How To Sleep Better If You Have Anxiety
Getting enough shut-eye every night is vital for both our physical and mental health. When we sleep, our bodies perform a variety of functions, from repairing damaged cells to strengthening our immune systems.17
Sleep is also crucial for our brain as its when it processes all the information weve soaked up during the day and consolidates it into long term memories.18
If you dont get enough sleep every night, youll likely feel lethargic the following day, much more irritable and probably have poorer concentration levels. These can all have a big impact on your everyday life and may make any anxiety youre experiencing seem much worse.
Best Essential Oils For Calming Anxious Feelings
The Best Essential Oils for Calming Anxious Feelings. Using pure essential oils as a natural remedy for stress relief or to help reduce anxiety can be very effective. Learn how to use essential oils, create blends and diffusing scents to create a calming atmosphere.
Is Benadryl Good For Anxiety
One of the biggest advantages of using an OTC medication such as Benadryl to treat anxiety is that it is fast-acting and convenient. These qualities can be helpful if you need to reduce symptoms of mild anxiety quickly. Because Benadryl causes many people to feel drowsy, it can also help with sleep.
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Essential Oils And How Do They Work
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids extracted from a plant. Its the naturally occurring chemicals in the liquid that can have a physiological and chemical effect on your brain chemistry and body. When you breathe in the strong aroma of an oil, it is absorbed into your tissues and bloodstream, heading immediately to your lungs and your brain. Your brain is connected to the limbic system, which regulates heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance.
Oils can also be absorbed through the skin, leading to quick absorption into our systems. Since anxiety is housed in the limbic system, oils can provide fast relief to symptoms such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, spiraling thoughts, or sweaty palms. Once these symptoms are more controlled, an anxious person is better able to control his or her breathing and work through the anxiety with more rational thoughts and utilize coping mechanisms.
Essential Oils Really Work
A number of studies have demonstrated that certain essential oils are extremely effective in elevating mood and combating emotional issues like anxiety and depression. They are effective because their aromatic molecules can quickly cross through the blood-brain barrier. This means they can have a direct effect on those parts of the brain that control emotional responses like stress, fear, mood and depression.
A fairly recent study into the effects of essential oils on depression was conducted on 58 terminal cancer patients in a hospice. 58 patients were treated to a hand massage daily for a week. The massage oil was made up of 3 essential oils bergamot, lavender and frankincense diluted with a carrier oil .
Every patient treated with the hand massage reported a reduction in pain and feelings of depression.
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Essential Oils For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
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A few things that I do to help control my anxiety are:
- Deep breaths
- Distract me with something. I keep myself busy, like doing chores around the house, laundry, read a book, listen to music. Whatever I can think of that will get my racing overthinking mind to relax.
- Reason with myself I think, Whats the worst that can happen? Because meeting new people, taking a test or grocery shopping is not going to kill me. At the very least I could make a new friend.
- Using Essential Oils My favorite thing to do is use essential oils to help calm me. I love the smell of lavender the best.
- Using Natural Supplements For Anxiety also helps as I tend to be deficient in some vitamins and minerals.
Below Ive put some of the best essential oils for anxiety, how to use them, facts on the oils, and research.
Essential Oils help calm my mind and body, promote calmness, and reduce symptoms of stress efficiently. These oils are safe to use and have been found to have no side-effects.
Apart from the soothing effect they have on your mind and body, essential oils are very cost-effective. Oils are found to give the same relief that costly anti-anxiety drugs bring.
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The same oil may help calm and relax an individual who is suffering from a panic attack and also help relieve another individuals headache who is suffering from anxious thoughts.
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How To Use Jasmine Essential Oil For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Inhale: Add 1-2 drops to a handkerchief, cotton ball, your wrists or smell directly from the bottle to help alleviate your symptoms of anxiety.
Topical: Put a few drops of Jasmine Oil on your wrists to help calm your anxious mind
Diffuser:
- 1 drop of Jasmine Oil
- 1 drop of Ylang Ylang Oil
- 3 drops of either Orange Oil, Lemon Oil or Grapefruit Oil
Massage: Use a carrier oil such as coconut oil and add together with the above Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, and your choice of either citrus oil.
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Frankincense: Frankincense is most often associated with the nativity of Jesus and one of the important gifts given by the three wise men.
It is popularly used as an incense in honoring gods and goddesses in many cultures. This essential oil is derived from the bark of a Somalian tree and is known for uplifting the mood and calming the senses.
It is also believed to increase spirituality and improve intuition.
This essential oil is known to contain certain chemical compounds that can travel through the blood-brain barrier and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology frankincense contains both anti-depressive as well as anxiolytic properties thereby further affirming that this oil can be very useful in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can either be applied on the skin or used in aromatherapy to help bring the necessary effect.
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How To Use Essential Oils To Retrain Your Sense Of Smell After Covid
Lost your sense of smell? A loss of smell, also known as anosmia, is a common symptom of Covid 19 and for around 10% of sufferers, the distressing problem persists for many months. Aromatherapy, however, could offer an answer. Some doctors now recommend retraining the olfactory senses by sniffing specific essential oils. The theory is that strong scent stimulates the damaged nerves in the nose and encourages healing. The charities AbScent and Fifth Sense offer support for anyone with anosmia, along with smell-retraining kits, and information about how to blend your own oils.
Suggest They Try A Herbal Remedy
There are a number of herbal remedies which have been used for centuries to help relax those who suffer from anxiety.
Valerian root has been used for hundreds of years as a herbal remedy for nervousness, anxiety and insomnia, based on traditional use only. Its able to relax the muscles and slow down brain activity so you feel calmer.53
St Johns Wort is another millennia-old herbal remedy used to relieve symptoms of mild anxiety, based on traditional use only.
St Johns Wort is thought to work by reducing the time it takes for the brain to use up serotonin the bodys happy hormone.54
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Bergamot Essential Oil Citrus Bergamia
Bergamot is one of the most popular essential oils used in aromatherapy to treat depression and anxiety. It has a distinctive floral flavor that drinkers of Earl Grey would immediately recognize. It is also an excellent remedy for insomnia and to reduce nerves and agitation.
Studies done on rats have found that bergamot oil reduces the corticosterone stress response. Other human studies using bergamot in combination with other essential oils have also effectively helped treat depression and anxiety.
When compared to people using a placebo, bergamot blended with lavender oil caused a significant reduction in pulse rate and blood pressure with participants rating themselves more relaxed and calmer than those who used the placebo.
While bergamot is regarded as safe for inhalation, it can cause photo-sensitivity when applied topically. After application, it is best to avoid exposure to direct sunlight for at least 12 hours.
Stress And Anxiety Triggers
Everybodys anxiety is caused by different things. If you know what your triggers are, then hopefully you can then minimise or remove them from your routine.
Some examples of general triggers include driving/travelling, phobias, caffeine and work-related stress.9
Avoid setting yourself unachievable targets if youre suffering from anxiety, as trying to complete everything at once can add to your stress and worries.
Focus your time on the things you can change and ignore the things you have no control over. Resist using alcohol, drugs or cigarettes as coping mechanisms because they can contribute to poor mental health in the long run.9
Remember, youre not alone. Most people experience stress, anxiety and fear throughout their lives.
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How Can You Use Essential Oils Safely
The quality of essential oils on the market varies greatly, from pureessential oils to those diluted with less expensive ingredients. Andbecause there’s no regulation, the label may not even list everythingthat’s in the bottle you’re buying. That’s why essential oilsshould not be ingested.
Johns Hopkins also advises against using essential oil diffusers, small householdappliances that create scented vapor. Diffusion in a public area orhousehold with multiple members can affect people differently. For example, peppermint is often recommended forheadaches. But if you use it around a child who’s less than 30 months old, the childcan become agitated. It could have a negative effect. Additionally,someone with fast heartbeat can react adversely to peppermint.
The safest ways to use essential oils include:
- Aromatherapy accessories: Necklaces, bracelets and keychains made with absorbent materials you apply essential oils to and sniff throughout the day.
- Body oil: A mixture of essential oils with a carrier oil such as olive, jojoba or coconut oil that can be massaged into skin. Because essential oils are concentrated, they can cause irritation. Avoid using them full-strength on skin.
- Aroma stick: Also called an essential oil inhaler, these portable plastic sticks have an absorbent wick that soaks up essential oil. They come with a cover to keep the scent under wraps until you’re ready.
Give Essential Oils A Try
I encourage you to give essential oils a try. I have been in your shoes, desperate to find relief, yet worried about using too many medications. Please email me if you want more information on Young Living Essential Oils. My friend Lindsay introduced me to Young Living oils. If you have any questions, she would be happy to chat with you. While she can definitely help you purchase your oils, she is more than happy to share her knowledge with you as well. You can email her at .
Related: Aimee at Mommy Baby Life has an article about essential oils to use for back to school. Check it out for some more uses of these amazing essential oils.
If you have successfully used essential oils for anxiety, share your experience below.
*Disclaimer The information on this site has not been evaluated by the FDA or the TGA and is not to be taken as medical advice. I am not a doctor and only offer up the personal experience of my family. All material on this website is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this website, instead, readers should consult with the appropriate health professional in any matter relating to their health and well-being. Readers who fail to consult with the appropriate health professional assume the risk of any injuries.
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Diy Organic Body Cologne
Feeling a little down about yourself and feeling like you could use a boost in self-esteem? Essential oils can help when the right combination is used such a DIY Organic Body Cologne. This recipe will infuse the user with strength, security, ease and use citrus to boost energy levels while reducing any anxiety that is felt about the day ahead.
The Best Essential Oils To Calm Anxious Or Stressful Thoughts
One thing I will say about feelings of unrest, stress or anxiety. Giving the body what it needs is the best way to handle those feelings. Feedingit healthy, getting lots of sleep and avoiding alcohol as much as possible because it is a depressant. Also, dealing with the underlying emotional issues and taking care of our mental state. I have personally used all these oils when I feel an attack come on and find them to be extremely helpful.
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Lavender To Relieve Stress
Lavender is known for having anxiety-reducing properties, which can do wonders for your mental health, especially when youre going through a rough patch and cant seem to be able to just sit back and relax. Next time you feel like forgetting about a stressful day at work, keep lavender essential oil in mind: you wont regret it.
Best Essential Oils For Anxiety
Essential oils have been around for centuries, dating back as far as Biblical days when Jesus was anointed with frankincense and myrrh upon his birth. Theyve been utilized since ancient times in various cultures, including China, Egypt, India and Southern Europe.
Some essential oils have even been applied to the dead as part of the embalming process. We know this because residues have been found in tombs dating over 2,000 years old! Essential oils are also prevalent in aromatherapy, which was advanced by French surgeon Jean Valnet, who learned that essential oils could help treat soldiers during World War II a time when medications were scarce.
The beauty of essential oils is that they are natural, extracted from flowers, leaves, bark or roots of plants. While its best to make sure you use pure essential oils, meaning oils that have not been diluted with chemicals or additives, they can provide much needed relief and healing for a variety of ailments, including as a natural remedy for anxiety.
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