By: KathieyV
Stress Relief, Surviving Divorce, The Journey, , ,

Divorce Diversion: Taking Care of You, Ways to De-Stress…”Peel an Orange”…Aromatherapy

Ok folks, it’s time to de-stress.  Those of us going through divorce seem to be a reservoir for stress.  I never had any issues with unhealthy anxiety or depression until I was blindsided with marital separation after decades of marriage. On one stress index scale, divorce rates the second highest stressor with the death of a spouse first.  I don’t know if I agree with that quote because to me,

“Divorce is like a death but with intent”
Time to De-Stress

Let’s refer to the article I found on Huff Post “100 Ways to De-stress”.  We have completed #1 Chocolate Meditation.  That one was enjoyable, as is anything to do with chocolate.  Then we moved on to #2 which is extremely beneficial, Journaling.

Moving on to #3…
“Peel an orange. Studies show the smell of citrus can help reduce stress”
The smell of an orange relieves stress. Smelling and orange or eating one can reduce stress by over 70%. The Psychmind.com-2

I don’t have an orange, but I believe that many scents can enhance our mood and thus decrease our stress.  The Cleveland Clinic states that “aromatherapy can improve our mood and lessen anxiety.”

Let’s see what I can find to sniff…Brodie and I took off on a walk to enjoy the scents that nature provides.  I enjoyed the smell of freshly cut grass and the aroma of the Magnolia flowers on the trees…I did find myself to be relaxed as I wandered and breathed in the perfumed air.

Brodie did not seem to be impressed with the flowers or the grass…this was more his speed.  I used to tell my kids that “everybody likes different things”.  Case in point with Brodie:-)
 
 
If you find yourself feeling a bit stressed out, I suggest you close your eyes and slowly breath in the scent of your choice.  I can’t make that decision for you, because as you have learned from Brodie, everybody likes different things:-)
Remember you are not alone and you are stronger then you think!
God Bless,
KathieyV
Challenge
1-Go out and buy something with an orange scent.  It could be an actual orange or anything orange related.
What would you buy?_________________________________________
I am going to add an actual orange to my grocery list and possibly some orange sherbet.
2-To enjoy your aromatherapy time turn off electronics and spend some time in quiet thought and enjoy the smell, taste, texture, or what ever else applies to the item you choose.
3-Share in the comments how you felt while experiencing the scent and how you felt after.  You can put your thoughts in the comment area below.
Can’t wait to hear from you!