Breathe in These Essential Oils for Anxiety
We all face episodes of anxiety now and then in our day to day lives. It comes about when there is apprehensive behavior like fear, worry or concern – which are all normal human emotions. So, to put it simply, anxiety is a psychological, physiological and emotional state that we create ourselves from our own behaviors. However, the level of anxiety usually vary from one person to another, and also depending on the situation. For example, you may feel more anxious just before taking a test than before meeting an old friend.
In some cases, this feeling can be crippling. While most people experience mild episodes, there are others who experience extreme levels to the point that it interferes with their daily lives. To them, overwhelming worry and fear are constant. If you can relate, then you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders but the main ones are panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder (also known as GAD, and it occurs when you feel extremely anxious for no apparent or particular reason).
The good news is there is no cause for alarm even if you have been diagnosed with (or suspect you are suffering from) an anxiety disorder. Just like ‘normal’ feelings of uncomfortablness, these disorders are not diseases or illnesses. In fact, they are easily manageable, and one very effective way of dealing with them is by using essential oils.
Signs of Anxiety
Remember, a little anxiety from time to time is normal. So at what point should it become a cause for worry? Generally when it is very frequent and forceful such that you can’t carry on with your life normally. Here are a few pointers to help you establish that:
- Sleep problems
- Excessive worry
- Phobias
- Panic attacks
- Being over self-conscious when in a social setting
- Persistent self-doubt
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
Anxiety is not diagnosed using lab tests. Your doctor will review your medical history and examine you to rule out medical illnesses that could be causing the symptoms. From there they can then make a proper diagnosis.
Apart from the behavioral symptoms, you can also use physical symptoms to identify it. Some of the things that can happen when you are anxious include:
- Pounding heartbeat
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Chest pains or tightening chest
- Blurred vision
What essential oil is good for anxiety
Although normal, its effects can be crippling. It can make you fail to carry out your tasks and duties at home, work, school or even in a social setting. But you can treat it simply yet effectively using essential oil blends for anxiety. It is as simple as getting a massage or enjoying their sweet, calming scent – a treatment known as aromatherapy.
In a UK-based study, researchers found that a combination of aromatherapy and massage using essential oil for anxiety reduces and improves mood within a mere 6 months in psychiatric patients suffering from anxiety and depression. It also treats other anxiety-related problems like sleeplessness and allergies.
The scent from essential oils impacts your emotional and physical health in a big and positive way, which explains why aromatherapy has a calming and pain-relieving effect. The fact that essential oils are extremely concentrated makes them perfect agents of aromatherapy.
Calming essential oils
A good example is lavender essential oil. It takes 220 pounds of lavender flowers to make a single pound of the oil! Smelling it for a few seconds or using just one or two drops will work magic in treating anxiety and many other health problems.
Of course, not all essential oils are made equal. Some treat panic feelings much better than others, so when choosing a blend or set, you want to ensure that it has only the best essential oils for anxiety. Here’s a list of the oils that treat anxiety and its symptoms most effectively:
- Lavender oil: its rich aroma is known to calm agitation, reduce stress and treat insomnia, all contributors. It also improves mental concentration.
- Cedar wood oil: the fact that it calms the mind so effectively makes it a great essential oil for anxiety. Additionally, it relieves mental stress and tension.
- Eucalyptus oil: offers a refreshing feeling thanks to its minty aroma that mitigates mental fatigue, alleviates stress and boosts energy.
Lime oil: fresh lime aroma uplifts mood and helps you to keep worry and mental suffering away.
- Orange oil: the uplifting fragrance has been proven to relieve stress and apprehension. As a matter of fact you, can cut down on antidepressants and substitute them with orange essential oil.
- Grapefruit oil: works in the same way as lime and orange oils. In fact, the three belong to the citrus family.
- Cinnamon leaf oil: alleviates physical stress and pain caused by anxiety symptoms.
- Peppermint oil: other than being an excellent breath freshener, it also contains menthol, an aesthetic that provides a cooling and calming sensation when you are feeling stressed or anxious.
Other essential oils to add to your list are ylang ylang, sandalwood, clary sage, frankincense, lemongrass, jasmine, copaiba, and tea tree oils. As you might expect, the more oils there are in a set or blend the better the results.
With that in mind, you should only go for the best extracts in order to get maximum results. We understand that in a market filled with many essential oil brands it may be a bit hard for you to narrow down your options to just one or two. That is why we have taken the liberty to review the very top aromatherapy oils for anxiety in the market today.
Essential Oils for Anxiety
1. Fabulous Frannie High-Quality 6-Pack Aromatherapy
Rating: 4.5 stars after 2,111 reviews
This set comes with 6 different essential oils, each in a 10ml container. The 6 are eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sweet orange and tea tree. Each one comes with tons of benefits. For instance, lavender oil usually calms agitation, eucalyptus relieves stress, orange uplifts mood and rosemary improves memory.
All those will go a long way in alleviating your anxiety. One of the best things about this set is that all the oils are natural and do not contain additives, fillers or carriers. You can use them separately or to make a blend. Either way, they are great with a diffuser or with carrier oils.
2. ArtNaturals Aromatherapy Top 8 Essential Oils
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Rating: 4.4 stars after 4,150 reviews
When it comes to bundling essential oils that treat anxiety, this particular set outmatches all the other bundles by a huge margin. Every single oil in the package has a role to play, be it in uplifting your spirits, helping you sleep, calming your nerves or simply providing a delightful fragrance.
The set contains 8 essential oils, namely, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, sweet orange, and tea tree. Each of the oils is 100% natural and comes in a 10ml bottle. You can use them with a diffuser or humidifier or with a carrier when getting a massage or simply applying them topically. Other than creating essential oil diffuser recipes for anxiety, the oils in this set are also great for healing skin diseases (like eczema) and minor wounds.
3. Anxiety Ease Synergy Blend Essential Oil by Edens Garden
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Rating: 4.4 stars after 748 reviews
This offering is one of the most affordable sets of essential oils for anxiety. With only three oils – lemongrass, sweet orange, and ylang ylang – it is very simple, yet created to perfection. The calming and mild aroma of lemongrass relieves insomnia, irritability and ultimately anxiety. Sweet orange relieves stress, while ylang ylang brings the sensation of cheerfulness while also improving blood flow.
You can get each of the oils in 5, 10, 30, or 100ml bottles, so there’s some great variety there as far as quantity is concerned. The oils are great when used with a diffuser or a carrier.
