Self Care: Essential Oils

There always has been, and always will be, a conflict between natural and medicinal ways to deal with mental health. In my 6 years experience of being diagnosed with depression and an anxiety disorder, from 5 prescriptions down to one, I believe that everyone must have their own balance. You must be comfortable with what you put in your system and how you take care of it.

Personally, I am so proud that I no longer need the amount of prescription drugs I used to to balance my mental health. I am glad I have that one prescription to keep my anxiety in check, and keep the depression at bay. However, sometimes that isn’t enough. Rather than heading back to the doctor’s to renew old prescriptions, I turned to some more natural ways to balance my mental health. The biggest help? Essential oils.

I’m not here to tell you to ditch your meds and go au natural. Everyone must find what works for them specifically. However, essential oils have been a huge help with me every day, and I love finding new and different ways to conquer that constant shadow in my life. There’s such a feeling of pride and resilience when I find a way to not just cope with my mental health, but to be the master of it. So, here are 2 essential oils that I use every day to help with my own mental health.

Lavender Oil

This oil has helped me sleep again. Every night I felt attacked by stress dreams, night terrors and would wake up drenched in sweat and freezing, unable to get back to sleep for hours. Not only could I not get a restful sleep but the continual lack of sleep led to my depression and anxiety becoming more severe. I have a prescription for sleeping pills, but I try not to use them. Instead, I use lavender oil.

Lavender oil is generally used to relax. It has a calming scent that helps with anxiety, nervous tension and stress. It increases mental activity and also helps to relieve that exhaustion you get from being anxious all the time. Immediately I noticed the difference.

I use lavender oil in the bath sometimes when I’ve had a really bad day. Before I go to bed I rub a diluted amount on my wrists and chest and it helps me to sleep. You can also make a spray to use as a calming mist, spray it on your sheets before you go to bed, or leave a few drops on your pillow.

Bergamot Oil

Bergamot oil comes from the bergamot orange, which, you guessed it, is part of the citrus family. Citrus scents have always been a staple in boosting mood but for me, bergamot works best. There are certain organic compounds found in bergamot oil (alpha pinene and limonene) which help create a refreshed, uplifting feeling. This is a huge reason why bergamot oil is used in aromatherapy to treat depression.

According to this study, if you spend 10 minutes every week inhaling bergamot oil, it helps balance your nerves and reduce anxiety.

I often use it in the morning when I’m having a hard time getting out of bed. Inhaling it and using some in the shower helps boost my mood significantly, and gets me ready for the day. On days when my depression kicks in, especially at work, I inhale a little to give me a kick of refreshment, and it helps me carry on my day.

I use mainly Lavender and Bergamot, but there are so many essential oils that have proven to be helpful with mental health:

Basil – helps with fatigue, mental clarity and concentration, anxiety

Roman Chamomile – great for calming the mind and for stimulation

Clary Sage – good for insomnia and panic

Citrus (sweet orange, mandarin, lemon) – acts as an antidepressant

It can be not only helpful, but fun to see what works for you, and how you can use it. You can go to a health food store or even just check the infinite wisdom of the internet to see what fits your needs.