How to Use Lavender Oil for Anxiety

Having anxiety from time to time is normal. Life is full of ups and downs and worrying about family, finances, health, or work issues can keep you awake at night or experiencing other symptoms of anxiety. If feeling anxious becomes severe or you have trouble shaking the feeling even when there is little reason to worry, you may have what's known as generalized anxiety disorder. This level of anxiety is so high that it interferes with relationships and your ability to function in day-to-day activities. If you experience anxiety to this degree, you may need to seek medical assistance or try using lavender oil for anxiety symptom relief. Here's what you need to know about anxiety, typical treatments, and using lavender oil for relief: Common Anxiety Symptoms Approximately 6.8 million people suffer from anxiety disorder. People with anxiety may experience it in different ways, and women tend to struggle with anxiety more than men. Anxiety is commonly diagnosed during the adolescent years. The most common anxiety symptoms may include: Feeling constantly worried about everyday tasks or situations, or having feelings of worry without knowing what you are worried about Inability to relax Inability to concentrate and focus Feeling startled easily, or like you are "on edge" Feeling irritable Having severe mood swings Feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders or simply feeling exhausted all the time Difficulty sleeping Frequently occurring headaches Common Treatments for Anxiety If you go to a doctor with anxiety symptoms they will most likely prescribe you an anti-anxiety medication such as Valium, Xanax, or Ativan. While these medications may relieve some of the anxiety symptoms, they can be addictive to some people and create unwanted side effects such as feeling tired, increasing anxiety symptoms, or even causing full blown panic attacks! Using Lavender Oil to Treat Anxiety as a Non-Drug Alternative Lavender is an herb that can be used to treat symptoms of anxiety instead of pharmaceutical drugs. In a study published in Phytomedicine journal, lavender oil was shown to be just as effective as Ativan for treating generalized anxiety disorder, but without the common side effects associated with Ativan, such as feeling tired. Many people find lavender is a good alternative to anxiety medications, whether you just prefer natural remedies over medication whenever possible, or you have trouble tolerating the side effects of medication. Lavender oil can help with: Feeling restless Sleep better Relieve depression symptoms Relieve migraines and joint pain Lavender oil can be added to your bath water – use six drops of lavender oil extract or ½ cup of dried lavender flowers. Or, you can make tea with one to two tablespoons of whole, dried lavender flowers in a cup of boiling water. Allow the lavender to steep for ten to fifteen minutes and strain before drinking.