Scented Candles & Mental Health

Mental health is shaped by many factors; one being environmental.  Things like air pollution and chronic noise influence, anxiety, depression and stress levels.  Let's take a look into what each one and see their symptoms. 

• Anxiety is a whole-body experience that effects more than your mind.  It shows up sometimes unexpected in your day-to-day.  It's a mix of physical, mental and behavioral signs.  Ranging from racing heart, muscle tension to uncontrollable worry.
• Depression can look like many things.  Most cases it's pulling away from other people, extreme tiredness and/or deep sadness.  You lose joy in your day-to-day, in hobbies or you act easily annoyed.  Body pains like headaches, stomach and muscle pains are common with depression. Appetite changes like eating more than usual or eating significantly less.
• Stress can look like anxiety and depression.  It's different from person to person but generally appears as such; a mix of physical, behavioral, cognitive and emotional changes.  The body is placed in a "fight or flight" response that causes tense shoulders, headaches, racing heart and/or upset stomach.  You may experience being easily irritated, isolating yourself from others and/or struggle to focus.

Out of all these, I have experienced all three in my lifetime, some as recently as this year.  It will have you feeling ashamed, unseen, not heard and feelings of drowning in despair.  That is no way to live.  I told myself every day, "you have to come out from here, your babies need you."

My next steps were intentional and crucial to not just my survival but that of my family.  I began to pray.  Prayer helped me get out the isolation phase, the not feeling seen and heard it all began to fade.  I knew within days something that was already promised that he will never leave me nor forsake me. That was my corner stone, my foundation I needed.

Next steps were finding something that would get me up and restore some sense of purpose.  A hobby, something I haven't tried before and something I could enjoy.  Creating Candles became that for me.

Did you know scent can change your mood, your patterns, your mental state as a whole?  At the time I didn't know that.  In fact, I didn't know much about candles, wax or anything.  But as soon as I got into creating them, my God it awakens something in me.  The slow process of watching the wax melt to smelling the great aroma of scent, I fell in love.  The joy I felt when I was in my little closet stirring, mixing and pouring is unmatched. 

Pretty soon the weight of depression, stress and anxiety were lifted.  I began to be less on auto pilot with my responsibilities and began to enjoy them again.   It all started with a mental decision, remembering something I had forgotten and building on that.  I believe my Father bought me to create candles because he used it to rescue me.

I began to do research and found there are studies that suggest scented candles with essential oils can aid in reducing anxiety, depression and in some cases stress levels.  Upon researching further, I gathered most people don't know the effects that aroma has on them even in day-to day.

 20% of people that use candles do so that their space smells good, 40% of candle users only ignite the wick after cleaning to mask the smell of product they used and/or they deem it is the only time they get to rest. The other 40% just like the aesthetics whether it be the vessel or candles designed as something else, via molding.  In either case, it seems that case studies show scented candles have a deeper calling.

Scented candles and metal health walk hand and hand if you allow it to do what it was created for.  That's our goal! Yes, we want you to enjoy every ounce of your candle but for those times when the world seems to try and get the best of you, remember essential oil scented candles can help aid you on your journey.

Pray, light your candle, relax, inhale and meditate; let it all in.  Remember that you are the light of this world.  Knowing what steps works for you is all we need.

Light the world one Candle at a Time!!