Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. That sentence should not be radical. No one should feel like they have to hide a part of themselves. I live with CPTSD. There is nothing wrong with that. All those letters mean is my brain functions differently than someone else’s, and there’s a potential that my brain looks physically different. That’s just my body trying to survive. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Typically on #MentalHealthMondays, I’ll post something soft, usually some form of a reminder in the hopes someone who lives with PTSD, depression, anxiety or any other mental illness feels seen. To those people, I want to remind you now you and your experiences are valid. Suffering is not a contest and it is okay to make a big deal out of the things you feel strongly about.
Living with CPTSD has taught me so much about how the brain works, especially in relation to the body. I have countless triggers, most of which I encounter on a daily basis. Anything from pain to just being around angry or loud people have the potential to send me into fight/flight/freeze mode. And while I have been in therapy for around a year, I’m still learning how to manage being around those triggers. My favorite method is a grounding technique called Mindfulness. When you practice Mindfulness, you focus on one thing, list off as many details as you can about that thing and that forces your brain from thinking in “alligator brain” to using the frontal lobe where the brain processes information.
For me, practicing Mindfulness has reduced my panic attacks. I was having an attack at least 3 times a week. I want to emphasize I still have panic attacks when I’m put in stressful or uncertain scenarios, and still Mindfulness reduces the time I spend in the attack. I use an essential oil blend to focus on, which actually gives me other benefits beyond being able to function.
The body absorbs essential oils in two ways. The first, and fastest, is inhalation. When you diffuse an essential oil or smell it in a product the molecules from the oil travel into the olfactory membrane, which in turn passes information to both the limbic system and the cerebral cortex. Whichever oil you inhale will carry certain messages to your brain on both the emotional front from the limbic system and the logical front where an essential oil can encourage clear thoughts or an energy boost- whatever the goal may be. From inhalation, the molecules of the oil are also carried into the bloodstream from the olfactory system by way of the millions of microscopic capillaries in the nose. The second way essential oil is absorbed into the body is through the largest organ. The skin. Similar to the nose, the skin contains capillaries between its 4 layers. However, because the skin is thicker than the membrane found in the olfactory system, it takes longer for the essential oil to enter the bloodstream, which mimics a time release response. You get the benefit of your oil over a longer period of time when you apply topically.
That was a lot of science, so how do my thoughts connect? What does Mindfulness have to do with how essential oils interact with the body? I designed my products with all of this in mind. Through a lot of trial and error, I discovered that when I use that blend topically and in a space where I can smell it easily, I can have maximum control over my many triggers. Because the blend is full of oils that contain calming properties, I get the benefits both immediately through aromatherapy and over a longer period of time through my skin absorbing that oil.
I believe everyone deserves peace and joy. Everyone deserves to have as much control over their triggers and pain as possible. In a way that is easy to use and effective. That’s why I use rollers and sprays when I’m going anywhere in public. The sprays can be used more as a perfume and put on pressure points or used on fabric like a pillow. The rollers allow direct and controlled contact with the skin. When you roll The Calm Before on your wrist, you are able to get the scent whenever you need it, while absorbing the calming effects into the bloodstream and enjoying those effects over a longer period of time.
Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone deserves peace and joy. Everyone deserves to live freely. Find The Calm Before and discover how you can use your peace.
Peace to you,
Willow R
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