Feeling an onset of nervous energy? These essential oils for anxiety can help take the edge off.
With anxiety symptoms amongst youth and young adults continuing to rise and classically prescriptive responses to these symptoms as common as they are, it’s no wonder that so many people have trouble managing their mental health.
There seem to be two general camps within the discussion: those who are happy to resort to prescription drugs as a means of management and those who would hate nothing more than relying on pharmaceuticals.
I, like many I know, have struggled with anxiety on and off since I was a teenager. Although I have used anti-anxiety medications at times and value the importance of them in certain circumstances, I also feel strongly about complementing any sort of management plan with a slew of holistic antidotes.
When you incorporate a breadth of resources, you are less likely to become overly dependent on any one. Of course, it’s also important to recognize that in many cases, the response to anxiety is to tackle the symptom when we should really be trying to address the condition at the root.
But there are a few practices you can implement on a daily basis that may not cure you but might make your experience with anxiety a tad bit easier. One of my favorites quick fixes is to use essential oils for anxiety to calm my body and mind when I’m feeling a bout of intense anxiety.
The reaction may not last, and that’s where other forms of management and self-exploration come in, but at least these oils can assist you in taking your anxiety down a few notches in the moment.
Here are a few of the best oils for dealing with anxious behavior and similar mental health concerns:
-Lavender: known to calm the nervous system and reduce stress by lowering cortisol
-Peppermint: increases alertness, which can often become altered when in the middle of an anxious episode
-Chamomile: in addition to being a scent we all love for its cozy, peaceful connotations, this oil can also help alleviate depressive tendencies that often appear alongside anxiety
-Clary Sage: very mild sedative and has been said to induce feelings of euphoria–helpful for when your brain is running a thousand miles a minute
-Basil: also calms the nervous system and improves digestion, which often gets blocked up when the body is under stress
-Rose: maybe because it reminds us of our grandmother’s bedroom, this oil has been touted for increasing feelings of well-being and one’s general emotional state
In addition to the mental effects that these oils can have, many of them are antibacterial or anti-fungal, can improve circulation, improve the immune system, soothe sore muscles, and/or reduce inflammation in the body. And we all know that when the body is taken care of, it becomes easier to care for the mind–so don’t underestimate the benefits that the physical impacts of essential oils can have on our brains.
But now that you have all these oils, what can you do with them?
Here are just a few options when using these essential oils for anxiety, but don’t be afraid to explore more options:
-rub on your wrists, temples, or under your nose
-add to pot of hot water and hold your face over the steam for a mini facial
-if food grade, drop a bit into a mug of tea
-vaporize them in an oil burner
-drop a bit on your pillow before you go to sleep
-throw a few drops in with your next load of laundry
There are many ways to use oils. These are some of the easiest and most pervasive, but they are also just the tip of the iceberg. I would recommend trying them in addition to breathing techniques, soothing activities such as gentle yoga or nature walks, and self-care rituals like warm baths or journaling.
Regardless of whether you use medication to deal with your anxiety and what your personal take on doing so is, non-medicinal remedies can be one extra way to boost your mental wellbeing and restore a sense of calm in your life. Seeing as oils are so readily available these days, I believe they’re one of the best stress reduction methods you can enact! And it doesn’t hurt that they will leave you smelling amazing.
What are your favorite essential oils for anxiety? Let us know in the comments if any of these solutions have worked for you!
Also by Quincy: Going Vegan In Japan? What You Need To Know About This Tofu & Mochi Wonderland
Related: How to Use Essential Oils for PMS Relief
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Photo: Abi Porter via Flickr
