FREE GUIDE: Essential Oils and Mental Well-Being
- Rachel Knight
- Aug 8, 2019
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 9, 2019
I am what is known as a 're-active' depressive. I got a bit down about the fact that I kept having miscarriages, couldn't have children and couldn't lose weight. And to be fair I think that's reasonable! I won't bore you with the details, but please feel free to check out my previous blogs. So of course I tried all the advice. But in the end, when you struggle to even get out of bed, going to the gym to exercise to improve your mood isn't exactly a viable option. But I did try, and over the years I attempted different self help options and remedies. However, the reality for me was 16 years taking the good old 'Citalopram' and seemingly no way out. To be fair to the nation's favourite Anti-D, it did help me. And I was luckier than most, in that I found a dose that worked, and stuck to it. But i traded something in. A part of me. That may seem like an extreme thing to say, but when you find Anti-depressants that do their job, you are able to get out of bed and function. Maybe you even find joy in some things. But if you are a fellow 'Citalopram' user you'll know how it dulls the senses. Cheers you up a bit sure, but desire, creativity, ability to demonstrate emotion, these are all the ransom you paid to be able to get out of bed each day.
And sure, that's a step forward. But in the end, whats the point in 'treating' your depression when you've lost an element of who you are. Now, I am not going to advocate that you quit your Anti-D's! Please don't think that you can use Essential Oils to provide an alternative treatment. But if like me, you want to re-engage with the old you, why not explore how some of these suggestions can help support your own mental well-being. And no, I am not an expert. I am a qualified sick children's nurse, but i don't think that qualifies me as a expert. But I am an expert in me. I wanted to feel better, and i took the sound advice of a friend and decided to give something 'wacky' a try. I realised that if conventional medicine couldn't help me, I needed something that could.
OK, lets get stuck in! So, after I did a bit of research, I discovered that our own 'conventional' or 'prescribed' medicines were actually essentially from the building blocks of nature. Manufacturer's just wack in a load of chemicals in order to be able to patent the product and sell it. It makes sense, in Bible times, things such as antibiotics didn't exist, and yet they still found ways to fight off infection. So, it stands to reason that the same wonderful properties in nature can help today, in their basic and raw form.
Essential oils are taken from the actual source or the raw material. Lavender is commonly known to encourage peace and calm, and every drop of Lavender Essential oil comes from the plant. If you buy from a trust source, then you can guarantee that no nasty chemicals or fillers are used. Only pure lavender Essential Oil, meaning that you get the full benefits to support your well-being. So find a trusted source. I will only ever purchase oils directly from doTERRA, after personal recommendation from a friend, and because I have my own wholesale account I get free oils and 25% discount, so win win.
Right, now onto the important stuff. How did I use Essential Oils to support my mental well-being, and ultimately learn to manage without the good old Citalopram after 16 years?
1. The first issue I decided to resolve was insomnia. Anyone with depression and low mood will totally get the struggle. You are totally knackered, barely able to keep your eyes open, and head to bed. As soon as your head hits the pillow your eyes fly open, you start to plan Christmas in June, you worry about that thing that's happening in a months time, and before you know it, 5 hours have passed. Sleep deprivation sucks, as as a Mum to a lively toddler, to say I was on the edge was an understatement. I mean that kid can go to bed at 1am and still wake up at 6am on the dot. And when you are clock watching, 6am comes round pretty fast, and before you know it there's a feeble cry of 'Mummy' from the room next door and you are left wandering how you are going to cope with the day. So the first encounter I had with Essential Oils was with lovely blend by doTERRA called 'Serenity'. Applied to the soles of the feet and a little in the diffuser before bedtime, and I found myself sleeping, yes i actually slept through the night and I felt rested. I honestly couldn't believe the amazing instant effect. OK, so I was becoming a little more open minded about these 'wacky' oils.
2. Next, I attended a free Facebook class hosted by a friend. This one really was directed at me, Essential Oils and Mental Health. I discovered that citrus based oils are great as supporting low mood, panic attacks, anxieties and low self - esteem. My friend offered samples, but I wasn't keen. I love eating citrus fruits, but the thought of smelling them reminded me of cheap air freshener. No ta! But I decided to try and be open minded. I wasn't initially 'convinced' but did find a blend called 'motivation' quite nice. I used it in a roller ball in the mornings to get me a lift, and when I generally felt down. It helped. But it wasn't life changing.
3. But, the one thing I have come to love about using Essential Oils, is exploring and testing them! There are so many blends, and so many options, that of course its not one size fits all. I realised this when i was at my friends home and I smelt an oil blend she had been diffusing called 'Elevation'. I know some of you will switch off from me now, convinced that I really am 'wacky', but when I smelt that blend it was as though my brain engaged with scent, and I instantly knew that my body needed it. I got my wholesale account and ordered it straight away. Now I was convinced. And doTERRA's Elevation has become a central part of my personal daily wellness routine. When I was suffering withdrawal from the Anti-depressants, it was Elevation that supported me through, and eased the symptoms and side effects to manageable level. Its my lifeline. I Diffuse Elevation every day.
4. Since managing my low mood only with Essential Oils, I have also begun to use a blend called Cheer. I use this in a roller ball with fractionated coconut oil. I find that this blend helps me if I feeling overwhelmed or stressed. doTERRA do a handy 'touch' version where they have made the oil ready for use in a roller ball and easy to apply. There's a 'Cheer touch' in my handbag at all times!
5. And the last 2 oils I want to mention are Frankincense and Wild Orange. Both these oils are amazingly versatile, and excellent at supporting low mood. They do sit at each end of the spectrum in terms of cost. But they are both so effective and versatile in terms of how you can use them. For these 2 oils I add 1 drop of each into a veggie based capsule and take daily. These provide a background support to me in terms of promoting physical and emotional well-being and support. They also have sooooo many amazing other properties, that I really couldn't go a day without them. And here is where I add a serious word of caution, if you are going to use Essential Oils internally, please buy from a trusted source who has undertaken certified CPTG testing to ensure the oils you are buying are therapeutic grade and 100% pure oils with no fillers. Because regulation around essentials is sketchy, a manufacturer can claim the oil is 100% pure if they use only a small percentage of pure oil. They can then fill the bottle with literally anything! Cost can be a good indicator, if its cheap, then chances are its not a full bottle of 100% pure oil. This is why I chose doTERRA. As a company they are fully regulated and you can have the full confidence that each bottle of oil is up to the same quality standard as the next one.
So, without much further ado, I am going to go! I hope you've found this helpful. If you'd like to know any more specifics about how my family uses Essential Oils every day, please drop us a message. You can also visit this website to link to how you can buy any of the oils, or get your own 25% DISCOUNT AND FREE OILS!!
Lastly, I want to thank you for keeping with me to the end! I know i've been lighthearted, but trust me as someone who really has been at rock bottom, I know that depression is not something to laugh at. But hey, I am a bit of a 'laugh or you will cry type of a person'. But I want to say with a fully open heart that exploring Essential Oils really has changed my life. I feel like me again and it feels wonderful. And after 16 years of taking prescribed anti-depressants, I am now completely free of them. For the first time in so many years I feel like i've taken control of my own well-being, and if you'd like to give the 'wacky' a try, let me know! I'd love to help guide you to where you can discover your own wellness routine and feel empowered to take control of your own well-being.
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