Feeling depressed is so common in our society that most people don’t even know they are going through it. It can sometimes look like sadness or feeling stuck…for a very long time. If not dealt with it can turn into an all consuming depression, seeming like there is no way out, which can lead to more pain and suffering the longer it is left alone.
I have worked with a lot of people who have feelings of depression or consider themselves depressed. It can look different from person to person but there are some common themes. Some get very high anxiety and can’t deal with the world around them. Everything feels like a stress and it takes all their energy to just get through the day.
Most feel that there is no hope of change or anything ever getting better in their life. They can go down a very dark spiral about how worthless they feel. It can also seem that the world and their choices are very black and white; that each scenario is all or nothing– if something doesn’t go right then its the end of the world which can make it very hard to make decisions or move forward in any way.
When we are out of balance emotionally or mentally, that imbalance shows up in the chakras. What I have found is that the common symptoms of depression line up with issues in each the chakras– and every chakra can be out of balance the more depressed a person feels. There are a number of ways to get out of depression which I offers some suggestions below. I think the energy healing is one of the best ways to move out of of it because it doesn’t work on just one are– its helps the physical pain, the emotional pain and the mental pain you are experiencing.
Symptoms of Depression by Chakra:
Root Chakra imbalance:
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Feels like nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to fix it.
- Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
- Thoughts of suicide.
Sacral Chakra imbalance:
- Loss of interest in daily activities. You aren’t interested in social activities, hobbies, sex– you no longer feel joy and pleasure.
- Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy– your shoulders slump as if carrying a weight.
Solar Plexus Chakra imbalance:
- Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain.
- Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
Fourth chakra imbalance:
- Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent.
- Your tolerance level is low and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
Throat Chakra imbalance:
- Not able to express emotion or anger.
- Sleep changes; Either insomnia or oversleeping.
Third Eye Chakra imbalance:
- Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
Crown Chakra imbalance:
- Feel like you don’t belong on earth. Think you have no purpose for life or being here.
If the Root Chakra is way out of balance this really throws all the other chakras out of whack. You can’t feel very balanced emotionally or mentally if your base is wobbly or completely uprooted. Most people who feel depressed end up having issues with their Root chakra and its an important place to start the healing process.
Steps to take if you are feeling depressed:
- Get exercise of any kind– it has shown to alleviate clinical depression*. Moving the body greatly effects the hormones in our body and will increase levels of endorphins that lift your mood. Try some sort of workout for at least 15-30 minutes a day. Yoga is a great exercise that works body, mind and spirit in one practice.
- Start a meditation practice. Even 5 minutes a day can start to bring more mindfulness to your day, helping you focus on the present and not worry abut the future. Try these meditations.
- Seek out help from a trained professional. There is no reason to go this alone– many people move out of a depression with some type of therapy whether it be a Counselor, Energy Healer, Acupuncture or Psychiatrist. Relying on just friends or family can put a strain on relationships and cause resentment since most people don’t know how to handle this level of emotional pain. Energy healing has shown “both immediate and long-term improvements in depression, stress and hopelessness.”**
- For Root Chakra imbalances, you can try grounding, which is an exercise of connecting your energy into the earth which helps balance our energy as well as release anxiety.
I hope this information was helpful for you in learning a more about depression and what can help move someone out of it. Please pass along if you think it could help a friend.
Sources:
* http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC474733/
** http://psychcentral.com/lib/reiki-healing-and-mental-health-what-the-research-shows/
