Mental Health Affairs

Recently, I purchased a device that is described as an aromatherapy tool. As I do have anxiety/panic attack disorder, it seemed like the perfect addition to my coping skill toolkit. Fragrances often enhance (or lower!) my mood, so sacrificing the fee felt worthy. 

It came up as a Facebook Ad, most of which I see while half asleep, scrolling social media before I go to sleep. Per the Calmigo Website, it promises to “deliver relaxation in moments of anxiousness by adapting your breathing and naturally quieting your four senses.” 

This seemed innovative to me. We have heard of breathing techniques as a coping mechanism for panic attacks. Aromatherapy is popular among the mental health community and the average individual alike. The combination of the two seemed genius, so the $179 price tag did not phase me at all. 

I hastily ordered online. Having gone through an extended period of intense stress, due to several problems going on at once (in the middle of a pandemic, like us all), it felt that such a product was necessary for me. 

The delivery was not too bad relative to other online deliveries. They use USPS, so of course, it went in the wrong direction for a few days, but the product still arrived in about a week. Not so bad.

Initially, it seemed like an exciting purchase. The box itself smelled good, so I assumed the effects upon use would be extensive.

When you open it, you immediately realize that understanding the manual is essential. It has a few parts and even a tiny screwdriver to assemble the Calmigo. The aromatic element doesn’t smell that strong, so it is a disappointment as you put the product together. 

I tried to like it for several nights.

The first night, I breathed into it, and expected exactly what is described in the ad. That it would measure your breathing patterns, and the Calmigo would adjust them with a boost of fragrance. This didn’t happen at all. I read the instruction manual. The second night, I took the time to look up the YouTube video. The third night, I read the instruction manual again, tried to breathe in several times, only to feel lightheaded and like I was losing oxygen instead of feeling the intense calm, peaceful feeling they promise.

Needless to say, I should have read the reviews on Amazon, instead of Facebook, before buying. 50 percent say the Calmigo does not work. A couple of reviews say the product is plum dangerous, in that one experienced an allergic reaction, and another customer experienced a seizure due to the blinking lights. It seems that a product of this nature should know to advertise warning for such conditions. However, they did not. 

Currently, I am in the process of returning the Calmigo.

When you send an email to the company, they respond swiftly and with enthusiasm. There is an easy online form describing the issue, and they offer a phone call with a $15 Amazon gift card as an incentive to schedule. I chose not to schedule the phone call, as the soonest would have been two weeks out, and I just wanted my $179 back. You do need to ship the product back at your own expense. In the reviews, some said that they did not get their money back, even after returning the product, so now I am nervous that I have simply been ripped off.

In summary, don’t waste your money on the Calmigo. There are plenty of products offering aromatherapy experiences. Choose something $30 or less, you don’t need financial duress on top of your existing anxiety struggles. Good luck and may you find peace.