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Using Your Sense of Smell to Self-Sooth

By Kevin Leapley, MA, LPC, CSAT on Sunday, April 5th, 2015 in Anxiety Counseling. No Comments

 

After using your hearing to sooth yourself, I recommend adding your sense of smell to further self-sooth. The goal is to relax rather than actout with anger or other unhealthy coping mechanisms.  When we learn to relax, out minds and bodies feel better.  Our hearts beat slower and our blood pressure is lowered.  Using our sense of smell can trigger memories from our past that affect our feelings and mood.  The purpose is to bring up good and happy memories.

Here are some ideas for self-soothing through smell:

  1. Walk through a field with flowers or purchase some fresh cut flowers.
  2. Burn scented candles or incense as you listen to peaceful music.
  3. Walk through a bakery with freshly baked cookies, bread, or whatever you love to smell.
  4. Walk along the ocean and take deep breathes of the ocean fresh air.
  5. Wear or spray aromatherapy oils, perfume or other scented oils that you enjoy.
  6. Travel sized scented hand sanitizers
  7. Lavender is quite popular, mint
  8. Some people may enjoy menthol, commonly used for soothing colds.
  9. Cut out scratch and sniff stickers or perfumed cards from magazines.
  10. Try lavender/vanilla dryer sheets.
  11. Who hasn’t enjoyed scented play dough made with kool aid or secented oils (smell and touch).
  12. Other ideas are welcome!
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Kevin Leapley, MA, LPC, CSAT

Sexual Addiction Therapist at Front Range Counseling Center
Kevin Leapley specializes in both marriage counseling and sexual addiction therapy for men. Kevin has received specialized training by Dr. Patrick Carnes and obtained his CSAT (Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist). Kevin has also received extensive training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and is a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist .
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