Plants for Anxiety & Depression

A GP’s surgery in Manchester has been giving patients plants to help them recover from depression and anxiety. Whilst some may feel that this is ridiculous, if we look a little deeper into the idea it may not appear to be such a bad decision after all.
When we are given a living thing to care for we feel responsible, even important in some way. Many people, including the elderly and lonely amongst us, have a pet and whilst our pets rely on us for all of their needs we also become dependent on them for unconditional love and companionship. Dogs especially help us to develop a daily schedule. Dogs need to be walked and when out and about we get some much needed exercise, we encounter fellow dog walkers and often human friendships develop too.
Animals, plants and other people that rely on us give our lives meaning. We also look for meaning or status in our work and hobbies. This means that if someone loses their job, is ill or retired many of those social contacts are lost and we become isolated, we lose our connection with the world and this is when anxiety and depression can develop.
In order to lead a healthy and fulfilled life we need balance. We must find meaningful employment, something that we enjoy and which gives us a sense of purpose. We must feel that we are contributing to society in some way. We need to develop hobbies that give us interests outside of work, as we grow older these hobbies become more important as they give our lives meaning.
The GP’s surgery in Manchester also offers patients the chance to work in a garden, to meet other people and to work towards completing a project. What is especially meaningful about this project is that some GP’S are realising that medication is not the best long term answer for many patients. Talking therapy also has much to offer, if you feel that it is now your time to talk, please do get in touch and together we can work towards you taking your first steps forward, towards a more positive future.