Reiki for Anxiety and Depression
Harnessing Reiki for Anxiety and Depression: A Holistic Approach to Healing
By Dennis Bluthardt at Namaste Studios
The numbers for anxiety and depression have skyrocketed, taking millions of people hostage all over the world. Some people find that conventional treatments like medication and therapy do not help them, and they are in desperate need of something that will offer even slight relief. Consequentially, many individuals have turned to holistic practices, one being Reiki, an energy-healing treatment used for relaxation and helping people regain emotional balance.
The premise of Reiki is that there is a universal life force energy that flows in every living being.
With the help of Reiki practitioners (who mainly use palm healing, also known as hands-on-healing, to perform sessions or let their hands hover over their client’s bodies) as a guide, the person receiving treatment may feel less of the “weight” of life on their shoulders, which can help them feel more serene. After all, many can confirm the relaxing “state” you seem to go into during and after a Reiki session. So, potentially, if you can decrease the “non-stop” feeling of “fight or flight” by learning how to bring about relaxation by using Reiki (as and when you please, but mainly as a long-term, holistic treatment), the side effect of relaxation – feeling a sense of (inner) peace – can help you get on better with life.
Treating anxiety and depression with Reiki will be a great way to bring about positive changes in your life, among many other benefits. But wait! Is it the “be all and end all?” Not. However, it is still a fantastic addition to your happier-life tool bag.
Understanding Reiki
“Reiki” got its start (and, for that matter, its strange name—see header image for pronunciation) as a form of energy healing born in Japan in the early 1900s by Mikao Usui. Translated, “Reiki” means “universal life energy,”** which refers to the energy believed to flow within all life. During a Reiki session, the goal of the energetically gifted (though I am partial to saying “woo-woo abled”) practitioner is to use the hand positions they were taught to manipulate this energy to perform healing work. This could mean restoring balance and allowing parts of the body the ability to relax to usher in balance or to release specific emotional issues one feels inclined to address at the time. Our physical bodies are often believed to be representative of feelings or emotions manifesting in ways that have required them to come to light in a more physical-seeming way. An ultrasound, an X-ray, or some other type of more tangible test might confirm what we are not quite ready to come to terms with yet, but its quiet desperation boils over all the same.
In almost all cases**, the client lies down on a table, and the practitioner stands or sits over them, lightly placing their hands in the order they were taught at the various places around the body. Some believe hand positions have no rhyme or reason and that energy goes wherever it receives the best directive from your body’s inner (returned?) instruction while in relax mode.
Selecting the right provider is part of finding the right experience and having an experience where you are offered the right things. While training and preparation are equally as beautiful in different ways, a gentle-seeming man in his 70s (who gives you a cup of tea upon your arrival) will likely attract a different type of clientele than a mid-thirties woman who has coverings dressed in a bright, neon-painted, studio-apartment-like setting.
The standard fee is usually not cheap, but great offers can typically be found on Groupon sites in most domestic and foreign locations. Treatments in Ohio (with the practitioner previously hinted at) start as high as $90 per session, and the offerings are typically as expanding as the person offering them. As previously mentioned, hair and makeup providers sometimes pool their skills together to master their human presentation wizardry.
The Connection Between Reiki and Mental Health
Reiki is a Japanese-originated energy healing technique that works on a person’s energy fields. Numerous reports have been made about its potential physiological and psychological benefits. Reiki promotes the proper flow of energy throughout the body, which may put the body in a state of relaxation.
Why does this matter?
Under stress, heart rates elevate and pump out stress hormones, so reducing this response could help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress. Additionally, those who have practiced Reiki note that coming out of each session often helps them feel more “balanced” or “centered,” the potential mental health benefits of achieving this regularly could be significant to research further.
Individual reports of those who have received Reiki indicate that the “potential” for positive transformation is in the ballpark. Many have credited this work with helping them to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression better. Case studies have noted an increase in feelings of “improved mood,” “emotional resilience,” and a “greater sense of well-being” (Alarcão & Fonseca, 2016), which further could be related to Reiki’s potential to other stressed populations and how it reduces stress holistically overall.
Incorporating Reiki into Your Mental Health Routine
When choosing a Reiki practitioner:
Choosing the proper Reiki practitioner is very important. You want to select someone certified and highly praised, with positive and uplifting comments. Most crucially, you want to pick someone whose energy resonates with you. Please have an initial conversation with your new Reiki practitioner. Talk about what you expect to gain from starting Reiki so that you know you are on the same page.
(You could say you want to be “in energetic alignment”).
To be consistent:
Like most things, Reiki is more beneficial if you practice consistently. To fully understand it and realize its benefits, engage in Reiki regimens, either with a practitioner or self-Reiki meditations, regularly. Try incorporating it into your schedule by writing it in your calendar! You could benefit tremendously if you begin to book “self-care Sundays.”
Along with these steps, it is essential to integrate relaxation methods, yoga for movement, and meditation to become more in touch with your environment and how you feel internally. Dim the lights, turn on your lavender diffuser, and play meditation music! Voila!
Real-Life Experiences with Reiki
Reiki is a kind of energy healing and has been lauded by many for helping them with their mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. The structure of this post will include examples of what I have heard from other practitioners. Kraemer then lists different types of people she has worked with, what they have been dealing with mentally, and how Reiki has brought them peace. For example:
At the beginning of her career, a young professional has Reiki to thank for helping her deal with the rising stress of “adulting.” She says, “Since my initial dose of Reiki, I have been able to focus and put more clarity into other parts of my life when I otherwise could not because of my CCDD cycles.” This shows that Reiki can provide some relief in high-pressure environments or situations at home or work.
Not too long ago, a man reached out to a Reiki master due to a long-time battle with depression he had been dealing with for years. After experiencing what Reiki had to offer him, he wrote in an open letter, “It allowed me to regain not only a focus on my emotions but also a belief…in myself. I became braver; I could see and appreciate the world around me. I could also dig deeper into myself than ever and ask deeper questions about my feelings and the human condition in general.” Note to mental health practitioners: This type of work could help those who have formally taken on therapy in the past or those who may have marginalized targets.
A mother of two, when speaking with Kraemer, was going through anxiety while being postpartum. In a past session with Kraemer, they discussed something substantial that makes the statement, “Be more empathetic,” even more real. Reiki, when given to a person, is all about energy, so naturally, when somebody has a bad day, they might not want to exert as much energy for other people to bounce off them. Reiki could help you become a better living person, mother, daughter, husband, partner, or friend.
Reiki, a Japanese type of energy healing, has started to hit the mainstream to manage anxiety and depression. This technique encourages relaxation and stress reduction, allowing you to experience peace and harmony. As a holistic method, Reiki addresses the “what” and “why.” This can mean those struggling to manage other symptoms of mental health issues also receive help with the things that are hardest to talk about.
One of the best reasons to get Reiki is because it leaves you super relaxed—a massive win if you are anxious. Rei-what? Reiki practitioners (a.k.a., if you take a course to get attuned) place their hands over your body to channel energy. This supposedly eliminates “blockages” and promotes better energy flow. Before you roll your eyes and navigate away, hear me out. I do not know if I am becoming a hippie, but I think it works: Some small studies show that regular treatments reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. I would recommend going to get one treatment if you are curious. I always feel Zen and get plumes of ideas for a day or two afterward, so it might make you feel “lighter,” too, if you feel “heavy,” which some say is a large part of depression.
If you are interested in Reiki, there are things you can do to learn more: The International Center for Reiki Training has a list of practitioners. Get in touch! One in your area waives the per-session fee for a group session, or they might be willing to negotiate. Some yoga studios, cafes, and the like make facilities available for group sessions. Local “wellness” studios may offer Reiki courses. These studios also put on other events that interest you.
Could Reiki be the next big thing? I am always looking for drug-free ways to feel better. Moreover, it is important to try things if you are having a hard time. That said, I wish you the best! We do not know what the future brings, but it can be exciting.
To learn more, visit Reiki at Namaste Studios to book a Reiki session. Additionally, you can find more of our Reiki Blogs here.
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