Emotional and mental dis-ease is rampant these days. Stress-related physical illnesses, as well as mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, are on the rise. It has become more important than ever that individuals take it upon themselves to find ways to experience more calm and happiness.
Although professional help is certainly important when illness becomes dangerous, there are many things that you can do at home that will help you find a more centered space. Here are a few strategies that you can employ to increase levels of calm and combat stress and negativity.
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Aromatherapy
Certain scents have a direct effect on the brain and can create sensations of calm and contented relaxation. Enjoying the benefits of aromatherapy is extremely simple. All you need are an oil diffuser and a collection of the right essential oils. Diffusers for the home vary greatly in price ranging from around $30 for a basic ultrasonic diffuser to several hundred dollars for a high-end nebulizing diffuser.
When choosing essential oils you should buy the best quality and purest essential oils you can afford. Young Living essential oils are great and reasonably priced. Rarer oils like rose or sandalwood can be pricey, but others are quite economical. Some of the best oils to use for their calming qualities would be lavender, bergamot or clary sage. You can also purchase oil blends that are created for specific purposes such as relaxation or alleviating depression.
Time In Nature
Exposure to the sights and sounds of nature is scientifically proven to increase hormones that induce happiness and relaxation and to significantly decrease stress hormones. Spending time in nature is ideal, but studies have shown that even the recorded sounds of nature or images of natural landscapes have some of the same effects. If getting out of the house or office regularly isn’t an option for you, invest in a CD or phone app that provides the sounds of nature such as the ocean surf or a babbling brook. You can also hang some photos or posters of serene outdoor locations on the walls at the office or home.
If you actually get outside though, you will have the added benefit of getting some sun and experiencing the positive effects of increased vitamin D levels which has also been shown to combat both anxiety and depression. It is worth your while to try to fit in a walk around your neighborhood or a stroll through the local park.
Mind/Body Therapy
There are several mind/body therapies that are being used by mental health practitioners throughout the country that can also be practiced at home. These include EFT, TFT and EMDR.
EFT or the Emotional Freedom Technique and TFT or Thought Field Therapy have many similarities. They both involve focusing on a negative emotion, memory or experience while tapping one of several meridian points in the head or upper torso. EFT uses a common tapping sequence for any issue, whereas TFT assigns specific tapping sequences to each issue or emotion. There is great benefit in working with a mental health professional who is certified in these therapies, but both therapies have been detailed in books geared to the individual and can be effectively practiced on your own.
EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is another mind-body therapy that is used to help people process trauma and negative memories that were not dealt with effectively before and have become trapped in the psyche. This powerful therapy has been used successfully to help people heal from PTSD and severe trauma. Although EMDR is best experienced with a trained professional, there are aspects of it that can be done at home.
If you are dealing with stress, mild to moderate anxiety or feeling down, simple therapies such as these can really make a difference. If you are dealing with severe anxiety or depression you should definitely reach out to a professional to help you heal, but these simple strategies are a great resource to use in conjunction with your work with a therapist.