Lavender Pause

She lifted the cup and let the lavender steam meet her breath before the first sip. Lavender has been studied for its anxiolytic properties, with evidence showing reductions in anxiety and improvements in calm through sensory exposure and ingestion (Koulivand et al. 81).

Slow, intentional breathing paired with soothing sensory cues also supports parasympathetic activation, which helps the body settle and recover from stress (Zaccaro et al. 102). She did not rush the warmth. Acceptance arrived quietly, carried by aroma, breath, and time.

Works Cited (MLA)
Koulivand, Payam H., et al. “Lavender and the Nervous System.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, 2013, pp. 1–10.
Zaccaro, Andrea, et al. “How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 12, 2018, pp. 1–16.