Mental Health

Folks, this post is HUGE!  Yes, it's taken me a couple weeks for me to gather my thoughts and get them down, but hear my heart, here.  There is so much that we don't know from a holistic standpoint that has been "squashed" by folks from Big Ph@rm@ that research had come to a standstill in the 70's in favor of the "quick fix" of the psychotrop1c drugs that completely took our people away from us.  Hear my heart, here.  I am NOT saying to squelch Western Medicine at all.  There is a time and a place for it.  However, before going to Western Medicine, try diet changes (ie: Removing all dyes, sugar, and getting tested for food allergies) first.  Add some challenging games and regular exercise for about 30 minutes a day.  Make sure to get enough rest.  If someone you love isn't getting enough rest, do all that you can to make sure they get as much as they need.  When you don't sleep well, your brain doesn't function to it's best ability.  

Supporting mental health, your own or someone you love, requires a holistic approach that addresses emotional, physical, and mental well-being. For someone with a mental health diagnosis, achieving feelings of acceptance, hope, love, and a clear mind is crucial for overall wellness.

Why is mental health so important to me?  I have Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I am doing proactive things in order to have it less often.  One of the biggest things we did was to move to southern Georgia where there is more sunshine throughout the winter.  Sunshine and increased Super Vitamin D helps with the seasonal issues.  But, what about all the other mental health concerns that are out there?  Will using essential oils diminish the effectiveness of prescribed medications?  Where do I start?

I have enclosed some things that may help as a comprehensive approach that includes essential oils, supplements, diet, and exercise:

(Note:  All links to each product are bold, underlined, and in dark red for your reference if you'd like to order.)  

 Emotional Needs:

1. Acceptance:  Everyone has a need to feel accepted and loved for who they are, "warts and all."  As we navigate this world, it helps that each one of us are aware of that specific need, especially those who have any kind of Mental Health diagnosis.  Let's be ready to help, grant grace, and be extra patient because sometimes folks feel the same way we do, but with BIG feelings.  Those things can be overwhelming and embarrassing to some.  

Simply diffusing a couple oils, adding a drop to wrists, behind the ears, on the feet after a shower and before putting sock on may help.  There are roll-ons for a few of the products that you can look in to.  My personal favorite is Stress Away. 

 Emotional Balance:  Feeling accepted often starts with self-acceptance. Essential oils can be part of a daily routine to promote a sense of grounding and inner peace. Frankincense or Lavender can be diffused or applied topically to wrists, between collar bones, or to the back of your neck,  to enhance emotional well-being and self-acceptance.

   Aromatherapy: Create a daily ritual using a blend of Valor and Orange essential oils to help foster a positive outlook and a sense of belonging.  How?  Add a drop of each to your hand, put your hands together and mix by rubbing hands together in a clock-wise rotation.  Cup over your nose and mouth and breath deeply for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds, and hold for 4 seconds.  Repeat that process as may times as you feel that you need to.  Remember:  Essential oils can be found in your body in measurable amounts in 30 seconds.  Inhaling them takes them directly to your brain where your Amygdala is! 

Hope:

   - Mental Clarity: Essential oils like Peppermint and Lemon can help clear mental fog and inspire feelings of hope and renewal. Diffuse them in your workspace or home to create an uplifting atmosphere.  Two others that I liked using with my college age young adults are Clarity & Vetiver.  I combined them with equal drops in a roller bottle and added 40 drops of olive oil.   (You can use any liquid oil that you'd like as a carrier oil.)  They rolled this on their wrists, behind their ears and along the back of their neck to help them focus. 

- Positive Affirmations: Combine aromatherapy with positive affirmations.  Use oils such as Joy, with its uplifting aroma, to inspire hope and happiness.

Love:

   - Self-Care Routines:  Incorporate Rose or Geranium essential oils into your daily self-care routine. These oils are known for their comforting and soothing properties, promoting a sense of love and compassion.  Self care takes on different meanings for each of us, whether it is a special soap, getting mani-pedis, our hair done, or any number of other things, find something that helps you feel good.  If you need a starting point, let me know and I'll ask you some questions to better help you get started.  There is no guilt in taking care of yourself!  For many folks, others have told them to "deny themselves", which in some cases is good, however when taking care of simple body needs, it is paramount to our own mental health to care for ourselves.  If we don't care for ourselves now, then who will?!  

   - Connecting with Others: Use Ylang Ylang to create a warm and inviting environment that encourages meaningful connections with loved ones.  Additionally, you can use the oils in the  Feelings Kit to help with a variety of circumstances that may help with feelings of overwhelm, anxious, and helping you feel more brave.  

1. Clear Mind:

   - Focus and Concentration: Essential oils like Clarity and Brain Power can be beneficial for enhancing concentration and mental clarity. Apply them to pulse points or diffuse them when working on tasks that require cognitive focus.

   - Calmness: Stress Away or Lavender can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, leading to a clearer and more focused mind.  I like to combine Stress Away, Lavender, and Copaiba in a roller bottle and roll-on easily to your pulse points.  Just combine 20 drops of each oil in a roller bottle, add 60 drops of a carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, etc...).  Shake a bit before each application.  You can also combine a couple drops of each of these oils in a diffuser and breathe deeply.  You'll be surprised at how calm you and your family members, or even coworkers feel after breathing in these calming oils. 

2. Supplements:

   - MindWise: Supports normal brain and heart function.

   - NingXia Red: Provides a daily boost of antioxidants and essential nutrients that support overall wellness.

   -Green Omega 3™ Softgels: Contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain health and cognitive function.

1. Healthy Diet:

   - Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains.

   - Stay hydrated and avoid excessive intake of caffeine and sugar, which can negatively impact mood and energy levels.

   - Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and flax seeds, which are beneficial for brain health.

2. Exercise:

   -Regular Physical Activity: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3-5 days of the week. Activities such as walking, yoga, and swimming can improve mood and reduce anxiety.

   -Mindful Movement: Practices like yoga and tai chi can enhance mental clarity and emotional stability. Add Eucalyptus Globulus or Peppermint essential oil to your workout routine for an invigorating experience.  Both Eucalyptus and Peppermint give greater breathing support during exercise as well as seasonal concerns. 

Supporting mental health involves multi-faceted care. By incorporating Young Living essential oils, supplements, a healthy diet, and regular exercise into your routine, you can create a balanced lifestyle that promotes mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall well-being. Remember, self-care isn't a luxury; it’s a necessity.

If you have further questions or comments, please let me know.

Love & God Bless,

Regina Graham 

In today's fast-paced world, it's not uncommon to experience feelings of sadness, grief, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health challenges. At Young Living, we believe that nature has the power to help soothe and support our emotional well-being. That's why we have developed a range of pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils specifically designed to address these concerns.

Essential oils have been used for centuries to promote holistic wellness, and their impact on our emotional state is truly remarkable.  In scripture there are over 1,000 mentions of the use of essential oils and spices for rituals (see Exodus in the directions for temple sacrifices), for burials (see Mark 14:3-9), and for the healing of the nations (Revelations 22:2 & Ezekiel 47:12) to name a few.  

When inhaled or applied topically, these oils can stimulate our olfactory system, triggering a response in our brain that can help us feel calmer, uplifted, and more balanced. Let's explore some of the incredible effects that Young Living essential oils can have on our emotional health:

Losing a loved one or navigating through challenging life circumstances can leave us feeling overwhelmed with sadness and grief. Our blend of comforting oils, such as Frankincense, Lavender, and Rose, can create a sanctuary of emotional support, helping you find solace during difficult times.

If anxiety and stress are taking a toll on your daily life, essential oils like Lavender, Ylang Ylang, and Bergamot can help promote a sense of relaxation and tranquility. These oils have a calming effect on the mind and body, providing relief from the symptoms of anxiety and promoting a more balanced mental state.

Depression can make even the simplest tasks seem daunting, but essential oils can offer you a beacon of light during these challenging times. Oils like Joy, Bergamot, and Grapefruit can help uplift your mood, promote feelings of joy, and provide a renewed sense of hope and motivation.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can bring a range of challenges, including difficulty focusing and impulsivity. Essential oils like Vetiver, Cedarwood, and Lavender have been shown to have a grounding and calming effect, supporting concentration and promoting a more centered state of mind.

While essential oils are not a substitute for professional treatment, they can act as a powerful complement to your overall mental health care. Frankincense, Cedarwood, and Bergamot can offer relaxation, mental clarity, and emotional stability, helping to support those managing mental illnesses.

Remember the 3 ways to get oils in to your body:  Aromatically (Diffuse), Topically (on your skin), and Internally.  Young Living's Vitality oils are the only oils on the market regarded as safe by the FDA. 

Whether you are seeking emotional support for yourself or a loved one, Young Living essential oils can be an invaluable tool in your journey towards emotional wellness. Our oils are 100% pure and carefully sourced from nature, ensuring that you experience their full therapeutic benefits. Incorporate them into your daily routine through diffusing, topical application, or personal inhalation to unleash the transformative power of nature and unlock a more balanced emotional state.

Disclaimer: Young Living essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are experiencing severe emotional or mental health challenges, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional.

I will be teaching an online Zoom class using the Feelings Kit that covers the oils linked above as well as the ones in the picture above.  Click the picture or any of the oils mentioned to read more about them.   Click the "Contact Me" link in the toolbar for the Zoom link for our online class! 

Love & God Bless,

Regina Graham

**Please click on the oils mentioned in each of my blog posts for more information and how to get them.  The picture of the Feelings Kit is a link to that kit as well.  Be sure to click the "Contact Me" button at the top of this page if you have any questions or if you'd like to talk about your own personal family's needs.  I have many oils and other products that may help you and those you love. **

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who have served!  Thank you for your service!  

 

Sleep!  When we're sleep deprived our bodies tend to know it and it goes in to a type of survival mode.  We tend to be more whiny, irritable, not quite the pleasant ray of sunshine when we're well rested.  I'd read many times that women need more sleep than men, so those of you who are women, take that extra nap in the afternoon guilt free!  What can you do to get more sleep?  Well, I'm a prime example!  Right now it is 1:23AM and I'm up in the middle of the night writing this blog post.  I should have gone to bed at 10:00, but I stayed up watching a Hallmark movie that I had TiVoed a few days ago.  I wasn't tired, then I got a text from my sister telling me that my mother has been tested Covid positive.  So, I am concerned about my mother, praying for her, and just generally not really able to sleep right now.  But, what can I do to sleep?

 

*Wind down at a decent hour.  Turn off the TV, phone, computer, tablet/ipad.  

*Drink a cup of chamomile tea with a drop of Young Living Lavender Vitality Oil.

*Some people take Melatonin, but I no longer do.  It stays with me and keeps me groggy the next day.

*Add Young Living Peace and Calming Essential Oil Blend to your Diffuser 1/2 hour before bed time.

*Eat a Banana--it's packed with Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium!  

*Take an additional Magnesium supplement (check with your Dr first to be sure it's ok with your other prescription meds.)

*Take an Epsom Salt Bath in Young Living Lavendar Essential Oil and a cup of milk.  It will make your skin feel so very soft and luxurious!  It will also help relax you to bring sleep on.

*Finally, take Young Living's Cedarwood and Lavendar Essential oil and add a couple drops to your chest, upper back, and large toes.

 

This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are more natural solutions than prescription sleep aids or OTC sleeping pills. What other suggestions do you have to add to this list? Add them in the comments below!

 

 

Take good quality supplements.  It's a "no brainer" right?  Well, take a look at some of your big box store supplements.   They have only a portion of the actual pill as the supplement.  The rest is fillers.  Now, consider a good quality supplement infused with essential oils, that is formulated to work synergistically to help your body.  Big box store supplments, "pharmaceuitical grade", and any other supplement for that matter, are digested and 28% of the supplement is used by the body.  When combining essential oils in your supplements, you harness the power of the essential oils and the vitamins and minerals to make a synergistially working supplment that your body uses 86% of instead of the 26% of the other types of supplmenets with the same name.

 

What?  Yes!   Read that again! That means you've been paying money for 26% efficiency of that supplment!  I can help you find a better way!  

 

 

There's nothing like a good soup or stew to help with a sore throat or just that overall "ick" feeling.  I love to make chicken and vegetable soup, beef barley soup, even chili, or most recently Trim Zuppa Toscana from my Trim Healthy Mama cookbook.  Wow!  

 

Why soups and stews?  Well, when you make these for the folks who are sick (from scratch), you give them a gift of healthier food for their bodies to begin the recovery process from whatever illness they have.  When our bodies are given optimum food--as close to the source as possible--then our bodies have a tendency to heal faster.  Any why not make a comfort food while we're at it?  It blesses our loved ones and if we come down with whatever they've had, the soup is already made!  

Tip number 7 is my favorite!  I've saved the best for last, yes I did!  AND, it's an extra "Freebee!" 

 

When you diffuse Pure Super Hyper Organic essential oils in to the air, your lungs breathe them in and they go to work immediately throughout your body.  They can be found in measurable amounts in your bloodstream in less than 30 seconds.   Essential oils are like puzzle pieces that fit together where they are needed most in our bodies.  They support each one of our systems, helping our bodies to recover from what may be ailing us.  

 

We can also place these same essential oils just about anywhere on our bodies. I personally love to use Breathe Again Roll-on for breathing support! I have personal experience with how well this wonderful roll-on works!

 

I have 2 awesome "hacks" for you to try!

#1--When you feel those cold and flu symptoms coming on, take a drop of Thieves Vitality and put it under your tongue, holding it there for 30 seconds, then swallow.  You could also put it on your tongue and hold it to the roof of your mouth.  (This is also an awesome way to help with headaches with Peppermint Vitality.)

#2--Sinus Bomb by Sarah Harnisch--

Take the following Young Living Vitality oils in a capsule every hour until symptoms subside, then spread it out to every 2 hours, then 6 hours, then 12 hours until the symptoms are gone.

*8 Drops of Oregano Vitality

*10 Drops of Thieves Vitality

*2 Drops of Frankincense Vitality

 

Our bodies need to eat, drink, move, and get oxygen.   Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Lord, and we know just by simple research that we need these basic things to live, survive, and thrive.  When you eat nutrient dense foods, move your body, get enough sleep, you're bringing in more nutrients and oxygen to your body, your brain, your heart, lungs, and muscles.  When your brain has more oxygen, you can think more clearly.  When your lungs get more oxygen, you can take deeper breaths!    So move your body, plan for more nutrient dense meals, get more rest and get more oxygen!  Your brain will thank you!

What's up for next week?  I'll show everyone how I make my home made chicken broth! 

Have a wonderful week & God Bless!

Regina Graham