Posted by Sarah Janzen
Many people from all walks of life have been asking me if Reiki helps with anxiety. The simple answer is absolutely! Writing about this question led me down a path of researching many people’s stories of how Reiki supported them in coping with mood disorders. There are so many facts about Reiki supporting reductions in blood pressure, stress and anxiety and allowing people a safe space to heal. Countless positive accounts. I tried meshing all those stories together but found I could not accurately describe the positive role Reiki has played in people’s lives. So, I decided to focus on one story. The one I’m most intimate with, my own anxiety journey. I’m so thankful to Reiki, all the energy work providers who have taken the time to work with me and in doing so, expressed their own vulnerabilities and to West Coast Reiki Centre for providing a loving environment in which to grow in my practice and my knowledge.
Seven years ago, I was a bundle of emotional and physical stress. I had an extremely intense job taking care of very disabled people’s physical and mental well-being. I was on call 24 hours a day with frequent night time calls of life or death decisions. The company I was working for was an extremely toxic and unsupportive work environment. I was new to BC and has no social life to speak off. I dealt with stress by sugar and carb loading then sleeping in my spare time, all my spare time. My sleep cycle was so messed up, I had to take sleeping pills to fall asleep every night. Simply put, I was a complete mess.
My anxiety levels became so high my hair started to fall out and I completely lost touch with who I was and what I valued. When I allowed myself to feel any part of my anxiety it was so overwhelming, I would not be able to function for days and missed many days of work. My life was in shambles. I didn’t know where to turn.
Someone suggested Reiki as a way to help with my sleep issues. I would have tried anything at this point! I just was hoping for a little relief.
What I didn’t expect was the emotional healing that began with my Reiki sessions. The Reiki sessions allowed me to feel safe enough in the moment to start to face the anxiety messages I had been drowning in up to this point. Reiki helped me see that my anxiety was my body speaking to me with very important messages that I could no longer ignore. My body was screaming at me to change my life and rediscover who I was. Once I felt safe enough to hear those messages, I could start to do the work without feeling overwhelmed.
Reiki and my Reiki practitioner were a safe place to explore what led to my anxiety, how could I let my anxiety lead me to a better life and how to heal from past hurts that were blocking my connection with self.
Reiki works on the stored information in your body to release and learn from past issues. Once I made room for new emotions, by processing old issues, I was able to listen to my body and follow its guidance to be the person I wanted to be.
My life today doesn’t even resemble my old life, but I remember it. It’s propelled me to become a Reiki practitioner to help those who are still there, in the trenches. Most Reiki practitioners have been there themselves. We get it. We have felt it. Reiki has brought us through it. Now we want to allow Reiki to guide you to your best self too.
Find yourself a Reiki practitioner that makes you feel safe and open to looking at your different parts. Ask them questions about their journey to Reiki and I guarantee you will find much in common. Start to listen to the messages your mind and body are telling you instead of drowning them out. They may feel horrible but the body and spirit has wisdom to be accessed. Reiki will guide you through this process.
All of us have struggled, may struggle or know someone struggling with anxiety at one point in our lives. In fact, anxiety disorders are currently the number one mental health issue in Canada. 1 in 4 Canadians will struggle with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.
There is help and someone who is willing to listen. There is someone who can help you back on your path. Let Reiki work its loving energy in your life. Let yourself find the magic in you.
Sarah is a Reiki Master, teacher and psychic counsellor specializing in working with women who are overwhelmed and feel they have lost themselves. She uses Reiki, Pranic healing, guides, angels, messages from loved ones and your own higher being’s guidance to assist her clients to heal from old issues that are holding them back from a full and passionate life.