Come clean

DETOX FROM...

...your bugged-out brain

Inhale
You’re unlikely to stumble upon a vast patch of fragrant lavender in NYC, though you will find lavender oil. But Trygve Harris, owner of organic essential-oil shop Enfleurage (321 Bleecker St between Christopher and Grove Sts; 212-691-1610, enfleurage.com), suggests dotting your wrists and temples with unconventional alternatives, like the affordable co-op-grown Californian bitter orange ($10.35 for ? oz), or Madagascan ylang-ylang ($12.65 for ? oz).

Write off your cares
Mental-health specialists say journaling can be therapeutic. Louise DeSalvo, author of Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives, recommends a method originally developed by University of Texas psych prof James W. Pennebaker. “Set aside 20 minutes on three or four successive days to write about something that is extremely important to you,” she says. “Describe how you feel; relate your feelings to an event; and see if you can think about the significance of all of this.” Adds DeSalvo, “Writing in this way won’t necessarily put a smile on your face. But it will help you connect with feelings you might not be aware of.” Dialogue House’s two-level intensive workshop (intensivejournal.org, 800-221-5844. Part I introductory workshop: Feb 13, 14; Part II advanced: Feb 15, 16; $245 per level or $395 for both) is 12 hours of guided journaling exercises in a group setting (don’t worry—you won’t be asked to read your secrets out loud or reveal your identity).

Dig deep
Some issues and conditions are too serious to handle without the help of a trained specialist. Read profiles of the city’s zillion providers with listings at Psychology Today (therapists.psychologytoday.com). For a low-cost alternative to pricey private docs, look for services at training institutes and mental-health centers, most of which use sliding scales to determine fees. The Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis (80 Broad St between Beaver and William Sts, 212-422-1221, manhattanpsychoanalysis.com) offers students access to counseling for as little as $15 per session. Or sift through the American Self-Help Group Clearing House (mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/), an extensive database that’s searchable by condition.—Iavora Daraktchieva

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