Can smells trigger trauma?
The short answer: yes.
Can you do something about it? Yes, again.
It’s taken me a bit to process what happened a few nights ago. We were all in bed and it was nearing midnight. Suddenly my husband and I smelled burning plastic. We were immediately out of bed searching the house. Appliances, outlets, the garage, the attic, each room. We pinpointed the smell in our teenagers’ room and when we turned on the light, it was smoky. Although I appeared calm on the outside, I was fighting panic and had to grab my Peace & Calming essential oil while I prayed for safety and to find the problem. We checked everything we thought it could be - the fan/light, anything plugged into an outlet. I was having flashbacks from my youth that were extremely emotional, but kept my focus on finding the issue. There were no flames.
With the girls groggily awake, one pointed to the mini camera sitting on the rug next to the outlet (not plugged in). Sure enough, it was hot, self combusting, and melting into the rug. We removed it from the house quickly, but there was no way the girls could sleep in there, so we sent them downstairs to sleep. The smell was so strong, and we were wide awake, on high alert, wanting to make sure we got the true cause. We kept checking for awhile as we got fans going, blowing the smoke out the window
Upon returning to our bedroom and feeling like we could finally sleep, my guard went down, and the tears flooded out. My husband comforted me and I cried out to God for peace and the ability to sleep (and added more Peace & Calming). You see, when I was in high school, my house burned. We lost pretty much everything, and it was extremely traumatic for our whole family. I remember it so vividly. And that smell - that burnt house smell is one I will never forget. Through an amazing church and community, the Lord blessed our family and we saw many miracles as we worked to rebuild our lives that would never be the same. As the years passed, I thought I was past the trauma simply because I didn't think of it often.
Then a few years ago, my sister’s house burned. That brought up emotions I hadn’t felt in a long time, as I cried for her loss and tried to give what little support I could from far away. When I went to visit and she took me through her burnt shell of a home, the smell triggered my past trauma, and I felt like melting into a puddle of weeping tears as I was transported back in time seeing flashes of my burnt teenage home - but I couldn’t break down there - it wasn’t my house, and there she was living a nightmare for a second time, this time as a mom, with repeat trauma herself that was much worse than mine. I consciously stuffed my feelings. But these kinds of things seem to keep coming back so that we can deal with them.
So this time, as I am still reeling from panic and anxiety, I’ve decided to take the time to process and deal with the trauma triggered by the smell and situation of the other night. Prayer is always my first go-to, as God is mindful of all of His children. And combining prayer with essential oils is powerful. The thing is - I already know how to release trauma and heal emotions as I teach classes on emotional healing with essential oils - but I have not ventured near this specific trauma myself - it was buried deep. So with this incident as a reminder that I still need healing, I am now open to letting it go through techniques I have used with success in the past for both myself and others. I am ready to heal.
Do you have emotions or trauma you have buried deep that you are in need of healing? Have you been triggered by smells?
You are not alone. The sense of smell is the most powerful sense we have and the only one that goes directly to the seat of emotion and memory in our brains. If you smell baking bread and it takes you back in time to your grandmother's kitchen, that pleasant memory is one of the ways the sense of smell works. We can see and feel where we were when we smelled that scent, especially if strong emotions were felt at the time. With trauma, it is not so pleasant. In fact, it can be debilitating for many, who struggle to heal.
There is hope. I will share more on overcoming trauma through smell in Part 2.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in children that often continues into adulthood. If you are the parent of a child struggling with ADHD, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to best manage their symptoms. It's even more difficult if you have ADHD and your child has ADHD, too. The good news is that there are many natural ways you can help your child manage their ADHD (and these work for adults, too!).
Diet and Supplements for ADHD Management
One of the most effective ways of managing ADHD is through diet and supplements. A well-balanced diet as found in "Disease Proof Your Child: Feeding Your Kids Right" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, with plenty of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help keep your child’s blood sugar levels stable throughout the day, helping them maintain focus and concentration. Adding specific supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and magnesium can also help support the brain as recommended in books like “Healing ADD” by Dr. Daniel Amen. Supporting the gut microbiome with probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes is also incredibly beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms naturally. It is essential to remove dyes, fast food, processed food, refined sugars and refined grains from the home. (Yes, this means no candy!)
Essential Oils for Focus & Calm
Essential oils have been used for centuries to improve mental clarity and emotional balance. The scents from essential oils move through the olfactory system and go straight to the brain. For those living with ADHD, diffusing essential oils like vetiver, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint, and frankincense can help immensely with focus, calmness, and sleep while you are healing from the inside out through diet and supplements. These can be applied topically, as well. Find my "Focus" roller recipe here. My daughter loves how these oils make a difference for her concentrations levels. It is best to use these morning and night - breathing for several minutes at a time, and then breathing them during study times.
Environmental Management & Routines
Eliminating dyes (especially artificial colors), refined sugar and flour products (like candy bars or white bread), fast food meals or any other processed/junk food from your home will make a huge difference in your child’s behavior and overall health.. Keeping an organized environment with labels on things like drawers and shelves can also be helpful in providing visual cues to help them stay on task throughout the day. Also, establishing a daily routine where expectations stay the same each day helps provide structure so they know what to expect throughout the day which helps alleviate anxiety associated with change or unpredictability. Finally, lists of daily tasks to be checked off can be very effective to help both parent and child see progress throughout the day.
Living with someone who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder does not have to be overwhelming if you take actionable steps towards managing their symptoms naturally through diet changes, specific supplementation as suggested in the books above, using essential oils, eliminating certain dyes, and avoiding refined sugar/flour products & fast food/junk food meals. You can keep it under control through keeping a clean organized environment, providing visual cues, and maintaining routines that provide structure and predictability throughout each day. These things will all contribute towards successfully managing your child's ADHD behavior naturally! Taking these proactive steps may seem daunting but trust me when I say it is worth it! As a holistic mom who deals with ADHD in myself and several of my children daily, I understand how difficult this journey can be but I assure you that these strategies work! Good luck!
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Life has its ups and downs. We all experience joy and sorrow, health and sickness or pain, stress and calm, confusion and focus. I have experienced all of these things at one time or another over the years and I have learned coping skills for the times when things are down.
1. Turn to God for help.
God is number one for me. I pray and ask for His guidance every day. During hard times, I truly rely on Him. I love to read His word and then journal my thoughts and feelings. Forming a habit of creating time for God each day will make it natural to turn to Him when times are hard and I know He hears and answers prayers.
2. Choose to focus on the good and be grateful.
Sometimes when we are in a really low time, it is so difficult to see anything good. We have to work consciously on finding the good, even if the things we find are small or generic. Shifting focus to gratitude raises our frequency and enables us to be lifted emotionally. An attitude of gratitude brings joy to everyone even and especially in difficult circumstances.
3. Ask for and accept help when needed.
It is ok to ask for help. It is ok to accept help. Moms, especially, are givers by nature and desire to be on the giving end of service usually. That is good, but when is it your turn? Let others help you! If they do not know your situation, reach out to ask for the help you truly need. When others offer help, let them, accept it. You will both be blessed!
4. Be willing to work through your emotions.
Moms often stuff emotions to be able to function for our kids. This coping mechanism is only good short term so we don't break down in an undesirable location or time. It is essential to take the time when you are emotionally safe to let the feelings out and to work through them. Journalling is a fantastic tool for this and I have found essential oils are extremely beneficial to help release emotions so you can let things go.
5. Know that you are the only person you can change.
When sorrows are due to other's behavior, know that you cannot change them, but you can change yourself. You can work on your attitude, your acceptance of the other person, or you can work on knowing when to remove yourself from a situation that is harmful. In many cases, when health is causing your sorrows, know that there are things you can do to improve your outcomes with natural solutions like diet, exercise, and natural remedies. Effort may be required, but isn't your health worth it?
Check out this podcast I did a few months ago on loving yourself. I talk more about how I take time with God each day.
Find prayer journals with or without Bible verses here. These can help you turn to God and focus on the good!
For inspiring stories from women who have been through difficult times and have still found joy, read The Truth About Finding Joy In the Darkness.
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If you have ever sat thinking about upcoming events or seasons and have felt the stress rising even before the stress comes, this is for you!!
Don't give up before the season starts!
Try these tips to lessen stress and feel more peace!
Try these tips to lessen stress and feel more peace!
Prepare Ahead of Time
Write out your budget and stick to it. This will alleviate stress in the moment when you are trying to make decisions.
Prioritize all holiday activities. What events most important to you? Make sure you schedule these first. It is ok not to go to ALL the things. Having your priorities straight and even reducing the number of activities will do a lot to reduce your stress.
Schedule time to relax. In a season with little down time, MAKE the time! Your body and mind will be able to take the break they need to let go of stress.
Schedule immediate family time to laugh and play. One of the best remedies for stress is laughing with family. In the end, your family is the most important priority.
Make lists of people for gifts & cards, menus, supplies, etc. Get all your ducks in a row. Make all your lists so you remember everything you need in each scenario. Less stress, more peace!
Keep Healthy Habits
Make healthy food choices. Even with all the sugary treats and feasting indulgences, you can make good choices and limit consumption of unhealthy options. When bringing food to an event, make a healthy option. Unhealthy food choices stress our bodies out making us more likely to get sick, so making the best choices will remove that stressor.
Keep exercising. This may not be the time to start a new regimen, but continue your exercise routine and keep moving. Exercise is known to alleviate stress and help us feel good.
Keep spiritual practices. Reading scripture, prayer, and mediation are all known to lower stress levels. Keep going with these habits to stay centered and at peace.
Keep using essential oils. There are so many essential oils that help reduce stress levels and help us relax. Some of my favorites are Lavender, Stress Away, and Peace & Calming. Others help with the feelings of the season like Gratitude, Christmas Spirit, Frankincense, Myrrh, Joy, Cinnamon Bark, and Orange.
Embrace Emotions & Family
Know that it is ok to feel a range of feelings during the holidays. With missing loved ones, past trauma, current situations that are not ideal, or a myriad of other reasons, we may feel other emotions besides gratitude, peace, love, and joy. Accept these emotions, acknowledge them, as this will lower the stress we feel at feeling the "wrong" emotions at this time. However, do your best not to dwell in the lower frequency emotions.
Focus on Gratitude and Love. You can find joy and happiness in the little things. Keeping an attitude that focuses on the good relieves stress and raises our frequency, which helps us feel good.
Gracefully navigate family situations with a focus on the good. Family is wonderful! But not every minute is wonderful. Remembering to focus on long term relationships, forgiveness and love goes a long way to reducing stress.
Keep family connections strong, whether in person or via phone or video chats. Loving family relationships help alleviate stress in many ways.
If you are looking to make better nutritional choices, but need some guidance, check out the free Veggie Up Challenge in Holistic Super Moms FaceBook Group in the guide section.
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As I was reading in the New Testament this afternoon, I was overcome with gratitude that Jesus Christ died for me, for you, for all of us. His sacrifice for us was made with pure love. If we have Faith, we have access to His Grace. In this we can rejoice! (For those who want to read it: Romans chapter 5.) There is so much to rejoice in as we put our Faith and trust in God.
But what about when we are wading through trials and the hard times just don't let up? So many of us have gone through long, drawn out difficulties. When we are are deep in the trenches, we can't always see our way out or how we could possibly grow or learn from the experience. We are just trying to make it through day by day. These verses also talked about rejoicing in tribulation, for trials give us patience, experience, and hope. So much of our learning depends upon where we put our focus. When we keep our eyes on the Savior and reach out to Him, our trials are our best teachers.
When my back was broken by a doctor, I suffered so much pain in my body and had a long, difficult healing journey. However, I chose to look to God in Faith. I continued with my daily spiritual habits, which kept me close to Him. I focused on doing my best to care for my infant, even though there were times when I needed a lot of help. I also worked hard to attain my goal of graduating college, even though I considered quitting many times. I was able to grow and learn, and also rejoice in the good things of life, no matter how small.
One thing we can remember is that we are loved, especially when trials overtake us and seemingly keep us down. God will send the Holy Ghost into our hearts which comforts and guides us while we are in the dark. So many of us go through trials in our lives that are so difficult, we wouldn't wish them on anyone else. Yet, when our focus is on the love of our Savior, we still have reason to rejoice!
During my own trials, I have truly felt loved. I know God was right there beside me and He sent others to bless my life. He helped me see the good that was right in front of me and He gave me strength as I cared for my children. He helped me see that I was worth advocating for, and that I could choose joy through my trials.
Have you gone through something difficult recently? Were you able to rejoice during that time? How did you get through? Did you feel loved and did you choose joy? I would love to hear your story!
If you would like to hear more of my story, I have written about it in this book, which is full of inspiring stories of 25 women who chose Joy amid life's difficulties.
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Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
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