By Lindsay Denton

 

We wouldn’t be the adults we are today without our childhood experiences. These experiences tend to be positive in most cases. But sometimes, they can leave lasting scars that haunt us for years. We can’t just snap our fingers and wish to forget everything that happened—healing doesn’t work that way. However, ways to get better exist, and they might just involve ancient practices like Reiki. Now, let’s explore how exactly Reiki can help heal childhood trauma and get you that peace of mind you’ve been longing for!

What is Reiki?

Before explaining how this ancient practice of Reiki can help heal childhood trauma, let’s look at the history.

Reiki has roots in old spiritual practices handed down over many generations.

However, the practice we see today didn’t take shape until the 20th century, thanks to a Japanese monk, Mikao Usui. After years of study and meditation, he created what we know today as the Usui System of Natural Healing—or Usui Reiki.

Now, the premise of Reiki is to guide healing energy into our bodies.

This energy—otherwise called “life force energy”—is believed to flow through all of us.

When this energy is low or blocked, we might feel stressed, ill, or generally off balance. But when it flows undisrupted, we feel calm, healthy, and in sync with ourselves.

During a Reiki session, you usually lie down fully clothed. The practitioner then puts their hands on or just above your body. They try to clear any blocks and get your life force energy moving again. That helps to bring balance back to your mind, body, and spirit.

People experience Reiki in various ways. You might feel a sense of warmth or a tingling sensation during your session. These aren’t uncomfortable, though. In truth, everyone agrees that Reiki has a soothing effect.

Childhood trauma: Causes and symptoms

Now that you understand the definition of Reiki and what a session looks like, let’s get to the bottom of childhood trauma.

Childhood trauma refers to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences that occur during our early lives.

These can be:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Bullying
• Witnessing violence

Trauma can also come from the loss of a parent or be the result of growing up in a place where you don’t feel safe.

According to research by Frontiers in Psychiatry published by the National Library of Medicine, children are more likely to be affected by these experiences because their brains are still developing. They don’t have the mental capacity to understand and deal with them yet. That often results in trauma embedding itself deep into the child’s mind, where it stays hidden until later in life when it manifests differently in different individuals.

For instance, some might start experiencing mental health issues like depression and anxiety, while others might have trouble with:

• Anger,
• Low self-esteem,
• Physical symptoms like headaches or stomach problems.

The symptoms also aren’t always easy to recognize, with some being a lot less obvious than others (e.g., a gut feeling that screams ”something’s not right” compared to panic attacks and/or nightmares).

How Reiki can help heal childhood trauma

How does Reiki come into play when it comes to healing those deep, old wounds?

Primarily, it’s important to know that Reiki works on an energetic level. Childhood trauma often gets stuck in our energy field, and we carry that blocked energy with us, sometimes without even realizing it. This stuck energy can keep us from moving forward, and that’s where Reiki can make a difference.

Reiki practitioners believe that channeling energy into blocked areas can help release years-old trauma. Once the blockage is cleared, everything starts to flow better, and the emotional and physical symptoms of trauma begin to disappear.

Reiki can’t erase everything bad that’s happened. But it can help you process memories and feelings more easily. After a few sessions, you might find that old memories don’t trigger you as much or that you’re finally able to let go of the anger that’s been weighing you down.

As we mentioned, childhood trauma can cause a sense of insecurity. Reiki promotes the opposite: a sense of security and relaxation that those dealing with trauma and mental disorders caused by it, like depression and anxiety, desperately need. It helps create a calming environment where your body relaxes. Once it does, your mind follows, and that’s when true healing can begin.

The best part? You don’t have to do anything except be open to the experience. You cannot talk about what happened if you’re not ready or relieve painful memories. Reiki meets you where you are, and the healing happens at your own pace.

Allow Reiki to heal you from within

Reiki can help heal childhood trauma less traditionally but a lot less invasive and natural. In truth, one of the most beautiful things about Reiki is that it works with your body’s natural healing abilities. It taps into your life force energy, which keeps you alive and well. By enhancing this energy flow, Reiki helps your body and mind heal, gradually restoring the balance that trauma may have disrupted. So, why not give our Reiki teaching lessons a try? Learn how to practice Reiki on yourself and others. Who knows? You might find that it helps you reconnect with the person you were always meant to be—whole, healed, and at peace.

Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/lonely-girl-sitting-on-a-doorway-236215/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-masseuse-with-hands-near-ears-of-woman-5240700/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-woman-having-a-massage-5573584/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-black-shirt-and-gray-denim-pants-sitting-on-gray-padded-bench-1134204/