A Floral Path to Serenity - Bach Flower Remedies for Anxiety and Depression. BLOG #4: when we are oversensitive to external influences.
- Elena Maro
- Jan 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 27
In this post, I will explore how anxiety and depression can arise when we become overly sensitive to external influences—whether from people or situations—that disrupt our focus and inner peace. When we lose our sense of grounding and allow outside factors to negatively impact our lives and choices, it becomes easy to feel overwhelmed.
Whenever we disconnect from our true selves—our intuition, desires, and innate talents—stress, anxiety, and even depression can take hold. This disconnection often occurs when we let the opinions and actions of others cloud our own path.
To regain balance and emotional well-being, Bach Flower Remedies can be a powerful tool. They help us release stress, calm anxiety, and restore our inner peace, enabling us to move forward with clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. Below, I’ll highlight some remedies that can be particularly helpful in these situations.
Centaury: This remedy comes to our aid when we prioritize others’ needs over our own, often becoming more like servants than generous helpers. It’s especially helpful when we struggle to set boundaries or assert ourselves. This imbalance can lead to a variety of negative effects. For example, we may feel drained because we’re unable to say "no," constantly giving away our energy until we’re exhausted and despondent. We might also experience anxiety, believing we’re never doing enough for others, or stress over people taking advantage of our availability. In such situations, Centaury is the perfect ally to restore balance. It helps us continue to help others with generosity, but with wisdom—ensuring that we don’t deplete ourselves in the process. Centaury reminds us that in order to care for others effectively, we must first take care of ourselves. It's like the safety instruction on an airplane: we must put on our own oxygen mask first before assisting others.
Agrimony: This remedy is for those who worry excessively about how they are perceived by others, leading them to hide their inner struggles behind a facade of cheerfulness. Even when they’re experiencing deep emotional turmoil, they wear a mask of extreme happiness, denying their true feelings. The pressure of maintaining this façade can be incredibly stressful. In more extreme cases, individuals may turn to food, alcohol, unhealthy habits, compulsions, or even drugs as a way to cope with the strain of always appearing "easygoing" or "a breeze to be with." Agrimony helps by encouraging us to face our issues with courage and balance, allowing us to let go of the tension, anxiety, and stress that come from constantly suppressing our true emotions. In my experience, Agrimony has proven to be a powerful support to the medical and psychological therapy to help my clients embrace authenticity and begin healing from within.
Holly: Try this exercise this morning: How many negative thoughts or feelings do you experience in your interactions with others, or from hearing about others—whether in person, in the news, or on social media? Did you feel frustrated, inadequate, jealous, resentful, or wary? I’m introducing this remedy with this simple exercise to remind you that, as uncomfortable as these emotions may be, we’re all human, and we all experience them—sometimes even every day. There’s no shame in feeling this way, but it’s important to recognize that such emotions can be harmful. In the short term, focusing on what others have or achieve can lead to stress, comparison, and feelings of inadequacy—thinking, for example, that we’re not as good, lucky, successful, or wealthy as others. Constantly being on edge, mistrusting people, or obsessively watching our backs creates ongoing tension, anxiety . In the long term ( as r research has shown) lingering negative emotions can lead to physical illness and serious diseases.
Holly is the remedy that helps dissolve these negative feelings toward others. It frees our hearts, allowing self-love to flow naturally and reflect outward. By letting go of these toxic patterns, we release the pressure, tension, and despondency that come with them, creating space for more peace and connection.
Walnut: There are times when we look up to someone—whether a parent, partner, colleague, or friend—and we become so focused on wanting to be like them or please them that we lose sight of who we truly are and what makes us happy. We struggle to make our own decisions without being influenced by their opinions, which leaves us feeling stuck and unhappy. This is the negative state of Walnut. When we allow ourselves to be overly influenced by others, we can experience depression (since we’re neglecting our own needs) or anxiety (constantly questioning what we should do, what they would do, or whether they would approve of us). Walnut helps by releasing us from this psychological dependence, allowing us to make choices that reflect our true selves and inner values—free from external pressure. It protects us and strengthens our resolve, making it easier to stay true to our own path. This is why Walnut is often recommended during times of change, such as starting a new job, moving to a new home, transitioning to a new life stage (like becoming a parent, dealing with teenage years, menopause, or other significant shifts). It supports us in navigating these transitions with confidence and clarity.
These are just a few general examples. Bach Flower Remedies are most effective when carefully chosen to match an individual’s unique emotional state and circumstances.
That’s why it’s essential to seek guidance from a qualified Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner, who can help select the remedies best suited to your needs.
I would be honored to assist you. You can book a free consultation with me here: https://www.feel-heal-thrive.com/book-your-consultation.
Wishing you all the best on your life journey!
With love and light,
Elena
