Aromatherapy and Recovery from Addictions
Anxiety, fear, stress, and depression are on the rise and the result unfortunately is that many people turn to addictions to counteract and self medicate the emotional pain they are struggling with. Addictions can range from sexual, food, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, prescription medication, sugar, carbohydrates, and illegal street drugs. Some people are generally more susceptible to developing an addiction because of their personalities.
Addictions may start off small, and the person who has the addiction may not even realize that an addiction is forming. They may believe that they are in control of the addiction and think of themselves as a “casual user” of the substance they are in fact addicted to. The basic definition of an addiction is compulsion. The compulsion will lead a person to repetitively perform the same action, ex. Smoking cigarettes, drinking until intoxicated, using street drugs, no matter what the result of the action may be. Most people who are addicted, addicts, realize that they have a problem and have no control over the substance that they are addicted to.
Most people are aware that smoking can cause lung cancer; they cough continuously and feel short of breath daily. They can dream about a life without cigarettes, yet when they wake up in the morning, the first thing they do is light a cigarette and smoke. They are addicted and feel powerless to break the addiction.
One of the saddest and most prevalent addictions in America is the addition to illegal street drugs. Drugs such as Crack Cocaine, Chrystal Meth, and Heroin have destroyed the lives of addicts, their children, and those around them. These addictions can become so powerful and controlling that addicts will steal, kill, and destroy anyone who gets in the way of their next “fix” or “high”.
Addictions are emotional as well as physical. In the case of those who are addicted to illegal drugs, the physical results of not having the drug may at times be worse than the physical results of taking the drug itself.
It may take a lot of hard work to break free from an addiction. Often the underlying root of an addiction may be an emotional or spiritual wound. The addiction is often a symptom of someone who is trying to cover up emotional pain, memories, or even a condition such as Clinical Depression. Therapy must be used to help people become free from the addiction and begin to enjoy their lives again. When addicts recover they may in fact be repulsed and shocked by some of their behaviors that they performed while “under the influence” of the addictive substance. It is important to realize that therapy does not stop once the physical side of the addiction is broken. There may also need to be a course of therapy devoted to restoring self-esteem and overcoming guilt and shame.
Aromatherapy may be used along with the selected course of treatment to help break addictions and assist with times of relaxation and helping restore normal functions of the human body. There are many herbs that will help break the physical effects of the addiction, as well as herbs that can help treat the physical symptoms of recovery and withdrawal. An aromatic massage may be a wonderful way to relax and help the body to recover. Here are some herbs that may be added to carrier oil for an addiction breaking massage. All of these herbs will help in the recovery process, Sandalwood, Lavender, Geranium, Vetiver, Myrtle, and Angelica Root.
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