In our store we are often asked for help recommending items or techniques to help with common problems. One that crops up a lot is managing fear and anxiety. We know that fear is our mind's way of protecting us from threatening situations, but when it becomes anxiety our protective instinct has gone too far and begun to see threats where none exist.
This can stop us from living the life we want. There are many ways to manage fear and anxiety, but here are a few tips from us to you. These are not intended as an alternative to seeking professional help if needed, but can work alongside therapy and/or medication.
Crystals
All crystals have different properties, and some are particularly good at reducing fear and anxiety. These are just three of the crystals you might find help you calm your fears and ease your anxiety.
Labradorite
The transformative energies of labradorite remind you that you have the power to talk yourself down from any situation. Wear, carry or hold this crystal to help you reclaim your cool when you feel your fear or stress levels start to rise.
Red Tiger Eye
Use red tiger eye to ground negativity and promote courage in challenging situations. This crystal brings huge energy of powerful determination and helps you face your fears and tackle challenges head on.
Black Tourmaline
Black tourmaline protects you in uncomfortable environments and transmutes and purifies negative energy. Use this stone to cleanse your auric field and help you remove unhelpful fears and negative associations from situations and activities.
Essential Oils and Incense
You can use different scents and essential oils to help you to manage your mood and your mental state. Try using an oil burner to infuse your environment with an essential oil, burn incense during meditation to calm and focus your mind and reset your emotions, or try a massage oil blend that includes some of these oils. You might even find teas infused with some of the herbs listed here.
Frankincense
Frankincense can help you to overcome anxiety by settling racing thoughts.
We stock a range of frankincense products, including incense, essential oils and Aromatherapy stones with blends featuring frankincense for different moods and purposes.
Lavender
Lavender is well known for aiding relaxation, stress reduction and improving sleep. Try putting lavender oil on a handkerchief under your pillow or drinking a lavender infused tea before bed.
We stock a range of lavender products, including incense, essential oil, massage oil and room sprays.
Peppermint
Peppermint boosts clarity, alertness and attention to surroundings helping to ground you. Anxiety takes hold when our thoughts become focussed on unknown futures. Grounding yourself in the here and now can be a powerful counter.
You could try sucking a peppermint when anxious and focussing on regaining calm.
We stock a range of peppermint products:
Mantras and meditations
There are things you can do to combat fear and anxiety that don't rely on you having any crystal or fragrance. Try these mantras when anxiety hits and you need to calm yourself there and then.
Calm washes over me.
Take a deep breath in and hold for the count of three. As you breathe out slowly focus on releasing the tension in your body.
Key areas are your jaw, neck and shoulders, fists and buttocks.
Repeat your mantra until your mind stops racing and your body feels relaxed.
This can also help when preparing for sleep.
I feel the fear and persist.
Take a deep breath in.
Acknowledge your fear by repeating your mantra.
Take action.
Taking action in the face of fear is bold and brave. Bravery does not mean to be fearless, but to face fear. Sometimes we cannot get rid of the fear, we can only decide whether or not it will stop us from doing what we truly want to do.
We hope that you feel armed to face the future, knowing that you can respond when fear or anxiety strikes. Deep breath, relax, and live life to the full!