wood working as therapy

Trucker,

I cannot help but agree with you; while I am not dealing with the same things as you, I do find that working on anything with my hands (creating / fixing) is very therapeutic.

Regards..

-- Chris

I think you will find that this site is good therapy as well. Get involved with us and join the parade. Here you will find some of the best people on earth and from all over the earth.Wrap your mind around the vast learning experience that is available here and you won’t have time to be depressed. Ask questions, post blogs of your adventures and let us see your work. There is a network of support here that is hard to beat. Good luck on you new adventure.

-- Thos. Angle

Something else to consider, is that when woodworking, you need to focus 100% on what you are doing. You have to escape reality as it were, and engulf yourself almost completely in the woodworking world. In the end, it does help you to concentrate on what’s important back in the “real” world.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

I also suffer from depression, I find woodworking better than theropy!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

I read my story in yours, I’ve worked all my life from shoveling walks and mowing grass at the age of 11 to shop work and the Army draft in 1970. I broke my back in 2 places in 03 and my life changed. I used to fish, I still have an 18 ft Sylvan I used to take out in Lake Michigan Salmon fishing, to bow hunting, and gun hunting Deer every year, plus woodworking, building houses, remodels when I could. All those things are gone. Except the woodworking. I built my daughter a hope chest. It took me a year, but I did it. I’ve made a couple chairs, and many bowls from a cheap lathe I was fortunate to find. I can still make things. It just takes longer and it hurts. Sometimes it hurts really bad. You know what, I take my pain pills, go lay down, until the pain eases, and I don’t think about sticking a gun in my mouth anymore. Like you, I think about what’s important. Family, and I go back at it again. Welcome to one of the best sites on the web. Believe me you’re with friends that have been there and done that. Welcome to Lumberjocks.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Welcome! I’m glad to hear you have found solice in your creativity. I have seen how I get REALLY grumpy when I don’t take the time to create. I live for my time to create something or work one of my many projects. Fortunately I can still move around, but it sure gets harder and creakier each year! The beautiful thing about wood working or any project is that you can do a small item or a large one. It does take more time, energy, tools and craftsmanship but you can still enjoy creating beauty with your own hands and ideas. Sharing them with friends and family is also a joy. I hope you will share some of your projects and thoughts with us.

P.S. I spent 6 months in a semi going coast to coast and it was quite an experience. Every 4 days I was on a different coast. Truckers are a valuable part of our economic system as they deliver almost everything we use. It’s a rough life too.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe