Their Stories
“I began wood working to give back to my Soldiers and in the process found grounding in building furniture and small projects for friends and family. I have built up a small hybrid shop in my garage and am working on adding more traditional hand tools and techniques to my processes.”
“I have tinnitus due to exposures in the military and loud noises seems to aggravate it. I haven’t used a router in probably more than 10 years so I’m trying to increase my proficiency with hand tools to fill the void left by not using a router. The winding stick class I took with Plane Wellness reinforced that I need a lot of work on my hand tool skills but it was a great start in the right direction. I started doing woodworking about 25 years ago as mental escape from a job that was mostly sitting in meetings or in front of a computer. I would head to the basement after dinner and just lose track of time. I would often look at my watch and it would be midnight without realizing how late it was and that I needed to get to bed to go to work in the morning. I also have issues with regular headaches due to a neck injury in the military. While woodworking doesn’t get rid of the headaches, it frequently distracts me enough due to my enjoyment level so that I can get greater enjoyment out of life. I give away most of what I make as gifts to friends and family and their appreciation of the items makes it that much more worthwhile to continue on my woodworking journey.”
“My grandfather introduced me to woodworking at a young age and I grew up in and around the shop, so I knew it was a thing that helped me feel creative and calm. Though it wasnt until 3-4 years ago that I got back into it at the suggestion of my therapist, they suggested me reaching back and looking into things that once brought me a sense of calm or joy in an attempt to help deal with the flashbacks and hypervigilance of PTSD. Unsuprisingly this is an effective coping mechanism and helps me deal with the PTSD and helps me focus on the current moment more deeply while also giving me a task to do with my hands. This is also very beneficial for my ADHD symptoms as well and helps me focus on fine details, mistakes are chances to problem solve and increase my frustration tolerance. Overall woodworking is extremely helpful for improving my overall quality of life and mental health.”
“I have struggled with anxiety and depression for the better (or worst) part of my life. I unfortunately have had suicidal ideation and attempted to take my life not long ago. Woodworking has helped tremendously, it brings some calm focus into my life. With Plane Wellness, I feel less alone.”
“I am retired carpenter due to disability on a fixed budget. Working with tools to make and fix things has always been my way of passing time at home. I enjoy learning new skills and hand tools woodworking lets me continue doing what I enjoy while having limited space and income.”
“I joined the Navy in 1982. I was headed down the wrong path in life, and one day while on a run, I ventured into the Navy Recruiters office, completely on a whim. The rest was history. I joined, decided to turn my life around, and that day started a new chapter in my life. The cold war period was anything but cold. I served in many capacities between 82 -89, subs, surface, and special teams. I was wounded in 1987, and spent two years learning how to walk again. That was a very dark time in my life, and one where I started using my hands to do a little woodworking. I loved it from the onset, and it reminded me of times in my Dads shop pounding nails into wood as a toddler. Woodworking became my release, and my coping method for severe PTSD, and depression. Without woodworking in my life, I don’t think I would be here today. I am very grateful for the many great organizations like PlaneWellness (what a great name) that cater to the many Veterans and others battling demons. Thank you PlaneWellnes.org.”
“I am a left-leg amputee at the hip because of cancer. Since the amputation, I have had to adapt many of my hobbies and find creative outlets that I am still able to do safely. Woodworking has been a creative outlet for me to work to create beautiful things. It has helped me be reflective and find beauty through difficult times.”
“I fight depression and am overall just very stressed about life right now. Working on a project allows me to focus on that one thing, and solve the problems inside of that project and that project alone, which is a relief from burning myself out stressing about every other problem I have yet to solve outside of woodworking. Getting the opportunity to connect with other people in the community is a wonderful way to build this part of my life.”
“I am a 22.5 year retired US Army veteran. I am also a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. In my military career, and in jobs afterwards, I was an investigator and administrator/commander. My main disability is major depressive disorder. I got into woodworking as it allowed me to use my hands and mind to create things that do not hurt people and add some beauty to our world. I belong to Plane Wellness to increase my ability to create such beauty.”
“I have struggled with PTSD and ADHD for a large portion of my life and never really found anything that helped ease the symptoms. When I discovered woodworking, it was like a breath of fresh air. My shop, very quickly, became my “safe space”. Woodworking is my break from the chaos. It is not running from my problems; it is setting them aside for a moment to relax and it makes me happy. I know that sounds so small, “it makes me happy” but sometimes being happy is all I can ask for. Woodworking has also taught me things that help my life outside of the shop. Like how to slow my mind down, plan things out, and not jump ahead because if you move fast or jump ahead in woodworking, you make mistakes. Or how to find joy in the little things, like taking a good chisel shaving in oak and not getting tare out.”