When you're a student and you have several obligations it's It's difficult to relax for a second.

Sometimes you find yourself in stressful situations, as though you are sinking in an unearthly hole crowded with tension and misery. As someone who has depression and anxiety, I do all my best to keep positive so I can avoid stages of dark periods. During the spring of this year I started my own journey of healing from trauma. It has been an exceedingly exhausting adventure but my voyage has just started. Most of the products and tips I am sharing might not work for you which is why I recommend you do extensive research beforehand on certain remedies! These remedies have guided my soul to a healthy and positive lifestyle and I hope they can do they same for you!

Here are 10 tips and products that I have found to be extremely useful!

1. Sun Lamp

Seasonal Affective Disorder affects many individuals such as myself. With winter right around the corner, artificial lights are a great way to generate and boost your vitamin D! Vitamin D is essential for affecting your bodies levels to produce serotonin. When you live in Maine the winters are long and sunless, I found that using sun lamps boosted my mood and energy. I use my sun lamp mostly during the winter and on days where it's cloudy. During my morning routines the first thing I do is turn on my lamp as I get ready for work and class. I found this product to work, although sun lamps are on the pricey side, it's a great investment. If you're a student at the University of Maine and a patient at the Counseling Center, you can rent one for free and give it a trial!

2. Himalayan Salt Lamp

Salt lamps work by purifying the air through the power of hygroscopy and releasing negative ions that fight against positively charged molecules in the air. Some of the benefits include reducing allergy symptoms, increasing energy levels and improving concentration. I was a little skeptical when I bought this product but I find it works. Since usage I noticed that my mood and energy has increased. I have a total of three salt lamps: two for my bedroom and one mini usb lamp for my office. I recommend looking at TJ Maxx or Marshall's since I bought my two large lamps for only $10 each, online salt lamps tends to be more expensive. On a side note since this lamp is essentially a large piece of salt you should store this in room with no moisture or humidity. Overall I recommend this product not only does it make an unique decor piece but it also increases your spirit!

Click on this link to learn how to take care of your lamp http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-salt-l... )

3. Essential Oil Diffuser

My mom first started using essential oils long before it became a popular trend. I never took a second glance at her diffuser until I experienced the euphoric sensation of Lush's Somewhere Over the Rainbow Soap (which contains Neroli). Since then I became obsessed with essential oils! I have a normal 900 ml diffuser for my bedroom, a mini diffuser for travel/work, and I even went as far to buy a essential oil diffuser for my car during road trips (however it killed my car battery twice so I don't use it anymore)! As I mentioned in my last post, aromatherapy is a great way to help with depression. Not only can certain scents increase levels of serotonin, but can also help you sleep better at night, and boost mental stimulation. I usually use my diffuser at night, lately I've been into lemongrass or vetiver. For work or when I need to study I usually use a mix of lemon, basil, and rosemary. I recommend going on Amazon and taking a look at the models, I only spent $25 on my diffuser and I know they have less expensive models. (As a side note I recommend first researching about essential oils, if you have any medical conditions certain scents could be harmful. Just make sure you do your research before hand!) Again, I highly recommend this product! Once you sleep with lavender or any night time scent you'll see the difference and never want to stop using it!

(here is the link to my diffuser https://www.amazon.com/Calily-Ultrasonic-Essential... )

4. Kava & St. John's Wort Tea

Kava Tea:

Kava (also known as awa) is a plant that is native to Pacific islands and is often used for religious and cultural ceremonies. This tea is perfect for anyone who has anxiety, stress, and insomnia as it affects the brain and other parts of the nervous system. A side effect from consuming large consumptions of kava is liver damage, this tea has been banned from Europe and Canada. I only drink this tea when I have had an extreme tense day. I do try to drink this tea once or twice a month if needed because of the risk of liver damage. As a side note you shouldn't operate any vehicle after consuming the tea, that being said I recommend you be in a complete state of tranquility before hand. After consumption you will feel de-stressed, your checks may go numb, but there is this euphoric experience of complete bliss. Please also research more about the properties of this tea before you consume it! You can find this tea at Target or Walmart.

(here is a link read more about the product https://www.yogiproducts.com/teas/rest-relax-teas/... )

St. John's Wort Tea:

St. John Wort is a yellow plant that grows in the wild. This plant has been used for centuries as an anti-depressant since it caries health benefits. They make vitamin capsule's of the plant but I consume St. John's Wort in tea form. If you are on any medication make sure you research first hand as it could weaken certain anti-depressants. When I need emotional balance I look to this tea! Since drinking this tea my energy levels have increased and I don't feel like a have a giant knot of worry in my body. People have also claimed it to balance hormone levels, anxiety, and asthma. You can find this product at the Natural Living Center.

5. Cooking Healthy

I recently changed my diet to vegetarianism. I don't eat dairy due to my lactose intolerance but I do consume eggs and honey. A plant based diet usually is connected to a high consumption of fiber, vitamins, magnesium, and a lower chance of heart disease. However if you're not on the bandwagon of giving up chicken wings and burgers you should incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet. Eating a large amounts of vegetables is great for the body as it nourishes and provides essential vitamins! Lately I've been into using ginger root in all my cooking to improve my metabolism. I've also been cooking a lot of tofu! Buddha bowls are my go too dishes since it's just veggies and rice! You will see a difference in your mood once you change your diet.

(If you're interested in eating more of plant based diet I recommend taking a look at the recipes provided in this link http://www.thugkitchen.com/recipes )

6. Yoga

Yoga is a great health benefit as it increases you flexibility, muscle strength, and improves respiration and vitality. Exercise is very important since it releases endorphins, I found yoga to be a great therapy! I am very fortunate to work at gym on campus where I can sneak in yoga between classes and work. It's a great break from a busy schedule! What I like about yoga is that you get to balance your breath, gives you inner strength, and release any tension you carry from a long day. Yoga has also been known to slow down mental loops of negative emotion which makes this the perfect exercise candidate for anyone who has anxiety/depression.

(Here is the link to find the yoga class schedule at UMaine! Drop in classes are only $5 unless you have a fitpass https://umaine.edu/campusrecreation/program/fitnes... )

If you are not a student, I recommend going to Omland in the Bangor/Orono area. Here is the link for class schedules http://www.omlandyoga.com/classes/schedule/ )

7. Bubble Baths

Sunday bubble baths are essential and required during the weekend! I recommend scheduling a time for yourself to relax and unwind. Hot baths can increase the flow of endorphins which can help anxiety and depression. I usually use a bath bomb and drop a few essential oils onto the tub. I then put on Netflix, light a Bath & Body Works candle, have a bottle - I mean glass of wine, and top it off with my dairy-free Ben & Jerry's ice cream. During this time I am completely relaxed and grounded!

(Click here to learn how to balance your chakras with bathing http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24711/how-to-balanc... )

8. Surround yourself with positive people

As you walk your path on earth you will encounter several forms of friendship. A good friend of mine once told me that everyone of us has a mental zen garden and that the people in our life make up a zen garden. We should all have beautiful flowers and trees in our garden and remove anything that disrupts the balance. You should surround yourself with people who support, uplift, and leave a positive imprint on you. I noticed that the people I surround myself with have similar values and perspectives toward life, while it's good to have a vast network of friends it's also wise to have a inner circle of those you trust. I have several spiritual connections with all my friends as I can share and expresses my emotional thought and personal growth. Friendship plays a huge role in ones life, the special bond one forms is simply a precious gift. I value friendship over everything else,I think it's important to one's mental health to be surrounded by positive energy and vibration.

9. Therapy

I recommend seeing a therapist or consoler. Expressing your emotions and concerns to a professional is a great way to find the root of your troubles. I first started seeing one in January since than therapy has help me tremendously I don't think I would be where I am today had I not made the decision to see a therapist. As I mentioned previously, I began my journey of personal healing and growth, my therapist has vitally helped me find inner strength. I think that expressing your emotions and sharing your experience will help anxiety and depression in the long run.

(The University of Maine offers free counseling for students! Here is the link to the Counseling Center https://umaine.edu/counseling/ )

10. Self Compassion

Self-compassion is the act of nurturing oneself during a difficult time. Self-compassion is composed of three main components, self-kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity. This therapy method teaches you to challenge negative thoughts because self kindness is the source of strength & resilience. We are only human and it is okay to make mistakes. By nurturing myself I am able to forgive and accept myself. I recommend going on the website which I provided below and check out the love/kindness mediations! Again this will help start your journey of abundance.

(Here is the link to the Self Compassion website! Please explore the mediations! http://self-compassion.org )