Knowing why my clients come to me is important in making sure I keep a stock of the best oils to help them. My two guides to this are firstly and most importantly the clients whom I actually see or who consult with me via Skype.
The second is the enquiries that are generated by my website and the pages that get the most hits. This year because I did a promotion for the page, back massage has received the most hits and don’t get me wrong, a significant proportion of my clients do come for issues with their backs, especially if you include neck and shoulders in that. But by far the biggest proportion of my clients come for issues to do with depression and anxiety. I would also say that most of these have depression or anxiety because of significant traumatic life events. I see a few clients where genetic factors play a much larger part but they are the minority.
Bergmot, Bitter Orange and other citrus oils are a must working with these clients. They are particularly good for the client who feels stuck. They are also good for some of the physical manifestations of depression and anxiety such as lack of appetite and constipation. Rose is another oil I would not be without. It soothes anxiety and is particularly good for those dealing with grief be that for a childhood they didn’t have or the loss of a close friend or loved one. Frankincense completes my first line triad for depression, in particular if agitation or anxiety are also present. Both Roman and German Chamomile can also be good for this.
Once a client comes to me these oils are also good for building self confidence and helping the client to really believe that they are worth it. This last is probably the biggest barrier to depressed and anxious individuals coming for massage. They give themselves the message that they don’t deserve good things and often blame themselves even when the blame is patently with another, e.g. an abuser.
Interestingly, I find that at least one in ten of the clients that are depressed also have back pain.
Do follow the links on this site and get in touch if you would like to discuss the possibility of having an aromatherapy massage treatment for anxiety, depression, back issues or anything else.
If you are reading this because you suffer from chronic pain, let me start by saying that your pain is real! This is true, even if your doctors have been unable to come up with a medical explanation for your pain. Why do I say this? Because both in my practice in Trumpington and Central Cambridge as well as when working as a mental health nurse, I have worked with people who have been told that because the reason for their pain hasn’t been found that they must be making it up.
In my massage and aromatherapy practice in Cambridge I see a lot of clients with depression, one day out of five clients three were taking antidepressants prescribed either by a psychiatrist or a GP. Also three quarters of people with depression in The United Kingdom go undiagnosed or untreated — and even if the disorder is diagnosed, today’s medications will work well for only about half of those who seek help.