When I worked for the Alzheimer’s Association and later for a California Caregiver Resource Center I always had to tell my clients to put their own oxygen masks on first. They were often so hyper-focussed on the people they were taking care of that they didn’t get enough sleep, eat properly, or take time off for their own well-being. And they worried SO much about their family members that when I asked how they were doing (Good Morning! How are you today?”) I would hear all about their loved ones and not about themselves.
This is not normal and is also a set-up for disaster. Family caregivers have a high rate of anxiety and depression, and it is not at all uncommon for them to become incapacitated or die before the Alzheimer sufferer does!
I was just learning about flower essences when I worked with caregivers, but I often wondered if a formula like my Inner Strength and Protection would help. I originally made this for my own purposes and found it enormously effective. I actually got a visceral experience of energetic boundaries, that I did not know were too diffuse and focussed on others, being brought back to myself and firmly centered in my own body and space—where it more healthily belongs! That was a bit shocking because I didn’t believe in this sort of thing, but it also helped me feel a lot better! More grounded, more centered, more able to care without becoming obsessed or overwhelmed and MUCH more healthy mentally and physically.
More recently, I’ve noticed that doomscrolling on the internet was having the same effect on me as family caregiving. OMG, the poor people in [name your war zone or ICE raid location here]. Many people are advising others to pull away and stop paying attention to what is going on. But that does not sit well with me! But moderation and balance? Yeah, that is important! So I started using my Inner Strength and Protection formula again.
This formula contains Star of Bethlehem, two different Yarrow flower essences, and Red Chestnut. It helps to soothe a frazzled state that is overly focused on trauma, and strengthens your emotional and energetic boundaries while enabling you to care for others without depleting your mental health and well-being.
I like the scented spray version because I think this works best when sprayed in the aura and on your skin. And I prefer a scent for that. You can use the unscented version just as effectively if you don’t mind the scent of the vodka used to preserve it. And if you don’t like Patchouli (one of the essential oils I used in my ready-made custom-designed scented spray), you could order Inner Strength and Protection here and request a different essential oil from my list.
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Flower essences are used to assist with mind-body-spirit interactions and individual results may vary. They are extremely dilute which makes them quite safe. But because so little physical substance can be detected in a flower essence solution, these products are presumed to work on an energetic or vibrational level—something that cannot be adequately tested by western scientific methods. Claims made by me, therefore, are based on personal experiences and the evidence of the combined multiple decades of case notes by Dr. Edward Bach as well as Healing Herbs and Flower Essence Services (the companies who make the ingredients I use in my products). This is not, however, accepted medical evidence or substantiated scientific evidence from a modern allopathic point of view. I am not a medical doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner.
Statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided on my blog, websites or by this company are not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a health care provider, and should not be construed as individual medical or mental health advice. Consulting with a health care provider is a must for anyone taking medications or working with a medical or mental health condition, and highly recommended before using any herbal product. Please consult your doctor or health care provider for any possible contraindications and/or interactions with current medications. I trust you to seek the medical guidance you need to use any of my herbal products healthily at your own risk.