Many of us have experienced trauma from the past–things that have happened to us or things we have witnessed. Do you have inexplicable emotional reactions? Are you predisposed to particular emotions?
Emotions such as anger, fear, and grief can actually be passed down through generations. So, we may have these emotions and fears and think they are our own, but have no idea they don’t belong to us, but may be rooted in your parents’ and grandparents’ experiences and have been passed on epigenetically.
Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. These modifications can be passed on generation after generation.
How does this apply to emotional trauma? An example would be if your parents and/or grandparents were living in a war-torn environment or had to endure fighting in a war. Experiencing the trauma of explosions or gunfire going off around them and witnessing people getting killed or loved ones getting killed around them would have left an imprint. This would have put them on hyper-alert, affecting their nervous systems and other body systems. Essentially, their reflexes would be heightened at the genetic level.
While these reflexes may be helpful–even life-saving–in that type of environment, the hyper-alert reactions are then passed down to their kids or grandkids. The reason this is passed down is to protect the next generation. By keeping them hyper-alert in that kind of environment might just save their life.
The thing is, today their ancestors are hopefully living in a peaceful environment, and don’t need that hyper-alertness. A highly sensitive fight or flight response when it is not needed can cause stress on your body, thereby impacting emotional regulation.
Whether these traumas belong to you or your family, healing begins with releasing the associated emotions related to them. Digging into your family history may help you identify the source of emotional dysregulation so you can begin to release painful histories and begin healing yourself and your family.
I believe identifying the emotions or traumas are the first step.
The next step is identifying your triggers. What triggers you into states of panic, anxiety, depression, anger, fear, etc.?
Identifying your triggers allows you to recognize when you have been triggered and allows you to take a step back and not blow an innocent issue out of context.
Then you have to find ways to cope with your triggers.
Maybe you take a break and step away for a few minutes to compose yourself?
Maybe you use deep breathing, meditation, EFT tapping, aromatic use of essential oils?
I think these are all good solutions to help address a situation when it arises.
Long term, you need a plan to help release these emotional traumas for good.
Emotions get trapped in our physical body and/or are passed down to us. Trapped, they affect our emotional and physical health.
There are several things you can do to help release them. Here are a few of my favorites:
Journaling is a great option. Carve out some uninterrupted time to journal through what you are feeling. Or, in the midst of an emotional moment, journal to help uncover what’s really going on. This may help you discover your triggers. Discover the root cause of where this emotion comes from. Look at it from all angles. Don’t censor yourself! Allow yourself to write freely.
It helps to uncover a lot of things, as well as being very therapeutic. You may not have a therapist in front of you, but it is almost like you have one. And it helps!
I also pull out my essential oils while in the midst of an emotional breakdown. I can identify the emotions that are surfacing and look up what oils will be best to use for releasing and supporting the emotions I am feeling.
I also scan myself using a biofeedback tool that will look at what oils will bring me back into homeostasis. It’s a snapshot in time. And if I am able to do it in the middle of an emotional moment, I can guarantee that the oils that come up in my results are ones that will help support the emotions I am currently dealing with. (Contact me for an in-person appointment with the biofeedback machine).
Essential oils are amazing at being able to assist in releasing emotions from your mind and body. You will still have to do the work, but they will support you through the process and make the release come easier.
When using essential oils, there appear to be 5 stages of healing:
The physical bodyThe heartReleasing limiting beliefsIncreasing spiritual awareness and connectionInspiring us to fulfill our life’s purpose.
Essential oils can obviously be very powerful for our body, mind, and spirit.
There are many anti- properties when it comes to essential oils supporting the body in the healing process (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal to name just a few).
For the heart, essential oils provide the required energy to provide penetration to the heart and enter into the emotional realm They also raise the vibration of our body. As we live in a higher vibration, lower vibrational emotions don’t and can’t live there and want to release. Essential oils create a balanced and more peaceful existence.
Old feelings will surface and release. You may think you are regressing or taking a few steps backward or it’s not working, but it is. This is a sign you are making progress.
We have grown accustomed to immediate relief from symptoms and we don’t realize to heal permanently or get to the root of issues, it takes time. Remember it is a process.
We must release the heavy negative emotions that have been trapped for years or generations to allow your self to receive new higher level vibrational emotions.
Allow yourself to surrender to the process and to the release. The more we resist the more difficult the release is. Trust in the process.
Essential oils have the ability to make the work we do on our end much easier, but we still have to do the work.
By using essential oils aromatically (powerful for emotions) you are able to use essential oils to help the body and mind release and renew.
Click on this post (Introduction to essential oils) to learn how oils can be used aromatically and topically.
Here is a list of common emotions and essential oils that can assist with the process of releasing. There are many more…
Anger: Cardamom, Thyme, Geranium, Ylang Ylang
Anxiety: Basil, Lavender
Fear: Juniper Berry, Cassia, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Birch, Cypress, Lavender, Myrrh, Arborvitae,
Generational Issues: White Fir, Douglas Fir, Birch Jasmine
Grief: Geranium, Lime,
Guilt: Bergamot, Lemon, Peppermint
Low Self-Esteem: Bergamot, Jasmine
Emotional Trauma: Geranium, Clove, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang
Scarcity: Orange, Arborvitae
Shame: Bergamot, Frankincense
Terror: Juniper Berry
Emotional Barriers: Marjoram, Rose
Emotionally Blocked: Cypress, Thyme, Oregano (hot oil – dilute heavily)
Emotionally Closed: Ylang Ylang, Rose, Geranium, Jasmine,
Disconnected from body: Patchouli, Grounding Blend, Focus Blend and Jasmine
So what tools, besides journaling, can you use along with essential oils to help you work through and release these unwanted emotions? Meditation (in all forms) is another way.
Meditation, which allows quieting the mind and allowing thoughts to come in without judgment, can be helpful. In the quieting of the mind, and connection with your higher self, you may find answers. With practice you will be able to quiet your mind anytime chaos pops up in life. Mediation can also be obtained by walking in nature (connecting to nature) or gentle yoga.
Deep breathing is also something you can easily do anywhere, at any time. If you feel yourself getting worked up over something, or maybe you notice your body tensing up or that your breathing has become shallow, take some long deep breaths. This is also a great way to NOT allow trauma to get trapped.
Breathe in deeply through the nose and hold for a few seconds, release by breathing out through the mouth slowly, hold for a few seconds, repeat. When you are exhaling, imagine breathing out the negative emotions you are experiencing.
I also use tools such as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) otherwise commonly known as tapping. EFT combines the physical benefits of acupuncture with the cognitive benefits of therapy. Emotional and physical issues can be treated when tapping near the endpoints of your meridians.
Here is a link: http://www.bradyates.net/eft.html that will help you understand how to do this. If you are unsure about putting together your own tapping sequences, check out Brad Yates on YouTube. He has many, many short tapping videos on all different types of topics.
Please reach out to me for a personalized plan of essential oils that can assist in your own healing process.
I can help identify the oils that are suited to your personal needs.
*Always dilute essential oils when using them topically. Dilute them with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba, and others. There is a caution of skin sensitivity and the benefits that the aromatic and topical results will last much longer with the use of a carrier oil.
My trusted brand is doTERRA, which means gift of life. Click here to learn more about them.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.