Can we get a little personal and real? No I mean, like for reals… Can I take you a bit deeper inside my world, thoughts, and feelings? This is a safe space, yes? Especially as we head into the holidays, I come up on the anniversary of losing my grandfather, and I am face to face with childhood issues that have affected and impacted my life? Can we talk about self-care and how we navigate stress and learn how to fashion our own Rescue Remedy?
Self-Care? Anxiety? Stress?
Girl. I did not know that I had been a living and working with high functioning depression and anxiety. I did not know until I hit my wall and crashed. Hard. For me, I had buried and busied myself through hurt, embarrassment, pain, sadness, joy. I dug myself deeper into work to hide, run from, or to cover myself from whatever feelings, thinking that it would (or I could) disappear until everything smacked me in the face at once. Then everything became a trigger, everything had me on edge, and I was snot nosed, puffy eyes, exhausted crying, daily.
I was a hot ass mess. I wanted to disappear. I was skiddish. Everything triggered me. My mind was constantly racing. I didn’t believe things around me. I felt the lowest I had ever felt and I was scared. I wish this on no one… It wasn’t until I shared my thoughts and feelings with a loved one, that we were able to walk through and identify what it was. And then I started therapy.
So over the past few months, I have been learning how to mitigate, work through, and navigate through my feelings and emotions… My therapist helped to realize that I have never felt enough nor had I chosen myself. *sigh*
In addition to my uber amazing therapist, my transparency, and leaning on those closest to me, I have been seeking out products and natural products that help me get through it all… Chamomile tea? YUP. Ample sleep? Mhhmmm. Sunshine? I have been trying to get out more. Physical Contact? I have been being proactive with reaching out to those who are near and dear to me… I started researching and sourcing different things I could do to actually help get me to a better place.
When I was approached by Rescue about their products, what and how they work, and the fact that they are natural products that help remedy stress? I was game…
Funnily enough, I already have my own regimen (or had one) that included working with natural products, but I hadn’t been using them! *sigh*
STRESS.
I have been internalizing it for so long, that it reminds me of a time that I took my tail to Planned Parenthood about 5 ish years ago, because I may have thought or was afraid that I was pregnant… I had missed my cycle for two months and then it came for two weeks. TMI, but listen… it is important. So when the test came back negative, the doctor pulled me into her office and asked me what was going on in my life? As I shared with her, with both compassion and concern (as well as a matter of factness to her) she shared that my body is taking on this stress and that I need a break.
What break? When I am grinding this out to build this brand? With what funds? Everything goes right back into the business! I couldn’t afford a break. I needed to work. I had to do more. I needed to be more. I found myself on a hamster wheel of my own making, never stopping to celebrate successes, milestones, or issues. Not feeling like I was enough as I was, I just kept working towards a never-ending goal.
So I started looking for vitamins, homeopathic ways to help myself navigate through this… fast forward years later and I crashed… hard.
For my 35th birthday, I balled all morning. Had no energy to write my lessons learned or goals to do by 36. I cried. But, I had also started therapy and this was a good thing! I was quite happy about it and I saw that the universe was only affirming this decision with the myriad posts of therapy, depression, anxiety tools on Facebook and when Rescue products came along? I listened to the universe. I jumped, leaped, spring at the chance to play in and with a natural option to help me through it all!
Now before I share with you what I got, let me share with you why I decided to give it a whirl…
“Rescue Remedy is a combination of five of the original Bach Flower Remedies which are especially beneficial when you find yourself in traumatic situations, such as, stress, emergencies, after getting bad news, before an exam or job interview and all other kind of situations where we suddenly lose balance mentally. The Remedies quickly get us back in our normal balance so that we calmly can deal with any situation”
So, after I read this, I was like, okay… sounds promising! Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose, and Clematis? Hrmmm. The breakdown of each ingredient and their individual properties had me curious and hopeful.
In my #stressless Rescue bag, I received:
- Two differently flavored Rescue Pastilles
- Rescue Remedy Spray
- Rescue Plus Sleep
I happen to already prescribe to the melatonin and chamomile options, so immediately I started out with the sleep gummies. My mind at night can race and I can get a bit overwhelmed in my thoughts. This does not leave me groggy, wired, or with crazy dreams… I feel rested and full of energy to take on life. Slowly I have been integrating Rescue products into my life, paying attention to my mood, feelings, and thoughts.
Add to that, my standing appointment with my therapist? I am learning how to deal with my stressors, feelings of not enough and inadequacy, family issues, and my confidence…
How I am Navigating Stress and My life right now… My Own Rescue Remedy
- Prayer
- Therapy
- Practice saying and believing: “You are enough”
- I have been writing in a journal, writing out my intentions
- Allowing myself to feel (whatever feelings those are, rather than bury or dismiss them)
- Speaking up and out and talking about how I feel
- Letting go of things I cannot control
- Doing the things I may not really want to do (laundry, dishes, or whatever other chore I put aside)
- Calling and reaching out to those I care about more, rather than isolating myself
- Pouring love back into myself whether it be through affirmations, conversations, or staring at myself in the mirror and speaking beautiful to myself
- Drinking more water and eating better
- Using natural supplements
I am working on this list and am working on this one day at a time, sometimes one tear or one step at a time, but what I do know is that I am so focused on being a better Marie and with that comes work- work that I am ready to put in, to grow!
If you are ever looking for natural options, I invite you to check out Rescue and learn more about their products. You can also use their store locator to find where you can pick some up in your area.
But I want to hear from you! How do you navigate stress, days that you feel low, ugly, not cute, sad, and overwhelmed? What do you do that helps you navigate through it all?
Please share your thoughts, stories, and feedback so that we can learn from each other! I know I need your words!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Rescue and my feelings and thoughts are my own