Nature and anxiety

[Heruga]

I had anxiety for 15 years since I was 10 and I was recently released from meds from my psychiatrist and any form of therapy/treatment. I can say I am free of anxiety now(though it can come back in the future). Though I still do have minor depression, but a lot better than before. And one of the major things that helped me through in my rough journey was nature. I've always loved nature and the outdoors since a kid. I pursued my current career in horticulture(cultivation of plants) 3 years ago and now I work as a horticulturist full time. I have a huge passion for plants and growing them (Sorry but not tropicals). Because a full time job takes up the majority of your life, why not make it more enjoying and not let the 5 days of the week make you more stressful? At my job I am always outside and constantly moving. Physical activity kept my mind busy and as this became a daily routine my thoughts on anxiety and its associated symptoms were non-existent. This is one reason why I chose to pursue this career in hopes of curing my anxiety and depression. Words cannot describe how much nature has helped me. I am very proud to say I am no longer suffering from anxiety.

Anyway, I've always wanted to post plant pics here but I worried it might be a little irrelevant for this forum but after seeing Bonniesue's post of her beautiful plants it encouraged me to post my own plant pics. Here are some pics of some of the plants that have flowered this season that I grew myself. All are perennials or shrubs. I don't grow much annuals or tropicals. Since it seems that healthunlocked won't let me post more than 1 pic I will post one here and the rest are links..

imgur.com/ozpYBhO

imgur.com/vGaT6R0

imgur.com/9tszuMc (blueberry)

imgur.com/c59jF4e (blueberry first harvest)

imgur.com/a8UqvFs (Mandarin citrus)

imgur.com/U4cDmf7

imgur.com/qCYDDq5

imgur.com/arRe8gf

imgur.com/C1lwNRT

imgur.com/wbQRs29

imgur.com/YsIwxP0

imgur.com/6FcJtoy

imgur.com/Llb5gdT (Potted plants stored away in garage for winter)

[tamka38]

Hi am so happy for u, must feel good to be released from medication and free from anxiety. Do u still have a therapist?

[Heruga in reply to tamka38]

Nope. I actually didn't have any therapist for 7 years. I only saw a psychiatrist and he was only there to give me meds. It wasn't a sit down session and talk kind of thing. In the past I've been to 3 different therapists but I decided to fight my mental issues on my own.

[tamka38 in reply to Heruga]

Congratulations to u am proud of u Heruga u give me hope that I can beat my anxiety and depression one day thanks for sharing

[Agora1]

Heruga, I am so happy you have found relief from anxiety. It's nice to

hear that anxiety doesn't have to be a life time sentence. Getting off your

medication and therapy sounds like it released you from the thought that

you were emotionally ill. What it took was finding your passion in horticulture

which brought you to a new focus in life.

Continued success in your full time job as a horticulturist and by all means we would

love for you to share your pictures. Life can be Good... x

[Heruga in reply to Agora1]

Thanks agora. No, anxiety really shouldn't be taking over anyone's lives. It's just how you decide to deal with it. But even if my anxiety is cleared for now, I am still vulnerable to getting it back again in the future than compared to someone who never had it so I will still be doing the same thing and hopefully it'll keep my anxiety out for the rest of my life.

[Stilltrying_]

Beautiful xxx