5 Best Sandalwood Blends for Peace of Mind

Sandalwood is...

•             Relaxing, reviving and uplifting - excellent for nervous tension and depression.

•             Powerful aphrodisiac - good for sexual problems caused by stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation.

•             Helps free up our creativity by quieting our inner critic and helping us open up to our best self.

Over-Thinking/Over-Analyzing Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 5 drops Sandalwood, 5 drops Vetiver. Apply behind your ears and on your wrists and hold an expectation of kindness from yourself.

Nervous Exhaustion Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 3 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Geranium, 1! drop Rose. Apply behind the ears, on the chest and the bottoms your of feet, then rub your hands together and inhale deeply, welcoming restful sleep.

Depression Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 4 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Roman Chamomile, 1 drop each Rose and Ylang Ylang. Apply behind your ears and to the back of your neck, your wrists and the insides of your elbows. Reapply throughout the day to give yourself a lift.

 Fear Blend

1 teaspoon carrier oil, 4 drops Sandalwood, 1 drop each Ginger and Orange. Put some oil on your hands and rub them together, inhaling deeply. Then apply behind your ears and to the back of your neck, expecting a new batch of courage to show up and lead the way.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 3 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Frankincense, 1 drop Orange.  Apply to the back of your neck, then rub your hands together and inhale deeply, bringing yourself into the present moment.

One critical point about Sandalwood - it is absolutely a waste of money to buy cheap Sandalwood. The smell ranges from bad to awful, and it has no health value at all.

If you already have some and it smells strong or overly woody, it's likely that synthetic scent has been added to it to make up for poor quality. 

Panic Attacks: You are in Control

Panic attacks can be terrifying. These attacks stem from profound anxiety that can make your heart pound and your knees go weak. Panic attacks can make it difficult to catch your breath and can also cause chest pain and dizziness — you may even think you're having a heart attack. A panic attack may only last a few minutes, but it can leave you feeling frightened and uneasy.

Understanding Panic Attacks

"People have these panic attacks under various circumstances,” explains Martin N. Seif, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City.  They constantly worry about having an attack and may avoid certain situations as a result. Eventually, people  realize that they aren't actually afraid of the situation they are avoiding, but rather of experiencing additional panic attacks, notes Seif.

Fortunately, you don’t have to live in fear of panic attacks. There are specific strategies you can use to help manage your anxiety and control your physical symptoms as well.

Panic Attacks: How to Take Control

The best way to stave off future panic attacks is by learning how to control your anxiety so that if you do start to notice symptoms of a panic attack, you can calm your mind and body until the symptoms fade.

"People who experience panic attacks are best served when they learn how to cope with their feelings of panic," says Seif. While medication can be effective, cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the best techniques for managing panic and anxiety. "It involves recognizing that the panic-producing process is fueled by future-oriented, catastrophic thinking," explains Seif.  They become aware that their thoughts trigger a physical reaction, which results in a panic attack.

To gain control over panic attacks, it's important to learn and practice anxiety management techniques, says Seif. Strategies that you can use to help you curb a panic attack include:

Breathing slowly and deeply.

Anxiety can cause you to breathe very quickly, which makes both the mental and physical symptoms of a panic attack even worse. When you start to feel panicky, be sure to take slow, deep breaths to soothe your mind and body.

Stop and think.

When your thoughts start spinning out of control, simply tell yourself to stop. Organize your thoughts and decide what you need to do to get yourself calm again.

Think positively.

 Push negative thoughts out of your mind, and remind yourself that you are in control. Think about times when you've been able to manage situations successfully and reduce anxiety.

Stand up for yourself.

If you need to leave a situation, do so or tell someone you need to leave. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Allowing yourself to become more upset will not help if what you really need is to take a walk and blow off some steam.

Relax your muscles.

 Anxiety causes your entire body to tense up, so make a conscious effort to relax each muscle from your toes all the way up to your neck and face.

Don't wait for a panic attack to begin to try these techniques. Seif notes that it's important to use these strategies regularly and learn to manage your anxiety in gradual stages. As you become more confident that you can rein in a panic attack, you can walk out the door each day breathing easier.