According to recent American Psychology Association research, “women are more likely to report physical and emotional symptoms of stress than men, such as having had a headache (41 percent versus 30 percent), having felt as though they could cry (44 percent versus 15 percent), or having had an upset stomach or indigestion (32 percent versus 21 percent) in the past month. The same survey also reported that women are more likely than men to report that they eat as a way of managing stress (31 percent versus 21 percent).”
Whether you are a naturally high-energy individual, a professional in a high-stress environment, a mother juggling multiple to-do lists, or all of the above, this post is for you.
Turns out, there are two types of stress: positive and negative. Positive stress, eustress, is produced during heightened states of arousal, and is commonly linked to a specific goal. Negative stress, distress, is similar to free-floating anxiety, and unlike eustress, which stops cortisol production as soon as the desired goal is complete, sends our body into the proverbial fight-or-flight stress response. The cortisol has no place to go, and wreaks havoc on our bodies.
If left unchecked, stress can and WILL disrupt the following:
- memory/ learning
- endocrine system – mood/ hormones
- immune system
- digestive system – gut health
- cardiovascular system
- circulatory system- high blood pressure
- muscular/ skeletal system
Wow, that’s pretty much every inch of our physical bodies, not to mention spilling into every millimeter of our neurosystem.
Stress Management Protocols
- Diet
- Exercise
- Understand stress triggers
- Social Connection
- Laughter/ levity
- Music
- Aromatherapy
Yes, eat your fruits and veggies, limit fat and sugar intake, and move your body. Sounds familiar, right?
Well, what about time spent with friends and loved ones? According to author and friendship expert Shasta Nelson, lacking intimate relationships with friends is equivalent to smoking several cigarettes a day! If you are interested in learning more about building awesome friendships, check out this post. Additionally, I highly recommend reading her book full of mind-blowing research Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness.
So that brings us to my area of expertise- aromatherapy and using essential oils to boost mood and reduce stress and anxious feelings. As a perpetual learner, this subject has been my central focus for the last 18 months and continues to impress upon me fresh insights that I simply MUST share with the world. (Isn’t that what we do when we LOVE something so much? )
Why use essential oils? The short answer is this: THEY WORK.
Which ones you ask?
Let’s start with Jen’s Top 5 Essential Oils for Stress Reduction
- Clary Calm– every woman’s best friend. This proprietary blend supports raging hormones, hot flashes, and extreme irritability. (ps. Men benefit from this too!) I have a couple of roller-bottles of this blend and prefer to apply topically to my abdomen, wrists, or over the heart for emotional flare-ups.
- Balance– or the “Grounding Blend” mixes peace, harmony, and tranquility all in one! As the name suggests, this is a simple way to bring balance into each day. Start with a drop or two on bottoms of feet each day before beginning the day, and use throughout day as needed on pulse points, and back of the neck.
- Elevation– also known as the “Joyful Blend”, this essential oil blend artfully combines mood-boosting florals like Ylang Ylang, Melissa Leaf, Lavender and Osmanthus with deeply calming oils like Hawaiian Sandalwood and Lemon Myrtle. This essential oil is heavenly diffused in the home! Try diffusing in the kids’ rooms in the morning to promote positive feelings for the start of each day, or diffuse after a long stressful day to help relax and unwind. I like to proactively use Elevation in situations that would typically activate a stress response by applying a few drops behind my ears and on my wrists.
- Neroli– this prized essential oil sourced from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees of Egypt is a surefire way to reduce anxious feelings and instantly lift mood. This essential oil has been extensively researched for its ability to provide users with a calming and positive experience. Bonus benefit, it is great for the skin and blemishes. Personally, I wear this beauty as fragrance and often mix with Jasmine. YUM!
- Peace– called the “Reassuring Blend” for its inherent ability to reassure even the most overwhelmed individual. As someone who struggled for years with anxious feelings, Peace was like discovering that long-lost friend you have waited for your entire life! This essential oil blend does exactly what the name suggests: creates a state of inner peace, composure, and gives you a dose of reassurance in each drop.
For all the times we feel overwhelmed, burdened, burned out, or simply at our wit’s end, there are natural solutions to support you. Think of essential oils as partners in your wellness journey. Full of chemistry, completely diverse, and always there when you need them!
Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas-based dōTERRA Wellness Advocate, Speaker, and Marketing Consultant. She volunteers as a Community Partner for global nonprofit BeadforLife, whose mission is to provide entrepreneurial training to 1 million impoverished people globally by 2027. Click here for a listing of upcoming events, or Follow her on instagram or Facebook @standinlovejen . To begin your natural health and wellness journey today with essential oils, click here .
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