Anxiety can be debilitating. I know because I’ve suffered from anxiety for most of my life. That nagging restlessness, the tightness in my chest, the overactive mind, the social awkwardness… all preventing me from being my best self. Eventually, I reached a point in my life where I no longer wanted to be controlled by my emotions. I no longer wanted to feel that I disappointed myself, AGAIN, or missed another opportunity because my emotions took over my centeredness and clarity.

I reached rock bottom in my early thirties and went on a personal quest to break free from my self-limiting ways. I was desperate to heal my anxiety and live in an empowered state whereby I knew I was actualizing my full potential. My first breakthrough was with NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) where I learned that my thoughts create my feelings and therefore my reality. And so, I began to work on improving my thoughts and mindset. Then I finally mastered meditation (after 20 years of learning). Learning to live in a mindful state and meditate through my anxiety changed my life.

I have recently discovered a new tool that I wanted to share with you that has taken my calmness, clarity and confidence to another level.  Before I do, I wanted to share with you the five most important things I have learned about anxiety:

1. Anxiety is the body’s reaction to overthinking (usually about something in the future). Every thought creates a feeling. The feelings in the body create emotion. Emotion can be understood as energy-in-motion. When we are anxious, we focus on worrisome thoughts, negative energy is created in the body. (Change your thoughts, change your energy).
2. Anxiety highlights blocked emotional energy stored in the body. These blockages are a result of past pain, trauma or stressful moments that are trapped in the cellular memory of the body. When we are in stressful or emotionally challenging situations, these ‘pain buttons’ get triggered. (Heal your past pain…eliminate triggers)
3. The same spot where we feel joy is where we feel anxiety. This can include tightness in your throat, butterflies in your belly or a tightness or burning in your chest. (Feel the pain, sit with it long enough and watch anxiety transcend).
4. We can intentionally create a desired emotional state- just as negative thoughts create anxiety, positive and focused thoughts can create calm, peace or happiness. (Flip your focus, flip your emotion)
5. Our five senses direct our focus. When we target our sense of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell in an intentional way, we can create the desired emotion. (You are the bus driver- you can decide where your focus and energy go)

A few months ago a wonderful client and friend introduced me to the world of Essential Oils. Because I am constantly searching for ways to assist clients (and myself) with healing, I jumped in. I was eager to know more and understand the science behind them. (I am Geeky that way). Because our sense of smell is directly linked to the emotional centre of the brain, Essential oils bypass our stress response (fight/flight/freeze mode) and offer instant relief to anxious feelings. I was also taught a technique that has become my daily self-care ritual to help me stay connected, calm, grounded and clear in the mind.

Let me introduce you to aromatic anchoring.

An anchor is a link between a stimulus and a response. Think of Pavlov’s dogs. Every time they were offered food,  Pavlov would ring a bell and the dogs would salivate. Eventually, when they heard the bell ring, they would salivate. The bell acted as the anchor (the link) to let them know the food was on its way. We, too, have been conditioned in the same way. We have thousands of anchors that trigger various emotional states. A song can instantly make you cry or feel good. A person giving you an aggressive look could instantly make you reactive. An aromatic anchor works the same way.

Steps to create an aromatic anchor:

1. First, decide what emotion you want to create. For example, do you want to feel calm, relaxed, peaceful, grounded, clarity, confidence, courage or motivation?
2. Chose an oil that is related to your desired emotion. The following oils help dissolve anxiety:

Lavender

Rose

Vetiver

Ylang Ylang

Bergamot

Chamomile

Jasmine

Frankincense

3. Drop 1 or two drops of your desired oil into the palm of your hands. Rub your hands together and cup your hands over your mouth and nose. Inhale the oil.
4. As you are inhaling your oil, direct your senses towards your desired emotion. This is done by creating a visual image, scripting an affirmation and feeling your breath in your body. For example, if I wanted to create a feeling of calm I may visualize the ocean or imagine myself floating in the ocean. I will then say the words, ‘I am calm’ to myself and as I am focusing on my image of calm and directing my self-talk, I will then feel the sense of calm in my body and send that feeling of calm around my body with my breath. This now means that my key senses are intentionally focused.
5. Your mind will associate a link between the smell of the oil and the emotion you are feeling- you have now created an aromatic anchor.
6. Keep the oil handy throughout your day and as you feel yourself getting stressed or anxious repeat steps 3 and 4. Over time as you smell the oil you will instantly feel calm.

Practice this technique as you wake up in the morning so that you are starting your day with a calm mindset. Use the oil periodically throughout your day when you feel stressed or anxious and then use it again just before sleep to ensure you have a deep sound sleep.

Please be in touch if you have any questions.

Interested in learning more about Essential Oils?
Come along to the following event: Workshop-Classic-Wellness

You may also enjoy my Anxiety Relief Guided Meditation (Episode 17). x