Essential Oils for Autism, ADHD and other Neurodivergence
Neurodivergence (ND) has become a popular topic in recent years, with many people receiving diagnosis of Autism or ADHD - or something else like dyslexia or dyspraxia - later in life. This subject is close to my heart because I realised I was neurodivergent a few years ago.
The reason for the late discovery for many people is that, largely, it has been found that neurodivergent children learn to ‘mask’ themselves to fit in - especially for little girls. This was true for me - I learned to adapt and mould my sensitive self into society, mimicking others’ behaviour and ignoring my needs - until I’d eventually have a sensory overload melt-down. Finding out I was autistic a few years ago was like a relieving “aha” moment, because suddenly the way I had navigated life and the challenges I’d had (burn out, emotional overwhelm, deep sensitivity, stress at things changing last minute, and challenges with intimacy) all finally made sense.
I’ve been in a period of reclamation of myself and my ND since then. And I have a radically different view to the mainstream lens, which often sees definitions like autism or ADHD as meaning you are ‘broken,’ somehow. I began to dive into the research that sees neurodivergence as a gift - which might sound radical, but as our world evolves, it needs the different skills of ND ones (sensitivity, brilliance and creativity).
Please don’t get me wrong, for many who have severe neurodivergence, it can be really challenging to navigate; and still, for many of us who have ND, I want to shine a light on a different stance of the gifts it brings - as well as how we can support any neurodivergence with aromatherapy.
So, what is ‘neurodivergence’ (or ND) - and how can we support ourselves with nature’s essential oils if we happen to have discovered this?
What is neurodivergence?
The term “neurodivergence” is quite literally another word for having a brain that works differently from the ‘neurotypical’ person - a divergence in neurological function from what is considered ‘normal’. This differently working brain means that people who are ND have different challenges - and different strengths - from what we’ve typically known or accepted in society. Sadly, this often means that the ‘divergence’ has often been described as a ‘learning challenge’ in the modern world.
Typically, some of the common neurodiversities include:
- ADHD - which in an overwhelming, busy modern world can express as sensitivity, easily distracted, struggle to concentrate, bored with routine, challenge to focus, being hyperactive.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (once also known as Aspergers) - which in an overwhelming, busy modern world can express as deep sensitivity, having obsessions, intense focus, difficulty expressing emotions, not wanting to be as social, preferring sameness, getting overwhelmed.
- Dyslexia - which can express as difficulty processing words, challenges with reading.
- Dyscalculia - which can express as difficulty processing numbers, challenges with maths.
- Dyspraxia - which can express as difficulty with coordination.
However, these ‘differences’ that are often overlooked, are also strengths. For example, people with ND tend to be sensitive and that brings unique gifts, such as exceptional creativity and artistry, brilliant minds that have the ability for pattern-recognition and solving complex problems, hyper-focus and excellent attention to detail, excellent memory - and many more.
The challenges of being ND often simply come about because it’s a challenge to have a divergent brain and live in a world designed for - and more accepting of - neurotypical brains. And - that doesn’t mean we have to conform and learn to be less divergent; often those with the ‘label’ of autism or ADHD are here to be the brilliant, sensitive magical leaders and talented ones, who can bring really unique gifts to the world. In fact, many famous and talented people are neurodivergent - including artist, Van Gough, inventor, Nikola Tesla, Oscar winner, Antony Hopkins, and climate activist Greta Thunberg.
This is quite a radical stance, so to own our ND this way requires us to take deep responsibility to tend to our sensitive needs and begin to honour our own unique and brilliant gifts. It’s important we do so, because some researchers have shared that things like neurodivergence are part of humanity’s evolution.
As we begin to love the gifts of our differently-wired brains, we can begin to harness our highly-sensitive senses, our superpower of empathy (yes, we’re not seen as empathetic but it’s actually the opposite), our love of data and patterns and colours and words, our creative genius and our brilliant minds to create a better world (just look at the list of famous people and what they’ve created).
What essential oils can help support neurodivergence?
All that said, we do still live in a mundane world which can be overwhelming for sensitive neurodivergent people - which is why we need to learn to meet our needs and support ourselves with nature’s medicine.
Here are my top essential oils to support some of the common challenges of being neurodivergent in the modern world:
High Sensitivity
Neurodivergence is deeply associated with being highly sensitive, so oils which are going to soothe your nervous system and restore a sense of relaxation and calm are your best friend:
Diffusion Blend: Mix 4 drops Lavender, 2 drops Chamomile and 1 drop Vetivert into water in a candle-burner or electrical diffuser and diffuse throughout the day as needed, for up to 30 minutes at a time - especially when you are feeling that your senses are particularly overloaded.
Anxiety and Overwhelm
The anxiety and overwhelm of living in a modern world with a divergent brain is often one of the challenges that leads people to a diagnosis - so essential oils that help calm your anxiety and overwhelm are really helpful:
- Bergamot
- Melissa
- Clary Sage
Massage Blend: Mix 3 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Melissa and 1 drop Clary Sage into 15ml Grapeseed oil and blend well. Use this as a massage oil when you’re feeling anxiety creeping in - whether that’s taking 30 minutes to massage your body fully or - if you’re out and about - you could just pop a few dabs on your pulse points.
Depression
Often, when people with neurodivergence are not owning their sensitive needs, they can experience depression and low mood. Many essential oils can help uplift you, including:
Body Oil Blend: Mix 3 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Cedarwood and 1 drop Geranium into 15ml Grapeseed oil and blend well. When you are feeling low-spirited, especially if you wake up feeling low, use this blend as a body oil to pamper yourself after your morning bath or shower.
Focus and Processing
Whether it’s being hyper-focused or not feeling focused at all there are essential oils that can help you ‘balance’ your focus and process better. These include:
Spritz Blend: Mix 20 drops Lemon, 6 drops Rosemary and 4 drops Peppermint into 100ml of Orange Flower Hydrolat or water, in a spray bottle, and use as a spritz throughout the day when you are feeling challenged with focusing or processing.
Chronic Fatigue and Burnout
Often people with ND can experience deep levels of fatigue because they are trying to fit into a world that is different and not providing for their sensitive needs. Essential oils that can help heal this fatigue and burn-out include:
- Basil
- Sweet Orange
- Sandalwood
Bathing Blend: Mix 3 drops Sweet Orange, 2 drops Basil and 1 drop Sandalwood into 15ml of Bath Oil or Shower Gel and pour into the warm running water of your bath. Close all the windows and doors, make sure you are undisturbed and sit in your bath breathing in the aromas whilst you relax.
Emotional Meltdown
Finally, often neurodivergent people can experience high-levels of emotion, and become overwhelmed because they are so sensitive (often they shame themselves for this, yet it makes complete sense and is really welcome) - really, the key is to learn to meet our more tender needs, but in the midst of emotional melt-down, it can be helpful to support with emotionally nurturing oils such as:
Inhalator Blend: Put 1 drop Cypress, 1 drop Rose and 1 drop Ylang Ylang onto a cotton pad and roll it up into an aromatherapy inhaler. Pop this in your bag and whenever you are feeling the intensity of overwhelm and emotional meltdown, take 5 minutes to yourself to inhale your sniffy stick whilst breathing in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 8.
These blends are really designed to support and relieve some of the overwhelming sensations that so many neurodivergent people feel, and to help you begin to recognise and meet some of your deeper sensitive needs - which are so fully welcome.
Enjoy - and we’d love to hear how you get on.
Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist
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