Try adding a few drops of oil to unscented body lotion or spritzing an essential oil spray directly onto bedding, a couch or a blanket that you use often. You can even apply some oils directly onto your skin in areas like your wrists, behind your ears, your neck or the bottom of your feet.
One of the most popular ways is to put a couple of drops of oil in a diffuser to scent the room. Or you can simply put a few drops on a cotton swab and place that in your room.
5-4-3-2-1 exercise for anxiety FAQs
It involves identifying 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. By doing so, it helps shift your focus from anxiety-provoking thoughts to the present moment.
It is based on the three "C's" of recovery calm your body, correct your thinking, and confront your fears.
Peppermint oil can also be diffused to reduce stress and anxiety, says both Bhalsod and Anderson-Haynes. Research has found that peppermint essential oil inhalation significantly reduces anxiety of patients with heart attacks in the emergency department.
It can be helpful to use essential oils for anxiety and, for people who have mild anxiety or who rarely find themselves feeling anxious, these oils may be enough to help manage your symptoms. However, for moderate or severe anxiety, using essential oils should not be your only treatment method.
Where Should I Put Essential Oils on Your Body? There are many beneficial areas of your body where you can apply essential oils. You can gently rub oil into places such as your neck, forehead, temples, wrists, chest and stomach.
Inhalation: Place 1 to 2 drops of frankincense oil on a cotton ball and inhale deeply. Topical application: Dilute frankincense oil with carrier oil and apply the essential oil blend to your temples, back of the neck, and wrists when anxious.
That's because anxiety can cause sweating, which may make your armpits and other areas start to smell more like sweat. Anxiety may also cause mouth breathing, which appears to increase bacteria and lead to slightly worse breath.
Deficiencies in B vitamins, particularly B12, B6, and B9, have been linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety. These vitamins are vital in producing chemicals, like serotonin, that affect mood.
The best vitamin for anxiety: Magnesium
And the experts we spoke with were unanimous: It's hard to beat magnesium for anxiety. Magnesium plays a key role in the body's stress response. It can help manage anxiety by regulating the feel-good hormone serotonin and improving brain function.
Among the most promising studies is a 2022 Nature publication reporting that people with moderate to severe anxiety experienced a 60% to 70% reduction in symptoms after four weeks of treatment with a high-CBD-content product.
People use frankincense and products containing it in many different ways. You can put drops of the oil in a diffuser for aromatherapy. Some people find that aromatherapy helps them feel better or relieves stress. You also can put frankincense oil on your skin.
Side effects of applying peppermint oil to the skin can include skin rashes and irritation. Peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children because serious side effects may occur if they inhale the menthol in the oil.