The question of whether Reiki can help with eating disorders is one I have been recently asking myself. In fact, I have been thinking about Reiki’s place in ED treatment since launching my virtual recovery support program. Reiki is not usually part of everyday conversation.  Furthermore, it’s not on the top of the list of treatment options where health care is concerned. Mainstream skepticism is strong when it comes to energy healing practices. Why? Because the healing possibilities of Reiki (or other energy healing options) are difficult to quantify. And the skeptics are likely to describe Reiki as “woo-woo” and needing proof of effectiveness before considering its place in treatment.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a gentle energy healing practice with the intention of bringing balance to your mind-body. I like to use this quote to describe Reiki’s purpose:

“Energy flows where attention goes.”  

As your practitioner, I am a conduit of energy for you, the client. I don’t have magical powers and I can’t foresee or promise a certain outcome. Instead, we both try to suspend judgment and trust in the idea of life happening for us (as opposed to life happening to us).

Energy healing sessions are held either remotely (aka: distance healing) or in-person.

• An in-person session involves the client lying on a massage table, fully clothed. Then, the practitioner places hands directly on or hovering over different points of the body
• A distance healing session does not require the receiver (client) to be present. Usually a picture, object or specific details (i.e.: name, age, issue/concern) about the individual are provided. And the practitioner focuses on the client details while sending them Reiki energy

So, is there a place for Reiki in ED Treatment?

The journey of healing and recovery is unique. And what is helpful for some, might not be as helpful for others. Let’s take a look first at what clients of mine have said about their Reiki sessions:

• Improved inner body awareness
• A sense of being grounded
• More feelings of being calm, at peace
• Less feelings of overwhelm/depression/anxiety

Now let’s look at some of the typical experiences of those struggling with EDs:

• Disconnection from the body? Yes
• A sense of being out of control? Yes
• Being at war with the body? Yes
• Feelings of overwhelm/fear/anger/anxiety/sadness/hatred? Yes

There does seem to be some parallels between the benefits of Reiki and what a person with an eating disorder needs to support recovery. While Reiki alone won’t completely heal the mind-body divide that an eating disorder magnifies, I believe it can be a nice compliment to traditional ED treatment. At the very least, it certainly couldn’t hurt to try.

Offering Free Reiki!

Finally, in honour of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I’m offering free distance healing from Feb 1st – Feb 8th, 2017. Also, if you are local to the GTA or Durham Region, an in-person session may be scheduled on a Pay What Feels Best basis. Contact us to book your appointment.

Michelle Pitman is the founder and operator of Define Me Wellness. Most recently, Michelle has launched Under the Lilac Tree: a virtual program for eating disorder recovery and support. Click here to learn more about Michelle and her work.

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Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) starts NOW! Welcome. And thanks for joining me. At this time of year, there is always something I am doing to honour and raise awareness around eating disorders (EDs).  Writing tends to be a form of processing and healing for me.  And a means of support and encouragement for others (I hope). Whether it’s sharing my own struggle (like this post)… or my journey towards recovery (like in this post)… the intention is always to be real with my experience so that I might:

• Open a door to understanding for those who misunderstand EDs
• Or provide a glimmer of hope for healing for those who are working towards ED recovery

But my involvement in EDAW this year is much more! Without further ado, it starts with this kick off video. Watch to learn more about what I have planned:

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• Frustrated that there isn’t one day where I wake up in the morning without feeling the pain
• Frustrated that I can’t turn my head without turning my whole torso when changing lanes while driving
• Frustrated that I am missing out on moving my body in ways that are challenging, yet enjoyable, for me
• Frustrated that I am not healing quick enough
• Frustrated that, ultimately, healing seems to be eluding me

I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be a complainer.  I realize that I am privileged to have access and financial means to be able to get help.  I also realize that my pain pales in comparison to those that live with chronic disease such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc., where pain is a constant teeter-totter of sensation with no known cure.  I don’t mean to minimize those experiences or suggest that with the “right” action plan, that pain can all but go away.  On the contrary…

We all, at some point in our lives, whether it be physical, mental, emotional or otherwise, experience pain in varying degrees.  Is it not intertwined with the human condition? I share this as a personal reflection of my well-being journey, as opposed to dictating a specific way (i.e.: my way) will work for you.  Anyway, back to the chiropractor visit…

So I asked my chiropractor “Do you have other patients whose bodies are stubborn, taking a long time to heal?”.  The tone in my question demonstrated my impatience.  I was agitated and angry that pain had it’s own agenda and I didn’t seem to have a say in the how, when or whether my body would heal.  I knew her answer would be yes but I wanted to feel validated that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way and that at some point I would feel better and could get on with things.

So we continued to talk about how the experience of pain and healing is so unique to each and every one of us.  It can also be a challenging and lengthy process.  Pain, it turns out, is so much more than just “x” issue caused by “y” pain.  I can’t remember the specifics of what she said but it had an impact on me.  In that moment I realized I was looking for a definitive answer when there wasn’t one – a prescription, a training plan, a project map, a course of action that would rid me of my discomfort.  A-ha!!! That was my shifting moment! Maybe I needed to sit with the discomfort, listen and dialogue with my body.  Maybe I needed to let go of the quest for perfect healing and meet my body as it was, with a dose of curiosity, self-acceptance and compassion.

I recently read this short book “Pain Is Really Strange” by Steven Haines, a graphic novel of sorts, related to pain.  I picked up some valuable insights from that small book:

• Essentially, pain is the nervous system’s response to something not feeling safe
• Honing my interoceptive awareness (noticing my body from the inside) can have positive outcomes to the chronic pain-body relationship
• Painful thoughts/words/beliefs only heighten the pain response.  Changing the language around the pain can be useful
• It’s important to be creative, unique and to try new things in the healing process

So I’ve been working through those insights in my personal healing journey and approaching it from different angles, trying new things:

• My daily meditation practice oftentimes includes a simple noticing of where my neck is positioned in relation to the rest of my spine, taking a journey and picturing what it’s structure looks and feels like from the inside.  Initially, I observed brittle concrete pillars for the bones, fascia and musculature.  Now I often picture my hand grabbing a warm wet cloth and gently washing away the layers of concrete, washing away the layers of tension and immobility.
• I repeat soft reminders for my neck and shoulders, letting them know “I am/we are safe”.
• When practicing yoga, I’m giving myself permission to use as many props as I need, to alter the posture or move into something else entirely, whether I’m practicing alone or in a class setting.  I’m also giving myself permission to ease off of other movement practices I enjoy, such as running, and listening to my body’s need to move at a more relaxed pace.  Afternoon walks to pick up the kids from school is proving therapeutic.
• I’m exploring my creative side through writing, singing or simply speaking my truth in an effort to heal on an energetic level.  Because, if you’re familiar with chakra philosophies, the throat chakra = creativity and self expression.

And I’m feeling better…some days….except when I’m not… I think it’s working…some days…except when it doesn’t… This chronic pain has been quite the humbling experience! It’s lead me to the realization that there are some things you just can’t control and the solution is not always going to be quickly evident.  So, there needs to be a careful balance of deep, attentive listening and a soft, kind responsiveness to the body and what it is asking for.  Day-to-day it might not be perfect but I’m also learning that is ok too.  Because, if this experience has given me anything, it is a better understanding of living in my body.  And, up until this point, that relationship may have been what has eluded me all along.

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