Natural Support for Anxiety
I got so slaughtered by life admin this week that for the first time in ages it was clear I could 'have it all' but not 'all at once', which came up in a podcast I was listening to recently by the wonderful Mel Robbins last week about confidence (this is it)
I had a lot of work meetings bank up after school holidays, we are in the busiest month of the year for my business, and we have reached the (much dreaded) part of our very basic home renovations that mean the entire kitchen is getting pulled out and replaced, including flooring in the next weeks.
Guys, I operate on shaky foundation of a lot of passion and a brain like a jigsaw puzzle missing a few pieces the majority of the time, and it is now my job to perfectly piece together flooring, demolition, plumbing, cabinet makers, electrical and tiling into a range of dates that flow one into the other + choose appliances and all the rest without making a mistake that costs us thousands or breaks our lives basically. LIKE FFS WHO LEFT ME IN CHARGE? (If you asked 100% of my family members if I am the person to project manage this job, nobody would agree I was, including me ).
I can have it all: Great career, great friends, great relationship, great health.
I can't have it all at once: I had to take focus off my work in a hugely busy month to focus on the house. I have said no to plans and invites, and not make any new plans with friends until I get some breathing room. (We all survive the coming weeks).
I've had moments of really deep overwhelm this week, and for anyone with a sensitive child like I have with Ruby, you'll understand that when you really desire isolation and breathing space, your child will want to climb back inside your body and be joined at the hip with you.
I've leaned into my oils this week. Lavender and Frankincense the most. As someone who has had panic attacks and moments of deep anxiousness in my life, Frankincense inhaled directly from the palms of the hands in that moment is UNRIVALLED in its ability to clear the mental space and emotional weight and drop you cleanly back into the moment. Unrivalled.
Lavender is the soft cuddle afterwards. I've said it for 8.5 years and I'll say it again now... choosing these plant extracts for support in trying times has changed me and saved me in hundreds of moments of stress.
If you're anything like me and crave moments of calm amidst the chaos, take my word for it and bring these oils into your home.
If you want less of my learned opinion and more of the science , frankincense and lavender essential oils are known to help with anxiety due to their unique chemical constituents, which have calming and mood-regulating properties.
Frankincense:
Alpha-pinene – This compound has been shown to have anti-anxiety and sedative effects by influencing the nervous system. It promotes relaxation and reduces stress by interacting with GABA receptors in the brain, which helps calm neural activity.
Incensole acetate – Found in frankincense, this constituent can positively impact mood and reduce anxiety by stimulating the brain's limbic system, which is associated with emotions.
Sesquiterpenes – These compounds support the brain’s oxygenation and promote a calming effect on the nervous system, which can help manage stress and emotional balance.
Lavender:
Linalool – One of the primary components of lavender, linalool has strong anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. It interacts with serotonin receptors, which play a key role in regulating mood and anxiety.
Linalyl acetate – This compound complements linalool by promoting relaxation and calming effects. It can reduce tension and soothe the nervous system, making it highly effective for stress and anxiety relief.
Terpinen-4-ol – Known for its sedative effects, this constituent helps lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress, and encourages a state of calm.
Bottom line, the plants know, and they act instantly. They don't have side effects, can be used again and again within short periods of time, and help us in times of need more than I ever would have known.
In the last 8.5 years, they show me again and again how powerful they are in their ability to work with the body and mind, and they may well be the ONLY reason we get a new kitchen in place with all Nicholls family members surviving.
Don't wait for another time to see for yourself. Don't wait until after your MIL comes to stay for Christmas. Don't wait until you take two toddlers on an International flight. Don't wait until Mercury is out of retrograde babe. I don't think it ever is these days.
Just get the kit.
I recommend starting with the Home Essentials Starter Bundle
