Essential Oils as part of your Mental Health Treatment

I was doing the work, and though I was feeling slightly better, I still wasn’t feeling great

Living with mental illness is not easy. It is a constant and inconvenient problem without a clear solution. You know you are not feeling right, and you know you want to feel better (because who doesn’t?), you do the things you think you ought to do. You think happy thoughts, if only for a minute, and tell yourself that you do not have it all that bad. When all that fails - which in my case was a near-death experience – you seek out therapy if you have the means. You take antidepressants like your doctor tells you to and then you wait. You feel better, or not.

This is my story. I was doing the work, and though I was feeling slightly better, I still wasn’t feeling great, except when I was on a yoga mat or in the forest. The mental space I would find myself in while doing those two things was refreshing….it felt amazing and hopeful, but of course, life would call and I would have to respond. It felt good knowing that there was more I could do for myself and I craved more of that. At the time, I did not know much about essential oils, except that they flavoured my toothpaste and that Lavender oil was one of them. All that changed when I decided to learn more about essential oils after attending an intro to essential oil class I found on Instagram. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts which can be used topically, aromatically and internally to promote mental wellbeing and ease physical discomfort.

Today, I use my essential oils for literally everything, from relieving neck and head tension to supporting my immune system and relieving occasional constipation. What I mostly use them for, though, is supporting me on my worst days by reducing sad and anxious feelings while calming my emotions. Figuring out what works for me took time and patience, but has enormously impacted how I feel - and what works for me won’t essentially be the same as what works for you. This is because, aromas are processed in the limbic system, where our memories and emotions are stored, and it is possible for two people to have a different reaction to the scent of the same oil. This is perhaps why essential oils have been used for so long – each person can create an individualized experience based on their unique experiences and preferences.

So you might be wondering, “Why should I use essential oils to manage my emotions?” Firstly, they are natural, safe substances that won’t cause harmful problems, or endanger your health and body. Secondly, essential oils provide a great way to quickly alter your mood and lastly, essential oils provide you with a convenient way to manage mood nearly any time of day and in any location. While each essential oil has its own chemical makeup, essential oils for emotional aromatherapy can be categorized into one of two categories—uplifting and calming. Calming essential oils mostly consist of floral oils due to their chemical makeup. Uplifting essential oils are usually in the citrus, spice, or mint family because these plants produce oils with invigorating, uplifting, and energizing aromas.

Some of my favourite essential oils to reduce sad and anxious feelings include; Lavender - for its relaxing and calming properties, Copaiba – for its amazing interaction with the endocannabinoid system to create a calm and relaxing environment, Wild Orange – for its revitalizing aroma that can provide energy on a stress-filled day, Lemon - to promote a positive mood and Frankincense – to induce feelings of peace, satisfaction, and overall wellness.

When you are ready to incorporate essential oils into your mental health treatment, there are a few simple steps that will help you achieve your desired outcome:

1. Determine the type of emotion you want to evoke

2. Find an essential oil with the properties that fit the emotional response you want to promote

3. Determine the best application method to help you experience the emotional benefits of the oil (diffusion, topical application, massage, etc.)

4. Consider blending several essential oils together to experience multiple emotional benefits

5. Apply the essential oil using your chosen method, and enjoy the immediate emotional responses that follow.

Emotional aromatherapy is a simple and effective method for managing emotions and enhancing mood.

by Tshegofatso Sekgwele

Investment Specialist at Sanlam

Owner of Grounded Wellness

Instagram: @groundedwellnessza