How gardening has helped this Pinay cope with anxiety and depression

Amid the quarantine, many people have resorted to gardening as a new hobby, officially becoming a "plantita" and a "plantito."

To Pauline Santos however, it's helped her cope with anxiety attacks and depression.

In September 2019, Pauline was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which causes faster metabolism and palpitations.

"Grabe iyong palpitation ng heart ko. Kahit na kalmado lang ako, naninikip iyong dibdib ko," Pauline narrated, adding she's experienced its symptoms including feelings of excessive worry, irritability, and fatigue.

Soon, she became depressed. "Gusto ko lagi akong nakakulong sa kwarto. Tapos lagi ako — as in inatake ako ng depression," she narrated. She would cry over the littlest things and is easily frustrated and sad, when they don't according to her plan.

"Lagi akong umiiyak. Kaunting bagay lang, depressed agad, ganoon," she shared.

Apart from giving her medication, Pauline's doctor advised her to look for a hobby that will help her cope with her anxiety and depression.

That's when she explored gardening. It started with the very trendy succulent and cactus plants, taking care of and repotting them. 

"In a way, iyon iyong nagbu-boost ng ano ko eh, good vibes," she said. Pauline calls taking care of her plants therapeutic. "Nakakalimutan ko na meron akong anxiety, na meron akong depression, doon siya nababaling iyong pagiging depressed ko," she said.

"Malaking tulong talaga sa akin iyong pagtatanim," she added.

According to Clinical Psychologist Lilian Ng Gui, gardening has helped Pauline manage her anxiety and depression because she has a hands-on activity.

"Iyong tension niya, iyong takot niya 'di ba? Imbes na ganoon, may ginagawa siya. Pruning, cutting, planting, touching the soil. Maraming bagay iyon. And that is connecting as well to Mother Earth. Magandang bagay iyon," Gui said.

"It's very therapeutic. It relaxes you and calms you down," Gerald S. Sioco of Cedarhills answered GMA News Online when asked why gardening was hitting mainstream again.  

Pauline takes care of a variety of plants including lemon, calamansi, tomato, eggplant, lagundi, serpentina, and aloe vera.

While gardening has definitely helped her ease her anxiety and depression, but it's also given Pauline so much more.

Amid the quarantine, gardening has helped kept Pauline and her household safe and healthy; instead of going to the grocery to buy groceries, they would just pick vegetables from their garden.

"At saka malaking bagay dahil nga nakakatipid. Bukod sa nakakatipid, mas masustansiya ang mga ito at sarili mong tanim," she said.

Pauline said she wanted to share her experience and how gardening has helped her survive her anxiety.

"Malaking tulong, at saka, in a way, it gives them hope na, makakapag-alaga sila ng mga plants na hindi pala mamamatay, ganoon," she added.

"Sa panahon ngayon we really need this dahil bukod sa talagang therapeutic siya it is very heathy na magkaron tayo ng mga gulay sa bakuran natin at tsaka family bonding din," she said.

"Magandang start to lalo na ngayong pandemic talagang kailangang ibaling yung depression may pag-asa na malalagpasan din natin 'to," she added.

Last April, the Department of Agriculture (DA) pushed for urban gardening under its Plant, Plant, Plant program to ensure food sufficiency as the country battles COVID-19.

During the same month, the DA gave away free vegetable seeds to Metro Manila residents to help them start urban gardening to grow their own food. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News