According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population.  Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering receive treatment.  People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders.  Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.  Others of this type include Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Stress is all around us whether through work, family, mental or emotional issues stress affects all of us directly or indirectly.  The American Institute of Stress states that stress is basically the cause of 60% of all human illness and disease.  Stress is also a major cause of heart disease, heart attacks and heart failure.  Individuals who experience stress are also prone to unhealthy eating and sleep deprivation.  Stress is the body’s reaction to harmful situations — whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way to prevent injury. This reaction is known as “fight-or-flight,” or the stress response. During stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises. You’ve gotten ready to act. It is how you protect yourself.

How do we manage our stress and anxiety?  We find ways to calm our busy minds through exercise and other forms of meditation.  We take vacations and spend time in Nature where we make time for ourselves allow ourselves to simply just “be”.  Hopefully at some point we are also able to eliminate the cause of major stress by removing ourselves from unhealthy situations, jobs and relationships.  We continually strive to create inner balance and make better choices of how we live our lives.  I truly believe finding ways each and every day to promote our own overall physical and mental wellness is the real solution.

Reiki is one way we can significantly reduce stress and our anxiety:

• Reiki has a calming and relaxing effect the moment the client lays down for a session
• Reiki reduces heart rate and blood pressure
• Reiki settles the mind and promotes a meditative state
• Reiki clears, grounds and centers us emotionally, physically and mentally
• Reiki offers us space to fully let go of everything that has gone throughout the day, week and months .. a Reiki session is all about “you” and your well being

Taking the time for stillness and meditation is essential