Emotional health is an important part of living a full and content life, able to handle all of the world's curve balls. Thankfully, if you struggle with this concept, there are a few tools to help including essential oils for emotional health.
We know that these oils can have amazing benefits for physical and mental health, but using them to help support emotional well-being can get you in the right frame of mind to deal with all the hits life throws at you (life loves to throw too many sometimes).
In this post, we'll get into all the ways essential oils can help you find emotional peace and which oils are best to try.
What Is Emotional Health?
Many people use emotional and mental health interchangeably, but they are two distinctly different (yet related) things. The concept of emotional health is the ability to positively manage emotions in the face of stressors.
Processing emotions versus suppressing and avoiding them is the whole idea behind emotional health. A lot of the time, the easiest way to deal with (or really not deal with) an emotional onslaught is to shove it aside, pretend the feelings don't exist, and start to live in what's basically a state of denial.
You know, pretend you're not as hurt by that breakup or rejection, avoid and procrastinate a work project to avoid the anxiety of new responsibilities, the list goes on. We love to call these problems "Girl Probs 101".
Ringing any bells for anyone? Trust us, we know the drill. But learning to experience these emotions and process them in a healthy way is not only better for your emotional health, it's better for your overall health and quality of life as a whole!
There are a few key characteristics that people with a high level of emotional health possess:
Self-awareness
Self awareness is the ability to be conscious of your own personal feelings, desires and motivations. It is important for emotional health to be able to take stock of your actions and attribute them to a feeling or motivation.
For example, we're definitely not all perfect 100% of the time and people make mistakes. So when you passive-aggressively criticize a co-worker, you have to also be able to reflect and recognize this outburst might stem from feelings of jealousy over their position or success.
Self-acceptance
Self-acceptance and self-awareness go hand in hand. You can't really achieve one without the other. It's like trying to make a PB and J with only jelly available, and girl we know that's not gonna happen.
Self-acceptance is the awareness of your strengths, weaknesses, and general capabilities and characteristics and being to appraise these values and be satisfied with your worth.
Self-care
This concept is important to emotional health because it encompasses health for the physical body as well as the mental and emotional. Caring for yourself in all aspects ensures an easier time coping with struggles specific areas.
Good coping strategies
Speaking of coping, these skills are valuable and can be learned and practiced over time. This is a huge factor in emotional wellbeing because it means having positive ways to handle emotions, even through all the ups and downs of life.
Best Essential Oils For Emotional Wellbeing
Now that we know what it takes to achieve a level of emotional health, how do we get there? There are plenty of tools available to practice gaining the characteristics we mentioned, but one of our favorites, of course, are essential oils and aromatherapy!
Some of our top picks for this are oils that promote tranquility and uplift mood (a little namaste vibe). Being in the right frame of mind is essential to sorting out your feelings or practicing self-care, so choosing oils that relieve stress and anxiety or revitalize you are key.
Bergamot
This uplifting citrus fruit oil has the potential to modulate your mood for the better. Studies show bergamot oil markedly improved overall mental health and emotional wellbeing in patients from a mental treatment facility.
Lavender
Of course, lavender's renown for stress and anxiety relief ensures its spot on this list. Tackling your emotional health starts with finding productive ways to manage the stress of life, and lavender essential oil is an amazing tool to help combat these feelings in a natural way.
Chamomile
Chamomile has been used for centuries as an herbal calming remedy for stress, in teas and sweets (p.s. she's a great one!).
Lemongrass
Lemongrass essential oil is can be beneficial for modulating blood pressure and energizing you, helping you take on the day.
How To Use Essential Oils
There are a number of ways to take advantage of the benefits of essential oils, from diffusing to portable inhalers and at home-spa treatments.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- Dilute your oil of choice in a relaxing bath. This sets the mood for peaceful reflection and a chance to get in tune with your feelings!
- In a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil, massage the oil into your temples or other tension areas.
- Use a room diffuser to fill your space with relaxing scents to keep you prepared for whatever the day brings
- If you're on the go, use a portable nasal inhaler to take your favorite scents with you!
Try some of MOXĒ's emotional health promoting blends.
Bottom Line
Your emotional health is just as important as your physical or mental health, and getting to a point where you can process your feelings and acknowledge your faults and triumphs can be a challenge.
Don't let that stop you from trying, though, as there are tools like essential oils you can use to set you on the right path to self-awareness and self-acceptance.