Elm
Temporarily overwhelmed by responsibility you normally carry well
What it feels like
You are good at this. That is what makes it strange. You are the capable one, the person others bring problems to, and this week it has all landed at once and you have gone from on top of it to underwater in about three days. There is a particular moment of standing in the kitchen unable to work out which thing to do first, because they are all urgent and you have lost the thread. It usually comes with a wobble of confidence that feels unfamiliar, a suspicion that you are not up to a job you have been doing well for years. It passes. At the time it does not feel like it will.
Signs you might need it
- You are usually capable and suddenly cannot cope
- Everything has landed at once
- You cannot decide what to do first because it is all urgent
- You doubt yourself in a role you have handled for years
- Other people rely on you and that is part of the weight
- The feeling is recent, not something you have carried for years
What it helps with
The overwhelm lifts and your competence comes back into view. People describe getting their sense of proportion back, so the list becomes a list again rather than a wall.
Not to be confused with
Oak, which is worn down over a long period rather than swamped this week, and Olive, which is exhaustion after the effort rather than in the middle of it. Elm is temporary and comes to people who are normally coping well.
Those who are doing good work, are following the calling of their life and who hope to do something of importance. At times there may be periods of depression when they feel that the task they have undertaken is too difficult, and not within the power of a human being.
The plant
The English elm was once one of the great trees of the countryside, huge and everywhere, before disease took most of them in the 1970s. A mature elm carried an enormous crown on a single trunk, which is a fair image for a remedy about weight and capability.
How to take it
The usual way is two drops from the stock bottle into a small glass of water, sipped through the day. If you are mixing several remedies, put two drops of each into a 30ml bottle of spring water and take four drops from that, four times a day.
There is no need to time it around meals, and you can take it as often as you like. Most people give it two weeks before deciding whether it is doing anything. The full guide to taking them covers mixing bottles, timing and the alcohol question.
Often mixed up with Elm
Often taken alongside
Blends that include Elm
Combinations mixed for a situation rather than for a person. Each one is shown with the reason Elm is in it.
- The stress blendFor the week everything landed at once, when somebody who normally copes suddenly cannot see where to start.
- The exam nerves blendFor syllabus overwhelm, when the amount left to cover stops looking like a list and starts looking like a wall.
- The confidence blendFor the capable person's wobble, when the size of your own responsibilities briefly stops you believing you carry them well.
- The new baby blendFor the overwhelm of being suddenly responsible for everything, including someone's entire existence.
Common questions
These are about Elm. The questions about the remedies in general, alcohol, children, timing, live in the FAQ.
What is the difference between Elm and Oak?
How long it has been going on. Elm is a capable person temporarily swamped, and it usually passes within days or weeks. Oak has been struggling on for months or years without stopping, and would not think to.
Is Elm good for work stress?
It is the usual choice for a period where the workload has spiked and you have gone under, particularly if you normally handle the job well. If the pressure is constant rather than a spike, look at Oak or Olive.
How long should I take Elm for?
Only through the difficult patch. Elm describes something temporary, so most people take it for a week or two and stop once things settle.
Not sure Elm is the one?
Choosing works by recognizing yourself in a description, so if this one only half fits, it is worth seeing what else comes up. The quiz narrows all 38 in about a minute, and the despondency and despair group holds the nearest neighbors.
Where to buy Elm
Bach remedies are widely stocked. If you are buying online, check the bottle says Elm and comes in the standard 20ml stock size.
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