Anxiety is a challenging mental health condition that affects a great many of us. If left untreated, this problem can start to creep into all areas of your life, holding you back and making you miserable. So, the question is, what can you do about it?
While there’s no magical answer, the truth is that using lemongrass and employing anxiety management techniques can help. In this guide, we take a look at what you need to know.
What is Anxiety?
If you have experienced anxiety at some point in your life, you’re not alone. Around 3.8% of the global population suffer with anxiety or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). To put that into perspective, that percentage accounts for around 284 million all over the world.
Of course, when you are experiencing anxiety for yourself, you may feel like you are the only person who has ever had it. That is quite natural. Anxiety tricks your brain and makes you believe that you are alone in your struggle. However, that is not the case.
Before we take a look at the power of lemongrass incense and how it can help you to manage your anxiety, let’s delve deeper into this condition.
According to the National Health Service, anxiety is a “feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.” While we all experience anxiety from time to time, if you have bouts that last for a matter of months, it can severely affect every part of your life.
Should you be worried about this problem, it is always smart to speak to your doctor or another medical professional. Getting an expert’s opinion on the matter will help you better understand the condition and know what your treatment options are.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
Think that you may be suffering from this condition? If you are concerned about your everyday mental wellness, the first thing you need to do is get to grips with what the symptoms are. That way, you can determine how serious the problem may or may not be.
People’s symptoms may differ depending on their circumstances. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the key anxiety symptoms according to Mayo Clinic:
- Feelings of nervousness
- Worry and a sense of doom
- Elevated heart rate
- Breathing faster than before
- Shaking and/or sweating
- Fatigue and weakness
- Not being able to focus on the present
- Poor sleep or lack of sleep completely
- Digestion problems
- Not controlling the worry
- Avoiding specific things
Needless to say, experiencing one — or even a few — of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have anxiety. Each person’s case is unique to them. However, if you believe that you have a problem in this area, it is worth reaching out to a doctor.
Aside from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), there are other types of anxiety that may be affecting you. Some examples of this include specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety, and agoraphobia. You cannot self-diagnose. If you think that you are experiencing any of the above conditions, it’s important to get it checked.
While a doctor may give you medication or therapeutic treatments for your anxiety, there are lifestyle approaches you may want to try as well. For example, you can look into meditation practices to help alleviate some of your stress or give mindfulness a whirl.
In the rest of this article, we will take a look at how using lemongrass incense in your everyday practice may be the way to go. While this aroma will not cure your anxiety, and we make no such promises here, it could help you to start easing some of the symptoms.
How Lemongrass Incense Can Help
Now that you are well-versed in what anxiety is and how it can impact people’s lives, let’s talk about one of the holistic management techniques you can use.
Research published in the National Library of Medicine suggests that exposure to the aroma of lemongrass can relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety. As part of the research, the experts measured both physiological symptoms (such as heart rate) and psychological symptoms. The results suggest that lemongrass can have a positive impact.
While the above study dealt directly with the essential oil, it can often be hard to know what to do with this medium. For that exact reason, many people find that it is quicker and easier to use lemongrass incense as part of their everyday practice or routine.
The experts stated that more research is needed into this area of holistic stress management. Despite this fact, the initial findings are encouraging. Interestingly enough, the study found that you only need a “brief exposure” to the scent for it to take effect.
If you are already using stress management techniques and getting the support you need, why not add this to your roster? You may find that using lemongrass allows you to de-stress after a long working day or even that it helps you ease into a meditative state.
How to Use Lemongrass Incense
Ready to get started and try using lemongrass for yourself? The first step is finding some good quality lemongrass incense. When you have done that, you can look at ways to include it in your everyday routine. Here are two options you may want to consider:
Light it when you meditate
Have you started your meditation journey? If you have, you may want to enhance it by using lemongrass incense. Find a quiet space in which to meditate and, before you get going, light some lemongrass incense to help you to effortlessly set the mood.
Use it right before bed
Anxiety can often cause people to struggle sleeping. If that sounds familiar to you, you may want to use some lemongrass. Light a stick of it before you go to bed. That way, you can start relaxing and casting off the pesky stresses of the daily grind.
The Takeaway
Mental health can be a tricky subject matter. However, there is help out there. Now that you’re aware of the options and how you can start managing this condition, get started. Note that our guide is not intended as medical advice. If you are looking for an expert’s opinion, reach out to your doctor or a mental health specialist.
