The story behind Pure Indulgence Soy Candles
Recent years have taught me the importance of self-care and mental health.
In 2016 I moved to a small town in country Victory which certainly had its ups and downs. There was a serious lack of self-love for a very long time. I was later diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
Depression and anxiety are not easy to explain, that’s for sure. For so long I thought, how can I expect anyone else to understand what I am feeling when I barely understand it myself. For that reason, I didn’t want to open up about it. For those of you that have been there before, I am almost certain you can relate. Even now I find myself lost for words but here it goes...
For me it was crying for what felt like no reason at all. It was fearing failure but having absolutely no urge to be productive. It was walking around with a smile on my face when deep down I was barely holding it together. It was always expecting and seeing the worst. It was analyzing situations in my mind over and over again. It was constant self-criticism. It was wanting to make new friends but avoiding every opportunity to socialize. It was a constant feeling of burden.
Sleep became my escape.
Growing up I was happy and outgoing. A people person! I got to a point where I felt I had completely lost that person.
With the help of my amazing partner and my beautiful parents I took the biggest and most important step, which was to finally meet with a psychologist (I put it off for way too long!). As scary and overwhelming as it felt, it was the best thing I did. It not only helped me to open up about my experience, it also helped me gain a better understanding about the conditions and how to manage them.
I found grounding techniques to be the most helpful. These techniques use the five senses (sight, smell, touch, sound and taste). Scented candles nourish the senses which in turn helps to bring the mind back to the present and reduce stress levels. Further to this, I use breathing techniques and meditation (meditation was definitely not an easy task for me. I will share more about this in later blogs).
… and this is where it all began. I started hand pouring my own scented soy candles.
It wasn’t until I moved back to the Hunter Region that I considered actually launching Pure Indulgence Soy Candles. I was in a great place mentally (after a lot of practice and patience), I had learnt so much about the importance of self-care and taking time out, and I wanted to share that with others. In line with this, our mission is to help you create a relaxing and tranquil space for some much needed you time.
To those of you struggling with depression and anxiety, you are not alone. It does not define who you are as a person and there is nothing wrong with you. It is OK not to be OK. You will get through this. If you haven’t already, talk to a professional, educate yourself and be sure to practice regular self-care. It won’t be easy but it will be 110% worth it. It will completely transform your experience and allow you to live your life to the fullest, which is exactly what you deserve.
I still have my days but I now know how to manage them and I can acknowledge and respond to the triggers appropriately. The mind is such a powerful thing – we just need to learn how to master it and use that power wisely.