I think "stuborn" is the key word here!! Way to go girl! Can't keep the good ones down! :D

For me it is both mental and physical therapy. Chemo damaged nerves in my hands so the physical part of quilting/sewing is helping me regain the use of my hands and fingers. I sit down to quilt or read a quilting magazine and even getting on this board my problems seem to melt away. I absolutely love the people here for they are so special in so many ways. A big hug to all for you are better than many doctors!!

Hey, Sidmona, that may just be a wonderful strategy for getting out of cleaning the house........I'll get real jittery and tell him that the only thing that will calm me down is to quilt. HA HA.......I can see a movement beginning across the Quilting Board family!!!!

mar32428, I love your reply!!!

Quilting also serves as physical and mental therapy for me. I have chronic pain from a neck and shoulder injury, fibromyalgia, and all the accompanying problems, including arthritis. I had to quit working as an LPN, and go on disability. Quilting has given me a way to be constructive and productive again, not to mention useful. I love making quilts for those who have a need for them. Being able to contribute again does wonders for my morale.

I don't know how I'd get along without my quilting. It keeps me so busy. I'm truly never bored. There are not enough hours in the day for everything I have planned to try and make.
Also, I have made some wonderful friends through quilting. The best thing that I ever did was join my quilt guild. It's the best and my quilty friends are very important to me. Also, I made a wonderful friend thru this board. We met up with each other last fall. We happen to live close to each other, and we've become very close. Quilting has become a blessing in my life.

2 years ago my daughter, then 22 and in college, was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. She was left with several cognitive obstacles to overcome. She had always been very athletic and an honor student. It was difficult for her to accept that her brain wouldn't work the way it used to. She had memory problems, aphasia, balance and coordination problems, and became depressed. One day she came with me to the LQS and was instantly drawn to the batiks. She said she wanted to make a quilt. She had never sewn before. She picked out several FQs and one fabric to pull them together. We decided to use HSTs. Each evening I would give her instructions and she would work on it during the day while was at work. (She couldn't decipher written instructions at the time.) The quilt turned out beautifully. It was her own pattern and is reversable (her idea, too!). It was wonderful therapy for her. It helped her re-learn to follow directions, re-built her self-confidence and overcome depression. She's hooked now. She made a quilt for her friend's 2yr old daughter and a handbag for a friend. She's become a fabric-aholic like me too! By the way, she doing very well today. Back in school (with a little help from student services), volunteering at Shriners and looking forward to working with other young people in medical re-hab.

Amen sisters, I don't have any physical problems, but working in an office for 8 hours a day can get to you. I love to sit and sew for a few minutes and all my troubles go away and when hubby is not home I do alot more than a few minutes.

I have a friend who has MS and she does beading, wirework, quilting and mosaics. Her work is exquisite and I would encourage anyone to think positively as your doctor suggests.

I recently retired and am now realizing how much stress I left behind. When I go upstairs to my toy room (machines and projects) my whole world changes - my mind goes into another world and it feels so good! I just finished an embroidered Tree skirt this morning - and while my husband thought I was a bit daffy making it - the creative fun just zapped me away! It is so good for us to keep our hands and minds busy, and we are so lucky to have a worthwhile outlet.
Marysewfun @-->- (rose)

Me too! Going to the barn and being greeted by a nice warm muzzle makes my day....even after quilting all day. Donna

I have undiagnosed ADD, possibly ADHD and since I discovered quilting 9 years ago, it has really been very therapeutic for me. It's the only thing I have ever been able to sit and do for literally hours at a time!

I'm a caregiver and it's theraphy for me. And a great way to express myself.

well said DebinNY! I agree :)

So sorry about your son :cry: I'm glad you found something to ease your pain.

I've had anxiety and depression most of my life and after a painful relationship breakup I broke down and sought counselling. She put me onto a craft group and I started quilting. We all have the same problem so it also helps to have people around that understand. My group and my quilting are my therapy and I honestly don't know where I'd be without them.

You go, Katie!!

I am amazed at how many of you have overcome medical problems, mental problems. You are all an inspiration to the rest of us. I have suffered from depression most of my life, I will tell my husband I need to sew more. Actually when I am really depressed I don't want to sew, maybe I can turn that around.

Quilting is therapy. I am housebound and sometimes I can't even use the machine so then I embroider a quilt, I NEED to quilt for therapy.

Quilting is therapy. I am housebound and sometimes I can't even use the machine so then I embroider a quilt, I NEED to quilt for therapy.

:thumbup: Let her know we're all behind her every step of the way! I, too, suffer from depression and COPD. Can't stand for long and can only walk several feet at a time. However, quilting is my Godsend, too. I love it...learning new things and realizing I CAN do them is so energizing. We're all in this together and able to get past our various challenges and no one would know from the results of our work the limitations we overcame. Hurrah for us. We're special people! YES WE CAN!

Quilting is my mental health therapy, my physical therapy, and if I have to listen to one more loud action movie on TV therapy. It is the one thing I can do that seems to block anything else out of my mind.

I have Parkinson's Disease and RA. I have always made all kinds of crafts but it is hard now to sit, stand, or anything for very long periods of time. The Quilting is great bcause you have to move. You have to cut, to iron, to lay out patterns, to sew and all of these require movement. So it is great for me. When one position starts to bug me I just move to another step. This Qulting Board has really been fun. You just can not leave here in a bad mood! I have enjoyed and learned so much reading everyones commets. I just can not get off here and continue to act like a witch, you all put me in to good of a mood!

I have RA and Fibromyalgia. Quilting, sewing and needlework help to keep my joints in motion and help with the depression that go along with these diseases. There are days that quilting is a little easier than needlework for me. But I think that this is the best therapy!

Dear Lord, Put all these wonderful women in your loving arms that they always have the overcoming strength to continue using their life saving gifts of creativity. May I always remember that no matter what life brings: aging, mental and physical problems,difficult circumstances, I WILL remember all of you and your example of "ignore, endure and overcome".

Some days it is really tough to stay strong and have a positive outlook. I have fibromyalgia and nerve damage. Sewing, crocheting and doing other "hands-on" activities makes me feel I am still good at doing something and that I really do have worth. I am glad that I can at least continue with this part of my life. It is nice to feel productive, if, even in a small way....

I am so thankful to have this forum for all of us who suffer from health problems and depression. It lets us know we all support each other. God Bless each and every one of you.

BLESS YOU.