Yet another new experience - shopping aromatherapy...seriously

Here goes… the past few weeks I am continuing my struggle to balance my chakra, get in touch with my inner child, and do whatever other zen type strategies will get me feeling better (stopping just short of laughing yoga).  Some weeks I am more into the pharmaceutical pursuits, while other times I go more homeopathic and natural; then there are the spiritual moments (ok - who am I kidding, haven’t gotten there yet).  I am hoping that a combination of all of the above, plus therapy and a lot of encouragement and hugs from friends, will be the answer to my problems.  That being said, today I would like to talk smells a.k.a. essential oils.  

Since my last post, I have added yet another routine to my self-care.  I have enrolled in a weekly class to help with coping skills.  This was something originally suggested to me by Dr. K back in March, before I hit rock bottom.  At the time I scoffed and held back and obviously never pursued this… but six months later I am much smarter… and admit it might have been a good avenue to investigate.  I met with the counselor who leads the classes and decided to purchase the workbook and attend my first class that same day, before I chickened out.  An hour-and-a-half once a week, I figure it keeps me out of trouble… and maybe will even help me.

During my first class we talked about self-soothing… ways to help make yourself feel better.  Much of this reminded me of the ways I tried to sooth my daughters when they were babies and I couldn’t figure out what else to do… and I guess I am experiencing a similar issue now. Scary thought.  So there was a list with different ideas for comforting yourself with each of your five senses.  We are supposed to take the time to practice these strategies when we are feeling good so hopefully we will recall them when we are struggling.  I checked off  things I can do for each sense that appealed to me and found that most of them I can accomplish without spending any more money.  All except the “Smell” one.  Although one suggestion was “Sit in a new car and breathe the aroma”  I decided I don’t have the money to buy a new car each time I need to do this, and I might creep out the people at the car dealership if I try this too often without a purchase.  This made smelling essential oils seem like a reasonable suggestion and use of money.

At the meeting, the counselor had us test out some different essential oils.  As many of you who know me well know - I have a very sensitive sense of smell and am very opinionated - which can both be good and bad for this exercise.  I was not motivated or inspired by the first few I smelled, but with low expectations for the lemon eucalyptus I ended up happily surprised.  It was calming and refreshing in a way that lavender and peppermint definitely were not.  I could see myself embracing the possibility of calming myself through my sense of smell.  

And that leads me to today’s shopping excursion, the hunt for and purchase of an essential oil diffuser and some great smelling oils.  After looking on Amazon and realizing that there was no way I could order without smelling the actual product, I hit both Whole Foods and Sprouts searching for a scent.  I smelled at least 30 awful oils, from sandalwood (which surprisingly costs over $100 an ounce) to cinnamon and rosemary.  Some were combinations of oils that claimed to give energy or promote sleep.  It amazed me how little I liked.  Luckily I did find 2 that appealed to my senses.   The first is one specifically for sleep and comes in a spray bottle to apply to your sheets and pillow.  The second claims to help you focus - and does so with a mixture of peppermint, rosemary, orange and lemon - and smells much better than it sounds (It also required the purchase of a oil diffuser - see next paragraph). I will be trying these starting tonight.  

Never before would I have guessed that I would not only be in the market for an oil diffuser.  I wouldn’t have been able to even tell you what that product actually was.  I started searching online (yes Amazon again) and in stores for an effective, yet inexpensive way to diffuse my oil into a fine mist into the air… yes I am serious.  Diffusers come in many shapes, sizes, colors and price points; I am not a very decisive person, but I am cheap.  Luckily, Marshall’s came to my rescue.  I found one that had great online reviews and ratings and was affordable.  Even better it was the only one that they had on the shelf.  There was nothing to pick or choose.  It is already plugged in, with tap water and essential oil, diffusing it’s mist into my den as I write this.  I am uncertain as to whether or not it has helped me focus, but I will say the room smells nice.

So for the time being I will wear my favorite perfume, Kate Spade’s Live Colorfully, every day and add all these new scents to my life… even if they don’t work to help alleviate my depression and anxiety, my nose should be happy and my wallet only a little lighter.  (Dan, please remember that I could have been shopping for a new car to smell)