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> Aromatherapy Articles & Guides > Aromatherapy
and Depression
Aromatherapy and Depression
Chemical/hormonal imbalances and situational
triggers are two major causes for depression. Situational triggers that
can cause depression include the following:
- Death of a Loved One
- Divorce/Breakup
- Health Issues
- Physical or Verbal Abuse
- Job Loss or Unemployment
- Stressful Job or Career
- Financial Hardship
- Retirement
- Moving
- Major Lifestyle Change
- Loneliness
- Pressure from Loved Ones
Depression, for some persons, is only temporary
and for others, can be a constant struggle. Please bear in mind when you
read this article that I am not a medical or psychiatric practitioner.
This article isn't intended to offer diagnosis or medical suggestions.
If you believe that you are suffering from depression, you should consult
with a qualified medical practitioner or psychiatric professional who
can properly assist you. If you are interested in a natural plan of treatment
for depression, consider meeting with a reputable naturopathic doctor
in your area. If you choose to follow any of the ideas presented within
this article, be sure you first discuss them with your doctor or counselor.
Aromatherapy is a complementary health modality.
The safe use of essential oils within the practice of holistic aromatherapy
can help enhance your overall emotional outlook and complement
other traditional and alternative modalities that are intended to combat
depression. Aromatherapy, however, should not be looked upon as a cure
for depression.
Aromatherapy Tips That May Help Combat
Your Symptoms of Depression
| Daytime |
Room Diffusion:
Use a diffuser to diffuse uplifting and energizing
oils into the air. AromaWeb offers a comprehensive article
entitled All About Diffusers that explain the differences
in diffusers and diffusion methods. At work, on aircraft
or in situations where you need to be careful of the
others around you, you can place a drop or two of your
chosen essential oil or essential oil blend onto a cotton
ball or tissue and keep that close to you.
Air Freshener/Room Spray:
Alternatively, you can create an uplifting, energizing
or calming air freshener
that is safer and much more natural than most of the
commercial air fresheners available. AromaWeb offers
an air freshener
recipe that you can customize.
Massage:
Self massage is a wonderful way to quickly and regularly
obtain the benefits of massage. Gently massage your
feet, legs, arms and hands with a soothing massage
oil made with essential oils and nutritive carrier
oils. It not only feels great, but it helps to relieve
stress, improve circulation and the oils help to nourish
your skin. Choose essential oils that match the emotional
outlook that you are seeking. Choose energizing and
uplifting oils for early morning massages or calming/relaxing
oils for nighttime massages. Like bathing, massage is
stimulating to your circulation and should generally
be avoided immediately before bedtime.
Skin and Hair Care Products:
Consider making your own skin and hair care products
that that both nourish your skin/hair. You can include
uplifting or calming essential oils that may also help
reduce the emotional symptoms of depression or sadness.
AromaWeb's Recipe Box
area provides recipes that will start you on your way.
Additionally, AromaWeb's Book
Shelf area provides an array of books that provide
detailed instructions and information on making your
own products from scratch.
If you prefer not to make your own skin and hair care products
from scratch, you can buy unscented lotions, shower gels,
shampoos, conditioners and other pre-made products that make
it easy to simply add your choice of essential oils. Several
of AromaWeb's advertisers offer unscented bases that you can
use. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of your chosen
essential oil or oil blend to already scented products. Just
be careful that the aromas do not clash.
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| Bedtime |
Aromatic Cotton Ball by Bedside:
Add a drop of a calming
or sedating essential oil like Roman
Chamomile Oil or Lavender
Oil to a tissue or cotton ball and place that near
your pillow at bedtime. Roman
Chamomile Essential Oil is considered a natural
sedative. Another essential oil that possesses sedating
properties is Clary
Sage Oil. If you suffer from insomnia, read AromaWeb's
Aromatherapy for
Insomnia article and consider trying AromaWeb's
Insomnia Recipe.
Bed Linen Spray:
Create a calming aromatherapy
bed linen spray
and lightly spray your sheets before bedtime.
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| Bathtime |
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Showering:
Place one or two drops
of an essential oil onto the back edge of your tub or
shower, in an area where the undiluted oil will not
directly touch your skin. Be sure that your tub/shower
surface won't be discolored by the highly concentrated
essential oil. The heat and steam from your shower will
gently heat the oil causing it to evaporate and provide
you with an aromatic shower. For morning and daytime
showering, choose energizing and uplifting essential
oils like grapefruit, rosemary, geranium, cypress or
bergamot. If you shower in the evenings, choose from
essential oils that offer more calming and relaxing
properties such as Lavender,
Roman
Chamomile, Clary
Sage, Rose,
Sandalwood,
or Mandarin.
Bath Oils:
Bathing is a wonderful
way to relax, but avoid taking a bath immediately before
bedtime. Hot water can increase your circulation and
make it hard to fall asleep. Instead, plan to finish
your bathing ritual about an hour before bed. While
bathing, add a drop or two of Roman
Chamomile or Lavender
to your bathwater. For a moisturizing and more aromatic
experience, try AromaWeb's Bath
Oil recipe. You can use this basic recipe and adapt
it using your calming oils of choice. AromaWeb's Aromatherapy
Baths article provides additional information regarding
aromatic bathing.
Bath Salts:
The minerals in natural
salts, especially Dead Sea salts, help to relax muscles
which in turn can help you to relax overall. AromaWeb's
offers a Bath Salts
recipe that teaches you how to naturally fragrance your
chosen bath salts with essential oils. Be sure to select
essential oils that are calming and safe for your skin.
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AromaWeb's Aromatherapy
for Emotional Well-Being Article provides information and a
categorized list of essential oils that can help with depression,
anxiety, exhaustion, fear, grief, and more.
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Other Ways to Help Combat The Symptoms of Depression
Eating and Nutrition
Depression can cause overeating for some individuals and loss of appetite
for others. Eating a healthy diet full of nutritionally-rich foods can
nourish your body so that it can naturally help balance your emotions
and naturally overcome depression. If you are overeating by way of fast
foods, pizza, desserts, sweets and other fattening or sugary comfort
foods, you may still be starving your body of the nutrients that will
help you naturally ward off depression and sadness. Strive to modify your
diet to include nutritionally rich foods. Making a radical and sudden
change, especially when depressed, can be overwhelming and cause you to
quickly give up, so make the changes gradually. Set modest goals, and
take pride in yourself when you have reached the goal. Learn more about
nutrition and eating naturally by talking to your medical practitioner,
consulting with a qualified nutritionist who can tailor suggestions based
on your particular health situation and by reading up on the subject.
Ask your doctor for advice on adding a vitamin/mineral supplement to your
diet.
Exercise
Exercise is a natural way to help ease stress. Exercise helps to flex
and strengthen the muscles and helps to eliminate the tension that builds
up within them. Exercise also helps to speed up circulation and increases
your intake of oxygen. When depressed, it can be especially hard at first
to achieve the motivation needed to exercise, but regular physical activity
can be a powerful way to help combat the feelings of depression, and improve
your overall energy level. Exercising is also a great way to take your
mind off of any situations that may be the source of your depression.
Discuss a fitness plan with your medical doctor first. If the idea of
exercising seems overwhelming, start off slowly with modest goals. Often,
once you start a simple routine and start noticing how your physical and
emotional outlook improves, it is easy to move forward.
Helping Others
I have had the opportunity to learn a great deal about depression by reading,
talking with experts, and soliciting ideas from friends who suffer from
depression. Several life changing events in my past also gave me a first-hand
glimpse at the feelings and symptoms of depression. One suggestion in
particular has constantly surfaced and I have personally found it to be
effective: volunteering and helping others. The idea is that if you focus
on the needs of others, it can help you feel rewarded and forget, at least
temporarily, your own personal struggles. Consider volunteering at a local
non-profit organization, shelter, your church or other establishment.
If that isn't possible, there are still other ways that you can help others.
If you like to knit, for instance, make a blanket for someone who could
use one. If you like to cook, see if there is a shelter or nursing home
in your area that would welcome a batch of cookies. If you have expertise
on a subject, find message boards and communities online where you can
share your advice with others that need it.
Music, Television and Movies
When depressed, it's easy to lean towards watching sad or violent shows/movies
or listening to depressing music or sad love songs that remind you of
your lost love.
Music can illicit powerful emotions. Focus on listening
to musical styles that are upbeat, energizing or soothing. Avoid music
and lyrics that may emphasize a negative emotional state, and steer clear
of songs that trigger sad memories. Just like with the suggestions for
music, focus on watching television shows and movies that are more positive
and upbeat.
Other Ideas
There are many other ideas for activities and practices
that can help you improve your outlook or distract you from any situational
triggers that are causing your depression. Learning more about depression
by discussing your situation with your qualified medical practitioner
and by also reading on the subject can be especially helpful. Amazon.com
offers a huge selection of books on depression. To get started, simply
visit Amazon.com
and type in depression into Amazon.com's
search field.
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