How stress affects your nervous system and which flower essence to take to give yourself support.

It’s exam time here in the UK, which flower essence to choose? For some it’s GSCE’s and for our household it’s A levels. And the stress levels are high and the essences are certainly being put to the test!

Stress as we know, in small and manageable amounts can be good. It can help us to rise to the occasion when needed. However when we are in a more permanent state of stress, this can be detrimental to our mental and physical health. The stress hormone cortisol is made in the adrenal glands. It rises when we experience heightened anxiety or stress, and lowers back down when we’re in a relaxed state. The trouble is that many of us stay longer in the stressed state. Stress triggers a combination of signals within the body from both hormones and nerves. These signals cause your adrenal glands to release hormones, including adrenaline and as mentioned, cortisol. The result is an increased heart rate and energy and we are then in the fight-or-flight response.

It’s extremely challenging, especially for teenagers to get control of their stress levels. The pressure is on, the expectation is high, and they feel that if they don’t do well it will affect their futures. We have only ever asked that our children do the best that they can at the time, and if things don’t go to plan in exams then there will be other options. They don’t always take that on board, there’s so much emphasis placed on exams.

I have made up a combination flower essence remedy for my daughter, Tranquility, Faith, Clarity and Peace are in her blend. As well as taking a flower essence we look at trying to get to bed earlier (easy to say when you feel you should be revising!) and exercise. In the past we have found walking, climbing (that’s not me!), gym and self defence classes (that’s not me either!) have helped enormously.

The flower essence blend is taken three times a day, when remembered (teenage brain!) or at least morning and evening. Exercise is regular and good eating when possible. Although snacking while revising seems to help, I remember snacking my way through the exams, probably not the best of advice! To be honest it’s about getting through this time, hopefully in one piece and with your mental health in a relatively good place. Not so easy for some. For me as a parent this is the last lot of exams with children living at home, I know there will be uni exams, but I won’t be with them everyday. I for one will be so pleased when the summer starts and exams are finished.

For those in our position, all I can say is good luck! Keep calm, remember your teenager still loves you, even thought they might not be very nice at this time! Get them to take their flower essences, you take yours and get out in nature to breathe!

Good luck to all, see you on the other side!

Tranquility flower essence for stress and anxiety

Peace flower essence for the overwhelm

Joy flower essence for feelings of sadness and low mood

Clarity flower essence for the busy brain (I certainly need that one!)

Release flower essence for the self imposed obstacles, I can’t, I’m not good enough etc

Wisdom flower essence to connect into our own deep inner wisdom, that which we already know but might not be listening to.

Faith flower essence to feel inner sense of confidence, self belief.

If you would like me to dowse for you to see what essences you need please do email through the contact page or amy@natureswish.co.uk.