Reiki and Mental Health

Reiki and Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Week May 15 - 21 2023

Back in my early 20s which seems like a lifetime ago now, I was not in a happy place! I tried to take my life twice; I did not see the point in living. Reflecting now, with so much more awareness/insight, I must have been crippled with anxiety and depression. 30 years ago, anxiety and depression were not things people talked about or really knew about. Mental Health was not a hot topic, there was no awareness about mental health, the attitude was you just must get on with it despite what you are feeling!

At the time I was lucky enough to be working as a Beauty Therapist; I kept meeting clients that talked about Reiki treatment and how amazing it is for your emotional well-being / mental health. My curiosity to find out more led me to explore more about Reiki treatment and healing sessions. 

As my mental health was not in a great place, my life was at such a turning point, I was willing to try anything that would help me. The seeker in me knew that there was going to be a way through this. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and its important to trust that everything will work out. Life forces us to go to those places that take us out of our comfort zone which can be an opportunity to learn and grow.

Thirty years ago, Reiki and other alternative healing sessions were not heard of, it was such a weird concept that you could heal from touch by connecting to universal energy life force energy, was this even possible?

Like many people, I was bought up to go to a doctor if you are not well physically or mentally there were not many alternative of different options easily available.

Mental health was such a taboo subject that you were labelled as being crazy, mental, a weirdo, and should be locked up in a mental asylum.

Finding a Reiki practitioner / Reiki Master was not so easy or easily accessible.  Reiki Healing was not in the mainstream, also bearing in mind that the internet did not exist.

The universe does listen... A client came to me for treatment and we connected straight away, she mentioned that she was a Reiki practitioner which was like a miracle.  I was blown away by this and knew straight away that this was a sign to go and have a Reiki session.

As the Reiki practitioner gently laid her hands on me, I felt this calmness and peace that I had never experienced before. The Reiki session was so nurturing, kind, and wholesome for my mind, body and soul. As she continued with the reiki practice on my body, I felt states of relaxation I had never experienced before. The healing had begun, I started to let go of the angst that was underpinning my anxiety, and depression as I drifted into different states of almost dreamlike relaxation.

My first Reiki session was so powerful and profound that I knew I had to learn Reiki. She gave me the name of her Reiki Master who I contacted immediately so I could learn Reiki 1 as a self-help tool.

After learning Reiki 1, I knew that this was a path for me, I knew that I wanted to learn all the Reiki levels and become a Reiki Master. I wanted to be a Reiki Master so I can teach and share this gift with the world.

My vision was to be that Reiki Master, to connect with others that are seeking alternative ways to manage their anxiety and depression and more.

We are blessed there are many Reiki practitioners out there now and Reiki treatments/healing sessions have become very popular however not all Reiki practitioners / Reiki Masters will be the one for you.

Reiki has been growing in popularity and more and more people are seeking Reiki healing sessions now. If you are considering experiencing a Reiki session my best advice to you would be to connect with the Reiki practitioner / Reiki Master first by talking to them and then follow your inner knowing to who would be the best suit for you.

If you are looking for further reading about Reiki there is a great blog written by Dr David R Hamilton - Is there science on Reiki. Reiki was one of the first modalities he started to investigate as part of his research for his new book 'Why Woo Woo Works'.