Reiki is an excellent complementary therapy for managing the mood disorders, such as depression, chronic stress, bi-polar disorders, and more. Stress and mood management are two of the more common reasons that people seek out Reiki treatments in the first place. It was the reason that initially brought me to Reiki! I had been dealing with an inherited panic disorder and depressive issues for many years, and the medications prescribed by my doctors at that time had not helped me much. I had just entered university and the stress and anxiety was taking its toll. I wanted to pursue alternative health options, as allopathic care was not yet aiding me.
I originally went in to the holistic clinic for aromatherapy treatments, which did seem to have a calming and balancing effect. However, the day the resident Reiki practitioner offered to treat me as a, well, treat, things really started changing for me. It was fairly dramatic the state of calm and peace that I felt during and for several days after the Reiki treatment. I started seeing the Reiki practitioner as often as I was able, and things started falling into place as far as my healthcare was concerned. I trained as a Reiki practitioner myself within 3 months of having first experienced it, and the ongoing changes and shifts in my own perspectives led me over the course of the next 3 years to finally finding stability and peace in every area of my life.
So, how does Reiki work on stress and mood disorders? Reiki provides a sense of deep relaxation and balance that aid the mind and body in working towards a more stable state. Most people report feeling much more centered and peaceful for several days after a Reiki treatment, and simply having that energetic support can often go a long way in allowing the body to heal itself. In today’s work-a-day world, many people rarely take any time for themselves to just “Be”. Between work, hobbies, and family responsibilities, and trying desperately and often unsuccessfully to get enough sleep, there often doesn’t seem time for rest and relaxation outside the few weeks of vacation time (during which we tend to plan very active and involved excursions) we may plan for ourselves. Top that with the fact that in the West we live very toxic lives – our food is often processed, our toiletry products are filled with chemicals, and our cleaning routines consist of slathering even more chemicals all over the rest of the surfaces of our homes, our careers most often force us to sit sedentary for a better part of our waking lives. Stress, poor nutrition, lack of activity, deprivation from sufficient amounts of natural sunlight, and sensitivity to chemicals, are all important factors in mental as well as physical health. Injecting an hour of intensely rejuvenating down-time in the form of a Reiki treatment can make a dramatic difference to our overtaxed minds and bodies.
By going for Reiki treatments, the practitioner will also be examining and assessing the energetic anatomy - primarily via the 7 main chakras. Physical, emotional, and mental issues will also present themselves in the form of energetic abnormalities on the subtle level of your being (and visa versa - it's a kind of chicken-or-egg type debate in many cases). In working with the energetic anatomy of the chakras, the Reiki practitioner will also be able to pinpoint specific problem areas, which can help both the practitioner and client identify what areas of life may be causing the greatest stress on the system. For instance, if there is a lot of stagnant energy in the solar plexus area, issues related to self-confidence may very well be the core contributing factor to the state of poor well-being. Having identified and acknowledged that can help the client focus on working through the issues related to that, targeting the problem causing the most discomfort. Many people suffering from depression have blockages or other energetic abnormalities in their base chakra, which is related to matters of physical survival – shelter, food, money, etc. Identifying and working through those anxieties with the support of Reiki energy, will help restore mental and emotional stability and also open up the flow of energy to the other chakras. By addressing these areas of dis-ease, and working to re-establishing proper energetic flow and function on the subtle levels, the body is able to circulate its energies in a more appropriate manner, which will start the process of clearing and healing the physical, mental and emotional symptoms whatever they may be.
Reiki energy also has a way of bringing "things" to the surface of our consciousness that we may not have been aware were causing stress, or had been trying to avoid dealing with. When a recipient find thoughts or memories popping up during a Reiki treatment, or in thoughts &/or dreams afterwards, they should take note as usually this is your intuition pointing you to the things that may require attention for you to move to the next level of healing. The Reiki energy supports the (sometimes uncomfortable) process of identifying these issues, and eases the process of working through them. In some cases, what surfaces may require outside counseling to complete the healing process - as would be the case with a surfaced sexual abuse issue, or something similar. However, continuing with Reiki treatments during such a time would be extremely beneficial as it would aid in increasing emotional stamina and resilience. Reiki works beautifully as a complementary modality, expediting the healing process and lessening any pain involved. These inner revelations will likely happen to anyone undergoing regular Reiki care, even if they originally begin Reiki to aid with a physical problem such as arthritis. Reiki heals on all levels – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual - working towards stabilizing the entire Being. Start healing one level, and any progress that needs addressing on the other levels will soon come to light.
When utilizing Reiki to address a more chronic issue, such as ongoing depression or other mood-related concerns, it is always best to get treatments regularly - once a week being ideal (more often if the situation is in crisis or very acute, but most people are fine with the once a week frequency) - until a consistent energetic shift has been made, then you can taper back to a maintenance schedule. The energetic body can easily become habituated to carrying energetic blocks and abnormalities, and part of the course of Reiki therapy is repatterning the body’s energy. One treatment may shift much of the unhealthy energy into a more healthy state, however until that healing is truly anchored into the recipient’s Being, the body and mind’s natural tendency will be to revert to what is easy and a habit – the unhealthy state. Being consistent with receiving treatment will ensure that one receives the energetic support needed to make that new energy pattern the habituated one. Anchoring the new pattern very often involves dealing what whatever caused the energy to “go off” in the first place. Reiki is just like acupuncture, naturopathy, or any of the other natural healing modalities, in that committing to a treatment plan is important to seeing lasting results. That being said, many people do use Reiki "as needed" for stress, pain, etc.
I personally usually practice what I call Intuitive Energetic Bodywork. This is an intuitive blending of several energetic and vibrational modalities, though the bulk of the treatment sessions are based in Reiki. This allows me to utilize &/or suggest other subtle modalities that can assist in the overall healing process. For instance, I have had a great deal of success with flower essences, both in my personal life, my family life, with friends, and also with clients. I find they help support and continue the process of energetic clearing and repatterning between healing sessions, so very often I will suggest certain blends to my clients to use as part of their treatment.
What makes flower essences (and a factor that they share with Reiki) so very useful in the treatment of mood disorders, is that they work on a vibrational level so there are no contraindications for their use. Many people seeking Reiki for mental imbalances are currently taking medications (or cocktails of medications), which often leave them with leftover symptoms that they meds are not addressing, and/or are giving them uncomfortable side-effects. The natural healthcare options open to people on medications are somewhat limited, as herbs, essential oils, and some other methods may easily cause complications with the medications and so should be avoided. Flower essences however make use of the vibrational effects of the botanicals, without involving the chemical levels.
Generally speaking, if someone is responding well to Reiki, then other subtle modalities will also be effective for them (obviously every modality is not for everyone). Utilizing flower essences to address the lingering symptoms or side-effects of the medications between Reiki sessions not only extends the post-Reiki “high”, but it empowers the client to take back control over an area of their life which many feel slipped through their fingers long ago. I used to feel very powerless when it came to my panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. Most other people that I’ve talked with and treated that had chronic illnesses (of any variety) report having felt the same way. That feeling only contributes to the disorder. Gaining back hope, and taking back the power and control over one’s own mind and emotions, is a very powerful healing step. To that end I also like to provide clients with "homework" in the form of guided meditations or affirmations when the time is right – sometimes it is several sessions before they regain enough confidence and stability to take responsibility for playing an active role in the healing process. Providing them with tools to help themselves between treatment sessions is an important step in the empowerment process.
So overall Reiki can help facilitate many positive changes within a person who is experiencing stress, depression, or other mental or emotional issues. It allows their body and mind a chance to rest and be still, which providing a healthy dose of fresh energy that the body can utilize to rejuvenate itself naturally. Reiki practitioner can also pinpoint specific areas of energetic abnormality, which can help identify core issues contributing to the state of dis-ease. The Reiki energy will support the subconscious efforts of the recipient to acknowledge experiences or perceptions that may be linked to the mental/emotional discomfort, and ease the process of working through them. The Reiki energy will help effect a repatterning of the energetic anatomy to reflect the new state of health and wholeness, anchoring the changes into a state of stability.
Blessings,
~Devi~
** Please DO NOT alter the dosage, or stop taking any prescribed medications unless you are under the direct supervision of your regular allopathic healthcare provider. Reiki is a complementary therapy that works well in tandem with traditional healthcare, and should never been perceived as a replacement for traditional medical care.
If you are currently under the care of a counselor or physician, inform them of your wish to pursue Reiki as a complementary therapy, and have them monitor your health and mental state. Any changes to your traditional allopathic healthcare regime should only be made with cooperation with your doctor.
Should any traumatic or particularly difficult issues arise as a result of the Reiki healing process, please seek the aid of a professionally trained counselor. **
The Reiki Synergy Bookstore
Welcome to Reiki Synergy!
Namaste and welcome!
I've put together this blog in order to share my ongoing experience as a Usui Reiki Master, and Intuitive Energetic Healer. I always enjoy reading and learning from the practices of other healers and Lightworkers, and so in service to those who are seeking information I've launched Reiki Synergy.
I will be exploring a wide variety of topics on alternative healing and eclectic spirituality as tools for personal empowerment and spiritual evolution. Reiki, Ruach Healing (an energetic healing system based in the mystical Qabalah), flower essences, crystal healing, healing through sound, and meditation are just some of the subjects that I will be touching on. Healing will the the core theme for these articles, and hopefully you will find them not only informative and entertaining, but inspiring too!
Please make sure to browse through our lovely bookstore! I've taken the time and energy to put together in one convenient place many of wonderful resources that I've found helpful on my path, and hopefully you will too.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
I've put together this blog in order to share my ongoing experience as a Usui Reiki Master, and Intuitive Energetic Healer. I always enjoy reading and learning from the practices of other healers and Lightworkers, and so in service to those who are seeking information I've launched Reiki Synergy.
I will be exploring a wide variety of topics on alternative healing and eclectic spirituality as tools for personal empowerment and spiritual evolution. Reiki, Ruach Healing (an energetic healing system based in the mystical Qabalah), flower essences, crystal healing, healing through sound, and meditation are just some of the subjects that I will be touching on. Healing will the the core theme for these articles, and hopefully you will find them not only informative and entertaining, but inspiring too!
Please make sure to browse through our lovely bookstore! I've taken the time and energy to put together in one convenient place many of wonderful resources that I've found helpful on my path, and hopefully you will too.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Blog Archive
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Using Reiki to Address Depression and other Mental/Emotional Imbalances
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1 comment:
Your blog is amazing. Thank you!
xo
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