When your brain feels like a circus of whirling thoughts, your heart pounds constantly, sleep is challenging and you snap at almost anyone who speaks to you, it’s a clear sign that stress and anxiety are taking over. Does any of that sound like you lately?
These feelings are totally understandable, especially considering the state of our world the past few years, and the busyness you likely feel between home, relationships, and school or work.
More people have asked me lately about what helps with stress and anxiety, which is why I want to share with you some of the top essential oils for stress and anxiety. When we use aromatherapy, we also reap other health benefits such as immune support, hormone balance, and sleep support!
To tackle these issues from a holistic perspective, I recommend reading my blog on Foods that Reduce Stress and Anxiety and implementing these tips as well. I also suggest daily practices like prayer, Bible reading, and meditation because they help to shift and renew our mindsets so we are better equipped to manage the problems that come our way.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
How to Use Essential Oils for Stress and Anxiety
Any of these oils can be diffused or diluted and used topically, and many can be used internally in water (glass or stainless steel, NO plastic!) or veggie capsules with caution. I ONLY recommend internal use with doTERRA essential oils because of their purity and high quality. Do not take any other oil brands internally without researching them first and/or checking with a medical provider, as many of them contain synthetic fragrances, chemicals and contaminants.
To know which oils can be used internally, please visit the doTERRA website or look on your doTERRA bottle for supplement facts. Those with supplement facts are approved for internal use. Watch this video to learn about how to use oils safely internally and externally before using essential oils.
Calming Essential Oils for Stress and Anxiety
The following essential oils are listed by category: tree oils, citrus oils, floral oils, root oils and blends.
Tree Oils
Essential oils that come from trees are known as being grounding, relaxing, and restoring. They create a sense of connection, just as trees are connected to the earth and nature, and many of them are great for skin care!
- Frankincense – high in monoterpene alkenes and alpha-pinene, Frankincense supports the nervous system and immune system, is soothing to tissues, and its aroma has powerful relaxing effects. This is an excellent one for meditation and prayer times. It also supports cellular function, so I like to take this one internally when my body is feeling run down from either physical or mental stress.
- Douglas Fir – high in beta pinene, Douglas Fir supports the nervous and immune systems, making it excellent for stress. When stress is high, our immune system is compromised, so it is important to utilize oils that provide immune support. It also promotes a positive, uplifting mood.
- Siberian Fir – high in bornyl acetate and alpha-pinene, Siberian Fir helps to balance emotions and soothe anxious feelings. It’s great for diffusing or using in a relaxing, calming massage.
- Copaiba – this multi-tasker is high in beta-caryophyllene and supports everything from immunity to inflammation, the nervous system, skin and digestion.In my opinion, the smell is unappealing, so I only use it internally or on the bottoms of my feet when fighting stress, nervousness or inflammation.
The tree oils blend well with the citrus oils below for an uplifting and calming mood. With the exception of Copaiba, my favorite way to use the above oils is by diffusing them, because the aromas are so calming and relaxing.
Citrus Oils
Citrus essential oils are uplifting due to a chemical backbone of monoterpenes. These are ideal if you are feeling discouraged or “down” and help boost and brighten your mood. Many citrus oils are adaptogenic, meaning they can energize and boost your mood, OR help calm you down, depending on what you need. Most citrus oils can be taken internally and they taste really good! If you like flavored water/sparkling water, you can add 1-2 drop into water per day.
- Wild Orange – made up almost entirely of the constituent limonene, Wild Orange supports the nervous system and the aroma is uplifting to both body and mind. This is one of my favorites to blend as it goes with practically any tree, citrus, or floral oil. It’s also amazing on its own!
- Bergamot – linalyl acetate makes Bergamot ideal for both uplifting and calming, great for combined stress and sadness.
- Lemon – supports a positive, uplifting environment. Lemon helps to detox not only surfaces and air, but the body when taken internally. I like to take this in my water daily to help remove toxins from the body, as toxins have been linked to poor mental health.
- Grapefruit – like wild orange, Grapefruit is mostly made up of limonene. Its bright, fresh, fruity smell is very uplifting and mood boosting.
I like to blend any of these with Frankincense or Douglas Fir at during a workday or at night for a “happy calm” sensation in the diffuser.
Floral Oils
Oils from flowers are soothing and relaxing due to chemical constituents like linalool and linalyl acetate. These oils are also great for skin, so try adding a drop into your moisturizer and inhaling from the bottle as you do so. Some commone favorites are:
- Lavender – this popular oil can help to reduce anxious feelings and tension and is great for bedtime. It promotes better sleep which is hugely important when you are experiencing stress. The better sleep you get, the less stress you tend to have and greater ability to manage high emotions. Sleep is also when the body’s cells are restored and it reduces the effects of stress on our bodies and brains. Lavender blends really well with so many oils but is also great on its own.
- Ylang Ylang – similar to Bergamot in effect, ylang ylang can lift your mood while having a calming effect. It’s also excellent for helping to balance women’s hormones and improve libido (and some quality time in bed with your spouse can also reduce stress!)
- Roman Chamomile – has a calming effect and supports the nervous and immune system. This is another one to try before bed to promote quality sleep.
- Madagascar Vanilla – constituents vanillin and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde make this oil helpful in fighting depression and acting as a calming sedative. I find the cozy smell very comforting, and great to blend with practically anything. It also has a romantic quality, making it a nice natural perfume and aphrodisiac.
Most of the florals blend well together and with citrus oils, especially as natural personal fragrances.
Root Oil – Vetiver
Vetiver is another one I love for its calming and grounding effect on emotions, sleep support, and ability to help with focus. Due to its strong smell, I recommend highly diluting it, such as one drop in a large diffuser or in the bath.
Essential Oil Blends for Stress and Anxiety
These are some amazing blends from doTERRA essential oils that combine the powers of multiple oils to calm the nervous system, support emotional grounding, and help reduce stress. These pair well with a yoga practice, prayer time, or journaling habit.
- Balance Grounding Blend – this earthy, woodsy blend smells like sitting on a mountain top. It is incredibly calming (especially as a nature lover!) With oils like Frankincense, Blue Tansy, Spruce Leaf and Blue Chamomile, it is emotionally grounding and balancing. It helps me to pause, take a deep breath, and calm down. This is my “everything is going to be okay” oil as that’s exactly how I feel when I smell it.
- Breathe Respiratory Blend –while this blend of minty and herbaceous oil isn’t necessarily intended for calming, I personally find this one soothing and mood-boosting. When using this oil, take a moment to deeply breathe it in from cupped hands, the bottle, a diffuser, or a facial steam. Inhale for 3-7 counts, hold it at the top for a few seconds, then release it for about another 3-4 counts. Deep breathing is one of the most helpful practices for stress and anxiety because it slows the heart rate and forces you to stop and think. Use this oil to remind you to stop and breathe….and reap the benefits of more open airways to relax easier.
- Adaptiv Calming Blend – this unique blend of lavender, wild orange, copaiba, spearmint, and other emotionally calming oils is my go-to if I feel nervous, anxious, angry, exhausted or stressed. This blend also comes in capsule form to take internally for nervous system support. This oil is a fan favorite among doTERRA essential oil users for good reason!
- Peace Reassuring Blend – this includes vetiver, frankincense, lavender and ylang ylang, along with a few other oils like spearmint. Again, think about the name of the oil and what it is intended to do when you use it. Take a deep inhale of the aroma and imagine breathing in peace and exhaling stress and anxiety. I prefer diffusing this one in the evening and before bed.
Using Stress-Relieving Essential Oils and Blends
I encourage you to try all of these oils on their own, as well as making your own blends to see what works best for you. You may find that one oil doesn’t have a strong effect, but another similar oil makes a powerful difference. Some may even need more than one try – I didn’t actually like Adaptiv when I first got it, but after several uses, it is a favorite and is so helpful for me. Keep trying and experimenting and having fun with ways to use your oils!
If you’d like some blend ideas to get you started, download a free stress and anxiety diffuser and roller bottle recipe guide below!
Which Oils Should I Start With?
Not sure where to start with all of these options? Here are some bundles I recommend from doTERRA that are geared specifically toward helping with mind and mood. Bonus: bundles are less expensive than purchasing each oil separately!
I am a Wellness Advocate with doTERRA, so if you choose to purchase one of these doTERRA oils or bundles with THIS LINK , you will get 25% off retail prices all year! (listed as Wholesale prices).
When you enroll with me, you’ll also get the following:
- A personal welcome call and wellness consult to walk through how to use your oils
- Free access to tons of VIP continuing education
- Access to me, my team, and our resources for oil use and education
- Access to a private Facebook group with tons of community resources, connections, and giveaways
- A free welcome gift!
- Just confirm you are shopping with Holly Soto before checking out to get all of the above benefits.
Evolve You: Mind and Mood Enrollment Kit
This kit is excellent because it starts with the base of quality nutrition through supplementation to get to root issues. This is always the best place to start for mental health, then add on essential oils for further support.
It includes:
- Best-selling Lifelong Vitality Pack, a 3-pack of supplements (vitamin/mineral complex, fatty acid complex, antioxidant complex) that help with general health, stress management, energy, hormone balance, cellular support, immune function, digestive health and more. They even include essential oils in them!
- Adaptiv roll-on
- Adaptiv capsules
- Adaptiv oil
- FREE membership for wholesale prices!
Petal Essential Collection
This simple set is great if you’re new to essential oils, with a diffuser to get you started and two of the most basic, effective, and versatile essential oils for stress.
It includes:
- Petal diffuser
- Lavender oil 5mL
- Wild Orange oil 5mL
Mind & Mood Wellness Program
This can only be purchased by currently enrolled doTERRA members through the Loyalty Rewards Program (an awesome way to get tons of free stuff! Contact me if you’d like to know more about it.)
It includes:
- Adaptiv Capsules
- Adaptiv Roll-on
- Balance oil
- Balance natural deodorant
- Nice neoprene bag to hold it all!
Renewal Fitness Starter Kit
This is not an actual kit, but a set of oils I recommend starting with out of all the ones I listed above. If you’re not already using doTERRA, then look into the Home Essentials Kit, which includes all of these oils and more, plus a diffuser!
- Adaptiv oil
- Balance oil
- Lavender oil
- Wild Orange oil
- Copaiba oil or capsules
Final Tip….Connect to Your Creator
Essential oils are amazing, but the Creator of essential oils and ultimate Healer is even more amazing. If you’re dealing with emotional issues and stress, I highly encourage you to take it in prayer to God. Present it to Him and allow Him to work through your mind and emotions to calm you because nothing and no one will calm you as well as the loving God who created you.
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
I love to use these oils and aromatherapy to enhance my personal prayer and meditation time with God. They help me to focus and better connect to my own emotions and to God.
Also, if you need help figuring out managing your nutrition, using oils, and/or exercise to manage stress, I’m here to help! I’d love to coach you through that process. Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation to find what’s best for you.
I pray that these tips help you to experience more calm, freedom from anxiety, and rest in your life!
If you’d like to see this content on video, click below for the YouTube version.
