Life 101 - Manage Stress or Suffer the Consequences

It has been a crazy couple of days around my house…..well I am sure it has but I wasn't here to witness.  I spent those days in the hospital.  This is truly not a post I really want to write but I am sure I am not alone in this little adventure we call life.

Last week it all started.  Well to be perfectly honest, this has all been building for some time now.  My stress level.  On top of my jobs as Mom and doTERRA Wellness Advocate, I also work full time.  Lately, that full time job has had an overwhelming schedule.  

I have missed so many of my kids events, dinners with my family, weekends, good sleep, convsersations with my husband, time with my friends etc etc.  This is nothing new for a typical working family but I have not been handling it well.  

Back to the events leading to the hospital…..I laid down to go to bed after telling my husband I was exhausted.  Major right side body cramp from ear to ankle.  It hurt but I was too tired and not really willing to deal with the issue.  I fell asleep.  Next night…..a slightly lighter repeat only this time I asked my husband for some help.

Then I worked over the weekend…yes on Easter I went to work.  Like I said, crazy schedule.  Finally, Tuesday night my sister came to visit and said I didn't look right and she thought I needed to go to the ER.  My right eye looked droopy or puffy in her opinion.

If you don't know the signs of a stroke…you should!  This is a big one!

So off I go to the ER….extremely scared, with a massive headache and arm weakness.  Not a good combo if you ask me.

The doctors were quite mad at me for waiting so long to get checked out.  If you suspect stroke, you need to be in the ER in less than 4 hours they told me.  Test after test showed I was normal which made the doctors very happy but complicated the diagnosis.  One of the doctors finally said, I think this is a complex migraine.  A term I have never heard.  After, looking into this term I remember the news reporter who everyone thought was having a stroke on live tv. Actually, she was having a complex migraine.  Dr. Oz references her here.  

Luckily, the neurologist thinks this is what I had but just a really intense migraine brought on by stress.  He is suggesting more Physical Therapy than drugs.  I like a doctor who thinks like that, especially if this type of Physical Therapy includes more a massage type thing.  

Now, here is the time where my loyal blog readers will tell me…..you did a blog on stress…don't you listen to your own advice.  To which I humbly say, apparently not very well.  

Although, I have faithfully used my oils to help keep all things in check, I obviously was not doing the other things to relieve stress….good exercise, good diet and good sleep.  My Fitbit does not lie!  Also, a balancing of my thyroid is very much in needed so hopefully my doctor will help me a bit more in this area.

Some things I have learned from this little thing….

1.  The drugs in the hospital helped relieve the pain but at a price of intense sweating and extreme drowsiness.  It is no way to live.  I prefer my oil recipes over their choices any day.

2.  My own bed and pillows are the best thing on the planet!

3.  I am not a superhero who can do it all.  I am human and I have to call "Uncle" before I break.  AND not feel guilty afterwards.  More Cassia for the courage to say no.  More Bergamot to keep guilt out of the picture.  And a whole lotta Balance!!! 

Keep in mind there are many options and everyone will react differently to the oils.  If you are in need of some Mood Management there are great blends….Elevation and Serenity will become more prominent in my life as well.

Here is to a happier, more balanced life!  

The Power of Touch

Recently, I had the priviledge to be trained in the Aromatouch Technique.   It was truly a wonderful day of learning and experiencing such a wonderful way to share my oils with people I care about. 

I am not a liscensed massage therapist so I will not be drumming up business using this technique but I will be using it on people I care about.  I know they will benefit from this simple process of touch.  

It was created by Dr. David Hill who is the Chief Medical Officer for doTERRA. I have had the pleasure of meeting him as well.  He is a very caring man who has a true passion to help others feel well.  His passion is rather infectious!

A few big points stood out as my instructor spoke.  One was simply a question, "Do you hear the same people complaining they are always sick?"  Most of us are exposed to the same bunch of germs and toxins so why are some people always sick where as some rarely get sick?  

The answer….Balance or more of a medical term….Homeostasis

Homeostasis is simply put, your body's balance of the autonomic nervous system.  The autonomic nervous system is kind of like autopilot in our bodies.  Think body temperature.  You don't have to do much to raise and lower your temperature, you body typically does a great job on it's own based on many factors.

When your are out of balance, your body can struggle with these processes leading to illness.  An overload of toxins or stress is usually the cause for lack of homeostasis.  

The Aromatouch Technique (AT) can help bring that back into balance.  But how does it actually do that?  

Our Autonomic Nervous System is a two part system.  It gives you the "Fight or Flight" response using the Sympathetic Nervous System.  It helps calm you back down using the Parasympathetic Nervous System.  

People who are constantly getting sick are off balance where their Sympathetic Nervous System is chronically stimulated. I would bet stress would be their biggest stimulant sending them over the edge.  

A constant Fight or Flight condition in the body is known to lead to weight gain, mental fatigue, and hormonal imbalances.  

The AT will help the body reduce the Cortisol levels and destress both the person recieving and the person giving.  It is a great benefit to both.


If you are finding people who have just given up on life, they are being driven more by their Parasympathetic System.  Calming your system down from a life threatening event is very important.  But remaining in a deep low is not good for the body.  Again, toxins such as pharmaceuticals can cause this to take over and keeping the person in a state of not wanting to get out of bed because they just don't care anymore.  That is not healthy either.

Using the AT to modulate the physical and emotional stressors, will help improve your overall well-being by helping to restore the autonomic tone or homeostasis.  The power of touch is very powerful!

The other statement my instructor made was how beneficial this technique is for the person giving.  She said "leave your junk on the table and focus on your connection to this person."  That too was actually remphasized when I was at church the following day.  

The phrase "Want more for others than you want FROM them" just solidified the whole thing for me.  I had just learned a technique to help the people I care about and helping them feel better is what I truly want FOR them.  Yes, I want to build my business with the oils but truly, I want everyone around me to feel better.  

I encourage any of you reading this blog, take that last quote to heart in all that you do.  Do what you can do to help those around you without expecting much from them.  You will keep your stress and anxiety more in check, build stronger relationships and truly feel better.

There are 10 oils needed for this technique along with Fractionated Coconut Oil.  The Aromatouch Technique Kit has everything you need.

Addicted!

I have admitted to all that in my past I was a huge Diet Coke addict.  I would joke to everyone that all I really needed to keep going was an IV of DC to start my day.  One day, long before I was ever introduced to doTERRA I made the decision to kick that habit.  It was tough and here is the blog about it.  One of the best choices I have ever made!

I was addicted!  Addictions come in many shapes and sizes.  The definition to addiction is:

A dependence on a substance or behavior that appears necessary to preserve what appears as normalcy in disregard to the adverse consequences.  

TV and Movies often focus addictions on drugs or alcohol but often they can be sugar, food, or other behavioral type things.  One of the most common in our society today caffeine.  

Symptoms or side effects of addictions is the feeling of a compelling need to continue the negative activity. This then can lead to feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and anxiety. As addictions are addressed withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, headaches, nausea, etc. can develop.

In my area, we finally got a Starbucks.  People were celebrating on social media with pictures, countdowns, etc.  It cracked me up but also made me think.  Don't get me wrong, I like a good cup of coffee in the morning.  I also love a great Latte but over the years, I have really cut back on my caffeine intake.  Pregnancy will cause you to cut back since it is reccommended to have no more than 2 cups of coffee per day.  My body adjusted and now I just can't seem to go back to more without feeling really jittery.

According to the Mayo Clinic an average adult will have no adverse affects with moderate caffeine intake.  What is moderate?  200-300 mg or about 2-4 cups of brewed coffee per day.  What does that look like if you aren't a coffee drinker?

http://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-safe-limits

Heavy (500-600mg) use can result in a host of unpleasantness. 

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Stomach upset
• Fast heartbeat
• Muscle tremors

So how do you cut back and not feel awful…..well honestly, you probably will have some sluggish days but there are lots of tools to help you.  First, drink a ton of water!  Hydration solves many of life's ailments.  Flavor that water with Grapefruit oil or the Metabolic blend.  These options are also good for those who are sugar addicts as well.  Personally, I use Mito 2 Max as well.  You can take up to 4 per day but I only need 2.  Works great to help feel I have my stamina all day.

Grapefruit oil can help you conquer the cravings of those energy drinks on the market.  They are loaded with lots of junk and can be quite dangerous for you.  I love all the citrus oils in my water.  Just make sure you are using glass or metal containers to drink your citrus water.  

Now if you are dealing with another type addiction, there are oils that can help as well.  Laura Jacobs  has some general guidelines for recovery:

The Grounding Blend – restored sense of solidity/grounded in life

Bergamot – self love

Frankincense – restore connection to divine love and acceptance

Peppermint – sense of recovery

The Cleansing Blend – cleansing and detoxifying both physically and emotionally

The Calming Blend – calming and quieting

White Fir – if passed on generation to generation

Vetiver – get to the root of it

The Detoxing Blend – detoxifying

Specific addiction use:

Alcohol – Helichrysum

Alcohol, Sugar – Helichrysum

Appetite Suppressant – Grapefruit, The Metabolic Blend

Appetite Stimulant – Ginger, Myrrh, The Metabolic Blend

Cravings – Grapefruit, The Metabolic Blend

Drugs – Grapefruit, Roman Chamomile 

Entertainment – The Grounding Blend, Serenity, Vetiver

Pornography – Frankincense, Helichrysm

Sex – Geranium, Sandalwood

Smoking/Tobacco – Clove, The Protective Blend, Black Pepper

Withdrawal – Grapefruit, Lavender, Sandalwood

Work – Basil, Geranium, Lavender, Wild Orange, Ylang Ylang

Adopt the habits and make the choice of a healthy lifestyle!

Your body will thank you….maybe not days 1-3 but it will thank you.