Feeling Anxious? Essential Oils Can Help Reduce Anxious Feelings
Do you get anxious throughout the day? There are so many reasons we can feel this way. Our kid’s school drop-off and pickup, going into a new place we’ve never been before, waiting for test results from the doctor, traffic, a looming deadline at work, our workmate’s annoying habits, meeting new people, running late. Do any of these sound familiar to you? What makes you anxious?
Symptoms can include a rapid heart rate, cold, clammy palms, rapid rate of breathing, tense muscles, and a short temper to name a few. Whenever I feel any of these coming on, I know I need to take a deep, cleansing breathe, relax my body, and I reach for my essential oils. I carry them everywhere with me.
There are many essential oils which can help reduce anxious feelings, soothe away tension and calm emotions. Here are some of my favorites. I usually pick 1 or 2 to use at a time and either apply them topically to pulse points, or diffuse them into the air to surround myself with the calming aroma.
Single Oils:
Lavender is one of the most popular and well known essential oils and has been used throughout history for it’s calming properties. It can help calm and relax, and increase the ability to express feelings. This versatile oil can be taken orally, applied topically, and diffused into the air. One of my favorite ways to use Lavender is by making a linen or bed sheet spray. It is wonderful when used right before bedtime.
Frankincense also known as “the king of oils”. Nearly all of the ancient religions have used Frankincense in their practices. It is mentioned throughout the Bible, and known most famously as one of the gifts given to baby Jesus by the wise men.
This oil is amazing, not just for emotional support, but for any ailment. There is a well known phrase in the oil world: “When in doubt, use Frankincense”. It is in many of doTERRA’s proprietary blends. I personally use it by putting a drop under my tongue first thing in the morning. It is wonderfully calming and puts my in the right frame of mind. I am then ready to face the day. It blends well with lavender Sandalwood, Myrrh, or any oil actually.
Roman Chamomile – Safe for small children and very calming
Bergamot is in the citrus family, and has a wide variety of uses. Like Lavender, it has also been used throughout history and was used in the first eau de cologne and is used to flaor Earl Grey tea. It also a very calming oil and can help increase self-confidence. It blends well with Lavender, Ylang Ylang, and Patchouli.
Wild Orange is also in the Citrus Family and smells amazing! It is wonderful used aromatically or inhaled from palms of hand to balance energy and uplift mood. It can be applied topically to pulse points to soothe nerves. It blends well wit Peppermint, Lavender and Cinnamon.
Ylang Ylang is steam distilled from the flower of the plant. It is wonderful diffused or inhaled from the palms of hands and applied topically to pulse points. It can take you from Burdened to Exuberant. It blends well with Bergamot, Sandalwood, and Frankincense.
Cedarwood is a wonderfully calming oil. It is steam distilled from the wood of the Cedarwood tree. It can be applied topically to the bottoms of feet, or diffused. It blends well with Bergamot, Juniper berry, and Cypress.
Juniper Berry – Very calming and relaxing
Doterra Specific Blends:
Serenity Calming Blend – This blend smells heavenly. It contains many of the single oils mentioned above, including Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood and a hint of vanilla.
Balance Grounding Blend – The name says it all. I love to combine this with the Serenity Blend mentioned previously. The two combined = Bliss!
Clary Calm – This blend contains many of the single oils mentioned above. Need I say more? I have seen nervous twitches go away minutes after using this blend.
Breathe Respiratory Blend – This is actually more known for it’s benefits to the respiratory system, however, it is a very calming blend. I like to carry around inhalers of this blend and I also love to diffuse this next to all the beds in my house at night.
There are many tips and tricks to dealing with this common affliction – meditation, relaxing music, and snuggling with a pet, and eating healthy are just a few. All of these can be combined to help lessen the stress and tension brought on my anxious feelings.
Dawn Goehring
Dawn Goehring is the founder of Desert Naturals where she writes educational articles on essential oils, DIY’s on natural beauty products, homemade cleaners, and provides related essential oil accessories like planners, trackers, tshirts, and custom designed essential oil storage. She has been featured in articles on Porch.com, Redfin.com, MommyOnPurpose and more.
Dawn has earned an aromatherapist degree and has earned a doTERRA essential oil specialist certification which is a fancy way of saying she has learned a lot about the chemistry of essential oils and how they work in the body.