garden and tell me how much enjoyment and peace they get looking at it. Studies or no studies, I know gardening is beneficial for my anxiety. It has the same benefits (maybe more) than running, sports etc.

Right Dahlia!

I get that too. I also like to pass some of my vegetables along to the neighbors.

And Arfie,

If you really changed your diet dramatically and used herbs to heal, feel better etc. For several months. I bet you would see/feel a huge difference.

The thing is, no one wants to make a huge change.

In studies.... The subjects MUST conform to the restrictions.

Thank you, Dahlia. It is great to know somebody with a name and a face is gaining strictly personal benefits from their garden. I love intertwining garden stories with the dramas of their strictly personal lives.

Seamus,

"In studies.... The subjects MUST conform to the restrictions."

Therein lies the Catch 22. . . At my best, I never know when my psychoses (pl) are going to FAIL to conform to the restrictions. The inability to conform presents a serious problem in benefiting from the completed studies, as well. I promise my psychoses (pl) are not about inconveniencing the sincere intentions of researchers, especially in regards to my diet and herbal intake. Little things can make big diffs, especially when attempting those huge changes.. As it is, I make my radical changes under the direct supervision of med pros and I screen my pros rigorously.

Truly, I wish conformity was easier for me. The freak-a-zoid feel is. . . what it is, whether the researchers or I understand it or not.

P.S. The benefits are personal but not strictly. My neighbors and complete strangers approach me about my gardens. People come and place their children in front of my flowers and take pictures. I get thanks for doing this. It is nice to make someone's day in a world that seems to being crazy !!!

Amen, Dahlia. My personal favorite social interactions happen with folks stopping by to admire the plants and/or trade nature notes. It really rocks my day when I get to share a smile over the wonders of the plant world. Best isolation breaker EVER.

My plants are giving me a lot of pleasure. Looking at then makes me feel more cheerful- all those bright colours. I love the smell- particularly the geranium scent. It reminds me of childhood summers and my Mum. She always had geraniums. I also find it very satisfying to nurture my plants and watch them develop. Every morning I take some time in the garden and I see the new flowers coming out. It's an uplifting start to my day. And it gets me outdoors. Working in the garden is also good exercise.
That's my experience of how it helps keep me sane.

Have to agree with Solus. It's a routine with me planting, watering, weeding then eating (vegetables) is even better.

I take pictures every year as my garden progresses.

People also slow down to look in my yard (main garden is in the front of the deck).

Gives me a sense of accomplishment & satisfaction!

Fresh is the Best!

I agree with everyone who has posted here. All psychosis aside arfie. You transcend into a different world in gardening, Your concentration is on growing something from a seed or plant and using the earth to do it. Watering it and catering to it's needs. And the outcome: a sense of pride. The smell of a flower, the taste of a vegetable or a herb. A statement professing this is who I am, this is what I like. An achievement.

You said it all Jazzy!

Is it possible to say it all? Perhaps my favorite part of garden/nature therapy is that most of it is wordless.

Still. . . Finding words which describe the sequence of events which happen between walking into my garden in a psychotic state and emerging as a glowing researcher summary has been a recent intrigue of mine. The studies and even my own strictly personal summaries seem to gloss over allot of critical detail. At present, they strike me as scientific dogma. You either *believe* or you don't. Who needs digestible details?

I'm a believer, and perhaps that is enough.