Impatiens
Impatience and irritation at how slowly everything and everyone moves
What it feels like
You finish other people's sentences because they are taking too long to get there. You walk fast, eat fast, and feel your jaw tighten in a line that is barely moving. You would honestly rather do the task yourself than watch someone do it slowly, which is why you often end up working alone. It is not unkindness. Your mind moves quickly and everything else feels like it is happening in slow motion. The irritation flares fast and passes just as fast, so you are often over it long before the person you snapped at is.
Signs you might need it
- You finish other people's sentences
- Lines and slow traffic get to you out of all proportion
- You would rather do it yourself than wait or explain
- You snap quickly and get over it quickly
- You do several things at once and hate being kept waiting
- You carry physical tension in your jaw, neck or shoulders
What it helps with
The quickness stays and the friction eases. People describe still being fast, but no longer irritated that the world is not, which makes them much easier company.
Not to be confused with
Beech, which is irritated by other people's faults and habits rather than their pace, and Vervain, which is intense about a cause rather than in a hurry. Cherry Plum is the fear of losing your temper, which is different from simply having a short one.
Those who are quick in thought and action and who wish all things to be done without hesitation or delay. When ill they are anxious for a hasty recovery. They find it very difficult to be patient with people who are slow.
The plant
Himalayan balsam, a tall pink-flowered plant that has taken over many British riverbanks. Its ripe seed pods explode at the lightest touch and fling seed several meters, which is about as impatient as a plant gets.
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 Impatiens
Often taken alongside
Blends that include Impatiens
Combinations mixed for a situation rather than for a person. Each one is shown with the reason Impatiens is in it.
- The crisis formulaFor the agitation, the wound up feeling that will not let you settle or sit still.
- The sleep blendFor the restless, wound up kind of wakefulness that cannot lie still or let the day finish.
- The stress blendFor the short fuse. Snapping at slowness, jaw tight in traffic, over it before they are.
- The anger blendFor the short fuse. Snapping at slowness, jaw tight in traffic, finished before anyone else has started.
- The focus blendFor rushing. Five things open, none finished, and no patience left for the slow part.
- The crisis formula for petsFor agitation. Pacing, whining, and the restlessness that cannot settle anywhere.
- The pet sleep blendFor pacing, circling and resettling, the animal that lies down eleven times and stays down none of them.
Common questions
These are about Impatiens. The questions about the remedies in general, alcohol, children, timing, live in the FAQ.
Is Impatiens in Rescue Remedy?
Yes. It is one of the five, with Rock Rose, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum. It is there for the agitation and tension that come with a crisis.
Why is Impatiens in the loneliness group?
Because impatient people tend to end up working and living alone, not from choice exactly but because waiting for others is uncomfortable. Bach saw that as its own kind of isolation.
What is the difference between Impatiens and Beech?
Impatiens is annoyed by slowness. Beech is annoyed by faults, habits and the way other people do things. Many people recognize a bit of both.
Not sure Impatiens 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 loneliness group holds the nearest neighbors.
Where to buy Impatiens
Bach remedies are widely stocked. If you are buying online, check the bottle says Impatiens and comes in the standard 20ml stock size.
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