How gardening has helped me remain sane(ish)
Having received a formal diagnosis of Autism after a lengthy waiting time I thought I’d share my experience and how gardening has helped me develop coping strategies. This diagnosis has been a shock and a relief in equal measure. As I’ve opened up about it to a few people on this journey I’ve literally had every reaction: acceptance, obliviousness, denial. I must have become an expert at masking and avoidance. From a young age growing up in the ‘80s/‘90s I struggled with social anxiety, depression, and self-harm. I remember secondary school in all its painful detail. I avoided playtime by wandering the corridors or finding an empty classroom to sit in. I dreaded PE lessons if you can call that car-crash a learning experience. I was not really listening in class, not being educated, not having my well-being checked, not interested. I can still name all of my bullies 30 years on. I always felt like I was on the peripheral of life looking in. Not quite connecting w