Permanent Zen Blog: Curing PTSD Through Healing the Root Chakra

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may start within one month of a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after the event. These symptoms cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships. They can also interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks.  Recent data from the National Comorbidity Survey indicates PTSD prevalence rates are 5% and 10%, respectively, among American men and women

The most common symptoms of PTSD as described by people with its diagnosis are:

  • Re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks; nightmares; obsessive thoughts (they can see, hear, smell, taste things that seem real)

  • Insomnia; nightmares

  • Intrusive thoughts – thoughts that are unwanted, feel uncontrollable, and often pertain to disturbing or distressing themes

  • Concentration problems

  • Numbness; depression

  • Feelings of estrangement from others; feeling or wanting to be alone

  • Hypervigilance – always being on alert; always ready to fight or do battle

  • Sudden startling

  • Irritability; anger; panic

  • Shame; guilt (survivors’ guilt)

  • Avoidance of situations, people/objects that remind them of event

  • Increased anxiety in general

 

Causes of PTSD

It is important to remember that not everyone who experiences a traumatic event gets PTSD. Many factors come into play. Some of the many causes or risk factors for PTSD are:

  • Serious accident, injury; mutilation

  • Rape

  • Physical, emotional or sexual abuse

  • Betrayal by a loved one

  • Wars/Attacks/Bombings

  • Community violence (shootings/bullying)

  • Loss of family members, friends, community, property, possessions, home

  • Loss of job

  • Natural disasters – tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, flood

Fight or Flight Response

Our bodies are designed for survival and have three responses to stress: Fight, Flight or Freeze. When we perceive a threat, stress hormones are released to activate the body’s protective mechanisms. Often this is referred to as an adrenalin rush. Blood flow to the muscles increases, blood pressure and pulse rates increase, and breathing becomes faster—all to enable the person to respond to the perceived danger. Any function that is not needed for immediate survival either slows down or shuts down. Digestion slows down, the immune response is suppressed, hunger diminishes, etc. Repeated exposure to stress or a stress response sustained over a long period of time can have a damaging impact on one’s health. It can also lead to negative coping mechanisms such as excessive smoking, eating or drinking, numbing through drugs or other maladaptive behaviors. For the person with PTSD, the perception of danger is a constant, and they are always “on.” The body is thus constantly stressed and health problems can develop as a result.

The energetic dynamics of trauma- The Root Chakra

The root chakra, or Muladhara, is our body’s most primal and fundamental energy center, being located at the base of our spine, or groin area. Being associated with the color red, the root chakra regulates the energy associated with instinct, survival, and safety.  A damaged root chakra is always at the core of PTSD.  

Root Chakra Healing Practices

So what does a healthy and balanced root chakra look and feel like?

When you have a clear, strong and harmonious root chakra, you will firstly feel grounded and calm. When your root chakra is healthy, you will find it simple to be your authentic self finding the inner peace that is always here in the present moment easier to connect to. You will give up the need to fight, protect and defend, and will instead come into alignment with ebb and flow of life.

Here are some of the best root chakra healing practices:

1. Regularly go for a walk in nature. If you are able to walk barefoot in nature, even better.

2. Practice 5 to 10 minutes of mindfulness, meditation or breathing. Try DMT Breathing here.

3.  Carry and meditate with crystals- specifically Red Jasper

4.  Use Essential Oils- Vetiver Oil

5.  Repeat positive affirmations about safety - 

  • My home is safe and secure. 

  • I am financially secure. 

  • The universe will always provide for me.

  • I am always safe.

SCHEDULE YOUR ROOT CHAKRA HEALING NOW

WHY REIKI HEALING IS EFFECTIVE FOR DEPRESSION & ANXIETY

Many individuals who are either suffering through depression or anxiety tend to rely on some form of medication. However, there is a growing number of people who are becoming aware of the fact that depression and anxiety can be cured without the use of anti-psychotics. Depression and anxiety need to be understood as energy imbalances rather than a mental disorder. Thus, in order to cure depression or anxiety, it’s critically important to treat the imbalanced energy and the behavior and mindset that proliferates the imbalance.

To overcome the root cause of depression or anxiety,  Reiki in New York, as well as Spiritual Counseling can prove to be powerful solutions.

Reiki is a technique of transferring the universal energy to the patient by the practitioner to area of the body where it is needed.  Turning to Individual Reiki Sessions NYC can help you regain the natural flow of energy that our bodies need to be relaxed, happy and healthy. 

Peter DonarskiComment