Emotional wellness is an important part to a healthy lifestyle and your physical health as well. Find out how aromatherapy can help your emotions and stress. Learn what essential oils for emotions are best for your wellbeing, plus get DIY recipes and blends to try.
In the fast-paced world we live in, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Essential oils can help to calm emotions and promote feelings of peace.
Lets start first with an overview of essential oils and emotions, and then dive into some specific emotional concerns and what essential oils can be used to help with them.
Essential Oils for Emotional Support
Essential oils are the aromatic, volatile compounds of plants. They exist in the leaves, stems, roots, bark, flowers, and other parts of plants. In nature, they help protect the plant from predators and aid in the pollination process.
If you’ve ever smelled a rose, you’ve experienced aromatherapy and essential oils. The two ways that essential oils are used are aromatically and topically.
Aromatic Essential Oils
Aromatically is simply smelling the essential oils. You can do this by using the oils in a diffuser, a personal inhaler, or by simply opening the bottle up and taking a sniff.
Aromatic use is the very best method when using essential oils for emotional support.
Topical Essential Oils
Topical use of essential oils is diluting the oils and applying them to the skin. Essential oils can be diluted in a carrier oil like a fatty vegetable oil, unscented lotion, or can be made into a salve using simple, inexpensive ingredients.
You’ll want to ensure that you’re using high quality, 100% pure essential oils, free of fillers, to experience the maximum results.
Mind-Body Connection and Aromatherapy Scents
Have you ever heard of the mind body connection? Simply put, the mind-body connection means that anything affecting the mind, positive or negative, is also going to affect the body –and anything affecting the body is also going to affect the mind.
This explains why when we’re dealing with stress, anxiety, fear and worry, or depression not only do we feel the effects emotionally, but we also feel them physically as well. Not only that, but dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to a vast array of chronic medical conditions.
Let's dive into how you can use different types of essential oil blends to treat negative emotions.
How do essential oils affect emotions?
When we smell an essential oil, we have what’s called an olfactory response. The essential oil travels through the olfactory system and reaches the limbic part of the brain. The limbic area of the brain is thought to be one of the oldest parts of the brain and has a direct connection with emotions and memory. It stands to reason then, that using an essential oil that is calming and relaxing can have very positive benefits when dealing with anxiety and depression.
In addition, lipid soluble substances, such as essential oils, can cross the blood brain barrier and produce rapid effects in the brain. There is much research linking the effects of essential oils to producing calming, feel-good, neurotransmitters in the brain.
It is well known in the holistic health community that most diseases today are chronic, degenerative diseases or emotional imbalances that are highly linked to stress.
Stress and the Body
When we hear the word stress, most of us are going to have a negative response right away. The thing is, not all stress is bad.
Sometimes stress helps us to perform at our best, keeps us safe, and gives us courage. That kind of stress is good, and we want to have that kind of stress in our lives.
However, too much stress can be seriously detrimental to us both physically and emotionally and lead to anxiety, depression, anger, and addiction. In a normal response to stress, our bodies sense danger (or the stressor) and goes into “fight or flight” mode, preparing us to fend off an attack or act.
Different hormones and neurotransmitters are secreted from the body and can cause this reaction to take place in a mere matter of seconds. Once the threat has passed, other hormones and neurotransmitters are released to help us calm down and come back to our natural state.
When dealing with too much stress, or stress over a prolonged period, our body can lose the ability to calm back down and return to normal, which can then lead us into a world of anxiety, depression, and sickness.
Stress plays a major role in our immunity too. When we’re under large amounts of stress our body loses the ability to make pathogen fighting cells as quickly and efficiently as it can under normal circumstances. This leaves our immune system weakened and can leave us prone to infections and illness and leave us sick for longer periods of time.
What can we do about stress? For starters, we can adopt healthy habits that give our body’s the best ability to fight off stress. Things such as having an outlet to deal with frustrations and strong social support. We want to learn techniques to calm the mind and promote a positive mental attitude, exercise, eat healthy, and add botanical supplementation, such as essential oils for stress, to our self-care routines.
How to Use Essential Oil for Emotions
Before we move into essential oils for stress and supporting the emotions, let’s take just a minute to look at some of the other positive benefits that essential oils can have. When you’re incorporating essential oils into your lifestyle to help with anxiety and depression, you will likely notice some other very positive effects.
Can essential oils change your mood?
Using essential oils aromatically not only help to calm the mind but they also promote relaxation, elevate mood, support healthy sleep habits, enhance our self-image, and enhance our focus and performance at work.
When it comes to using essential oils for mood, keep in mind that aromatherapy can be used as an active treatment, for example when you’re dealing with an anxiety attack, but it can also be used as a preventative. That being said, I feel it’s important to make essential oils a part of your daily lifestyle to get the maximum effects.
Ways essential oils can be used:
- Dilute to 2% and Apply Topically to the Skin
- Aromatherapy Diffuser
- Nasal Inhaler/Smelling Salts
- In Unscented Lotion or Body Cream
- Aromatic Spritzer/Room Spray
- Bath Salt Recipes
Essential Oils for Anxiety Relief
When we’re looking at helping with anxiety, our therapeutic goals for our essential oils is to relieve the anxiety, decrease stress, and decrease the muscle tension that comes along with anxiety.
We also want to encourage relaxed, deep breathing, as this is also key to modulating anxiety. You may also want to look at addressing physical symptoms that come along with anxiety such as trouble sleeping, nausea, and fatigue.
- Bergamot
- Sweet orange
- Lavender
- Roman chamomile
- Valerian
- Sweet marjoram
- Vetiver
- Basil
- Cedarwood
- Cypress
- Frankincense
- Jasmine
- Lemon
- Lime
- Neroli
- Melissa
- Palmarosa
- Patchouli
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Ylang ylang
Anxiety Relief Diffuser Blend - Harmony |
Directions: Add essential oil drops to your aromatherapy diffuser with recommended water for the tank. Turn diffuser machine on and enjoy. |
Essential Oils Helpful for Depression
When dealing with depression, our therapeutic goals include relieving the depressive feelings, provide emotional support, relieve common symptoms associated with depression (sleeplessness), and improve our self-image.
- Lavender
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Roman chamomile
- Clary Sage
- Cypress
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Jasmine
- Lemon
- Mandarin
- Sweet marjoram
- May Chang
- Melissa
- Neroli
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Tangerine
- Ylang ylang
Bliss Essential Oil Inhaler Blend |
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
Essential Oils for Stress
Are you feeling stressed out? If so, you're not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, stress is one of the most common mental health problems in the United States. Luckily, there are things you can do to reduce your stress levels. One option is to use essential oils for stress relief.
Here are some of the best essential oils for reducing stress and anxiety:
- Basil
- Roman Chamomile
- Bergamot
- German Chamomile
- Cedarwood
- Clary sage
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Sweet Marjoram
- May Chang
- Melissa
- Neroli
- Sweet Orange
- Petitgrain
- Patchouli
- Rose
- Rosemary
- Sandalwood
- Tangerine
- Vetiver
Stress Away Diffuser Blend |
Directions: Add essential oil drops to your aromatherapy diffuser with recommended water for the tank. Turn diffuser machine on and enjoy. |
Essential Oils for Insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can cause daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Sometimes our emotions, like worry and fear, can make it difficult to sleep at night. Without a good night's sleep, your emotions will be affected.
Essential oils are natural remedies for insomnia that can help you get the rest you need to feel your best. Here are some essential oils that can soothe emotions and help you sleep.
- Bergamot
- Roman chamomile
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Sweet Marjoram
- Neroli
- Petitgrain
- Sweet orange
- Valerian
- Sandalwood
Insomnia Relief Diffuser Blend - Snooze Anywhere |
Directions: Add essential oil drops to your aromatherapy diffuser with recommended water for the tank. Turn diffuser machine on and enjoy. |
Essential Oils for Self Esteem
Self esteem is one of the most important aspects of our lives, and it's essential to take care of it. Thankfully, there are many things we can do to nurture our self esteem, including using essential oils. Essential oils can help us feel good about ourselves and boost our confidence.
Here are some self-esteem boosting essential oils:
- Bergamot
- Cypress
- Grapefruit
- Jasmine
- Orange
- Rosemary
Self-Esteem Diffuser Blend |
Directions: Add essential oil drops to your aromatherapy diffuser with recommended water for the tank. Turn diffuser machine on and enjoy. |
Essential Oils for Fatigue
Emotional fatigue can leave you feeling lifeless. Try one of these stimulating essential oils so you can be present in the moment and productive.
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Clary Sage
- Frankincense
- Ginger
- Grapefruit
- Jasmine
- Lemon
- Patchouli
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Sandalwood
Energy Boost Inhaler Recipe |
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
Essential Oils for Memory
Memories and emotions have a strong connection. Check out these 5 essential oils that are know to assist the memory.
- Basil
- Cypress
- Lemon
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
Sharp Memory Essential Oil Inhaler Blend |
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
Essential Oils for Agitation
Agitation is a common side effect of various mental health conditions, but it can also occur in people who don't have any diagnosed mental health conditions. If you're experiencing agitation, essential oils may be a good option for you to try.
- Roman Chamomile
- Lavender
- Mandarin
- Sandalwood
Inhaler Blend for Emotions - Calming |
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
Essential Oils for Grief and Sadness
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult things a person can go through. While there is no easy way to deal with grief, using essential oils may help make the process a little bit easier.
These powerful plant oils have been used to treat a variety of health issues, and they can also be helpful in managing grief. Here are some of the best essential oils for grief:
- Bergamot
- Roman Chamomile
- Clary Sage
- Frankincense
- Grapefruit
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Orange
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Ylang Ylang
Essential Oil Blend for Grief |
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
Essential Oils for Isolation
If you're someone who feels isolated, essential oils may be a great resource for you. Isolation can feel like a heavy weight that's hard to shake. But, with the right oils, you can start to feel more connected and supported. Check out some of our favorites below:
- Roman Chamomile
- Bergamot
- Clary Sage
- Frankincense
- Rose
Uplifting Essential Oil Blend for Inhaler |
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
Aromatherapy and Emotional Issues
Of course there are other emotional issues that we might deal with that could benefit from aromatherapy support. Certain essential oils, such as Bergamot, Ginger and Grapefruit can help to increase confidence while others, such as Lemongrass and Basil can help with issues dealing with focus.
No matter what kind of emotional issues you’re dealing with, the most important factor to take into account when looking to essential oils for emotional support is that you like the scent of the oils you’re using.
If you’re trying to force yourself to use an essential oil that you don’t like the smell of just because you heard it was good for a specific challenge you’re going through, all you’re doing is adding more stress to your body. Stick with oils that are pleasing to you,even if aren’t necessarily suggested for your condition, you’ll have much better results.
What is the best essential oil for hormones?
There are many essential oils that can be used to support healthy hormones and alleviate the symptoms that happen when hormones get out of whack. No matter what’s going on with you hormonally, aromatherapy can be of great benefit in helping to balance your hormones.
Essential Oil and Emotions Summary
We’ve looked at the mind body connection and how stress, anxiety and depression can have negative effects on our health and well-being. We’ve learned what essential oils are and how we can use them, as well as why using essential oils aromatically holds the biggest benefit for us when using them for emotional support. We’ve talked about how stress is strongly linked to all diseases, both physical diseases and diseases of the mind.
Lastly, we’ve talked about how to use essential oils for anxiety, depression and other issues to support the body and the mind during these conditions. It is my hope that you’ll be able to take this information and use it to create an aromatic self-care regimen for yourself that can help you feel better both physically and mentally.
Emotions and Essential Oils Guide
Get the guide that is full of helpful tips and uses for adding essential oils for your emotions to your daily routine.
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