Why Are You Sad?

August 11, 2017

“Why are you sad?” If you’re someone that suffers from a mental health disorder, you’ve heard this question before. As someone who’s suffered from minor depression issues for a lot of my life (PDD/Dysthymia), I know exactly how tough that question is to answer. For a person that suffers from depression you understand when I say, it’s less about the why, and more about the how. More specifically, “How can I get this feeling to go away?”.

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States behind anxiety disorders like Social Anxiety Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, according to data from the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) [1]. Depression can manifest itself a few different forms, the most common forms being Major Depression and Persistent depressive disorder (PDD; formerly known as dysthymia), but the commonality between them is a feeling of inescapable sadness or downtrodden mood.

It’s tough to determine exactly where your depression comes from, or why you are feeling the way that you are. Often, there are a combination of factors contributing that contribute to someone’s depression, and in some cases those factors are intangible. For example, depression can manifest itself in people due to genetics, unknown medical conditions, and even allergies and intolerances to certain foods or medications. It’s common, though, for depression to come about through specific life-events that trigger the feeling of sadness.

At any rate, pinpointing the exact symptoms that you’re experiencing is the most important part of determining whether or not you’re experiencing some form of depression. This is where a doctor/psychologist visit becomes incredibly important; no advice that you see online or in a blog like this one should take the place of advice from your doctor. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with a form of depression by a licensed professional, there are certainly routes that you can take to assist in managing your symptoms!

Along with prescribed medications, aromatherapy has been a source for coping for many people that experience the struggles of mental health disorders in their lives. There are many essential oils that can be used for calming the nerves and reducing the symptoms of depression, but the most common is Lavender oil. Lavender oil has been used for hundreds of years in different capacities, and more recently has been the subject of several case studies regarding the efficacy of its antidepressant capabilities. The results of many of these studies solidify its efficacy, in fact, the results seemed to show a higher level of effectiveness than expected by researchers. Such studies have shown that Lavender, when used in an olfactory method (like a diffuser), significantly lowered the HAMA (Hamilton rating scale for anxiety) and HAMD (Hamilton rating scale for depression) scores of the patients who were a part of the study [2].

As we mentioned above, there are other oils that have been used as antidepressant supplements, including Bergamot and Ylang Ylang, but for different reasons! Bergamot is known for its calming effects, much like Lavender. It’s often used in situations in which people are looking to curb feelings of nervousness or anxiety, as well as stress [3]. Ylang Ylang, however, is more commonly used to boost the feelings of happiness by increasing the release of neurotransmitters linked to happiness and an upbeat mood [4]. When used together, even alongside Lavender, this combination of oils can be extremely effective in assisting relaxation and calming the nerves.

If you’re looking to give something like this a try, look no further than the Mix Your Mood™ diffuser. You’re able to choose any combination of 4 essential oils from our selection of 36 oils, which includes Lavender, Bergamot, and Ylang Ylang! Simply add whichever oils peak your interest, and we’ll blend it up for your diffuser! Once it arrives to you, using it may just do what you’re looking for in curbing those symptoms of depression. After all, rather than have to answer the question “Why are you sad?”, wouldn’t you rather not hear the question at all?

[1] - ADAA. "Depression." Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. MoodNetwork, 2016. Web. 20 July 2017.

[2] - Appleton, Jeremy, ND. "Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Depression." Natural Medicine Journal. Natural Medicine Journal, Feb. 2012. Web. 20 July 2017.

[3] - "Most Popular Essential Oils." Aromatherapy - The Balance & Harmony of Body and Mind. Aromatherapy.com, n.d. Web. 20 July 2017.

[4] - "Ylang Ylang Essential Oil." Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Profile, Benefits and Uses | AromaWeb. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2017.