When the Body Says "No More": Essential Oils, Autoimmunity & the Sacred Shift in Midlife
There comes a point in every woman’s life when her body speaks louder than her will.
For me, that voice came through exhaustion, grief, an autoimmune diagnosis, and the slow, unravelling wave of menopause. For me, it was a slow burn, gradually creeping up on me, yes U could see warnings here & there… but not that much.
I was a hands-on therapist for decades…always holding space, offering comfort, formulating blends, making things better. But something shifted when my own body stopped responding to the things I used to offer others. My nervous system was anxious, I could feel it. My energy was disappearing. I just felt an overwhelming urge to hibernate, from everyone. I had no energy for anyone, or anything.
It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with hashimoto’s that I realised this was more than burnout… it was a lifetime of avoidance that had caught up with me.
When Healing Isn’t Linear (and the Body Stops Whispering)
Hashimoto’s taught me that healing isn’t about pushing through.
It’s about learning a new language…one that speaks through fatigue, hormonal chaos, emotional overwhelm, & even fear.
For many of us, the nervous system has been on high alert for decades. Trauma, people-pleasing, care-taking, never quite feeling safe.
By the time menopause arrives, the mask can no longer stay up.
The body stops whispering.
It begins to scream: “I need rest.” I just knew… my god did I just know.
Essential Oils as a Sensory Bridge to Safety
What helped me reconnect wasn’t a grand healing protocol.
It was scent. Breath. Slowness. Ritual.
Essential oils work directly with the limbic brain…the seat of memory, emotion, and fear. When we inhale a blend like neroli, frankincense, or clary sage, we’re not just treating symptoms — we’re sending messages of safety to a nervous system that’s been in survival mode for too long.
This is why I call oils a sensory bridge.
They’re not a fix. They’re a way back… into the body, into breath, into a feeling of safety.
What I Now Offer (and Why I Had to Change)
I no longer offer as many treatments. My body asked me to slow down, and I listened.
Now, I mentor women who are navigating this same unraveling:
Women with autoimmune conditions who feel invisible
Therapists & healers on the edge of collapse
Midlife women in menopause, grief, or full-body overwhelm
Anyone who knows what it’s like to feel unsafe in their own skin
I create rituals, sensory tools, and digital guides that help women begin again gently.
For the Wild, Wise, and Weary
My digital shop on my website was born from this season. It's filled with printables, oil recipes, & soul reflections for women who are learning how to rest, recover, & reclaim.
I’m also writing more now, on Substack , where I share longer reflections on trauma, healing, sovereignty, & sacred ageing.
This blog, this space, is where I hope you’ll land when you’re tired of being “resilient.”
You Don’t Have to Push Anymore
Whether you’re here to browse, breathe, or begin again — you’re welcome.
Take what soothes you. Leave what doesn’t. And remember this:
You are not too late.
You are a woman in transition, it has taken you decades to get to this place, there’s no time to waste… & so yes, the time really is now
With love,
Rose x
🕊 Visit: www.rose-washington.com/shop
📖 Read more: Substack – @rosewashington
📷 Instagram: @rose.holisticmenopausecoach
