Reiki for Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Approximately 8 million people in the UK have some form of an anxiety disorder and GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) is believed to be one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the World.
Keep reading to learn more about GAD and how Reiki can help people with anxiety.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder: What Is It?
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is characterised by excessive, unrealistic worry about everyday issues, such as family, financial situation, or health. This persistent worry is difficult to control and can last for 6 months or more.
In most cases, people suffering from GAD feel a sense of impending doom despite having no reason to believe something bad will happen. They deal with symptoms regularly. This disorder is more common among women than men and appears gradually over time. It is more likely to develop after childhood.
Many people can manage the symptoms and go back to their everyday lives. However, severe anxiety sometimes makes it difficult for some to carry out everyday tasks or responsibilities in social situations.
What are the Symptoms and Treatments for Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling restless or on edge
- Tense muscles
- Easily get tired
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
Treatments for GAD may vary, but medications and psychotherapy are often given. Some people with this disorder also add Reiki to their treatment to improve symptoms further.
If a person is diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, a physician prescribes medications to control symptoms, such as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants.
- A physician may also recommend patients undergo different therapies, such as:
- Acceptance and commitment to therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Exposure therapy
- Interpersonal therapy
Reiki for People with Anxiety
The practice of Reiki offers happiness, energy, and clarity. However, most people experience an immense feeling of calmness and peace. This energy healing technique is an excellent addition to anxiety-fighting treatment.
Reiki is a therapeutic practice that originated in Japan. The idea behind this therapeutic technique is that unnatural anxiety levels and other issues and problems within the human body may be associated with disturbances or blockages in someone’s energy pathways.
With Reiki, people can unlock energy while restoring normal flow to support the body’s natural ability to heal. In a Reiki session, trained practitioners gently place their hands over or on the clients.
They repeat the process several times with particular hand positions. The length of the session depends on the client’s needs.
What are the Benefits of Reiki for Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Several studies show that Reiki offers a number of benefits for people suffering from GAD.
Here are the top benefits of Reiki for people with GAD:
- Lower Stress Levels
People who are dealing with GAD experience higher stress levels compared to the normal population. Anecdotal reports and research studies suggest that Reiki may help alleviate some of these stress levels. - Improved Mood
Some people diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder experience depression, while others don’t.
For most people, on the other hand, GAD and depression go hand-in-hand. Research highlights that regular Reiki session participants feel less depressed than the days before they undergo therapy. - Relaxation
People with GAD find it difficult to relax even when no significant stressor exists. Most people participating in Reiki sessions experienced a relaxing feel during and after completing them. This relaxation is beneficial to people struggling with anxiety. - Better Sleep
Trouble falling asleep is one of the issues that people with GAD experience. They also find staying asleep hard or feeling restless even after sleeping all night. Reiki sessions alleviate some of these issues and help people with GAD get quality sleep.
Aside from being non-invasive, Reiki does not also pose risks to the clients. This technique has no side effects as well. Instead, it can be used in conjunction with other prescribed treatments, such as medications and other therapies.
Relevant Research on How Reiki Helps People with GAD Feel Better
Reiki promotes a positive mental state, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes relaxation, which is beneficial to people with GAD.
Many research studies explored the correlation between anxiety disorders and Reiki. Below are some of those studies focusing on how to cure anxiety with Reiki:
Reiki Reduces Anxiety in Women
The research was conducted to determine whether Reiki could help reduce anxiety in women undergoing hysterectomies. Women who participated in the 2006 research reported less anxiety compared to those in the control group.
While this study was participated only by women who undergo surgery, the results may also apply to other individuals.
Reiki Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults
A group of researchers conducted a study to determine whether Reiki can treat older adults with anxiety, depression, and other issues. This study showed that people in the treatment group experienced reduced anxiety and depression compared to those in the control group.
Furthermore, participants also reported feelings of relaxation after regular Reiki sessions.
Reiki Helps with Anxiety and Fatigue Among Cancer Patients
Research conducted in Turkey focused on Reiki’s ability to reduce pain, anxiety, and fatigue in cancer patients. The study showed that all these variables improved in the participants in the treatment group..
Since fatigue and anxiety are among the symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder, it makes Reiki potentially helpful in treating this condition.
The above research studies are only a few of the studies demonstrating Reiki’s ability to help people struggling with anxiety. More studies are currently conducted or be performed in the future to explore this idea.
Conclusion
Reiki is not used as a substitute for regular medications and other treatments. Instead, it is an excellent complement to these treatments for anxiety. It supports the natural healing of the body, so clients will experience no side effects.
GAD treatments combined with Reiki have been found to be beneficial in supporting clients’ healing journeys by promoting an improved sense of positive well-being, reducing fatigue, and increasing energy levels. Regular Reiki sessions also reduce stress and anxiety and promote relaxation.
If you or a loved one are suffering from chronic stress, anxiety or depression and would like to find out more about how an energy healing session could help, please contact us on the link below.
