靈氣幫助酗酒者和癮君子恢復

這篇文章獻給所有願意審視自己的生活並敢於改變的人-獻給那些面對問題並繼續過充實而有意義的生活的人。
對於戒毒和戒酒團體中我所有的朋友和客戶，我感謝你們允許我將靈氣帶入你們的生活。

從 1991 年到 1993 年，我有幸在俄勒岡州三角湖的毒品和酒精治療中心 Hope Ranch 工作，在那裡我受僱為客戶和員工提供靈氣。在那段時間裡，我成為了一名輔導員，並與處於不同康復階段的成癮者和酗酒者一起參加了 1,500 多次靈氣治療（從早期的勒戒到數年後的清醒階段）。

在治療中心工作之前，我對靈氣的理解是它可用於促進身體康復和放鬆。我之前曾與患有各種疾病的客戶一起工作，包括潰瘍、癌症、關節炎和其他身體疾病。因為我的經驗表示靈氣對這些人有積極且正面的影響，我認為那些吸毒和酗酒的人也可以從這種宇宙的生命能量中受益。

戒除對於化學物質的依賴會給身體和情緒帶來極大的壓力。症狀包括肌肉疼痛、骨痛、頭痛、嘔吐、顫抖、腹瀉、渴望、睡眠障礙、食慾不振和極度喜怒無常。我很快發現靈氣對緩解身體症狀和鎮靜身心非常有幫助。

新客戶通常不願意參加靈氣治療，這是可以理解的，因為他們通常有信任的問題。然而，在半小時內，靈氣的鎮靜作用可以大大減少或消除了他們的顫抖。而且，一旦這種顫抖停止，他們就再也不會發作。然後我會繼續掌控靈氣，將我的意識集中在客戶的平靜、和平和安全感上。一旦身體感到安全並得到支持，它似乎就會釋放伴隨戒斷症狀出現的恐慌和創傷感。在此之上，我通常會多了一個非常願意在未來參加治療的新客戶。

我觀察到這些通常患有憤怒和羞恥問題的客戶在體驗靈氣後開始表現得更加溫和、慷慨和富有同情心。工作人員還報告說，接受靈氣的客戶似乎變得更平靜，不太有破壞性的情緒爆發。他們接受的靈氣越多，他們就越能集中注意力。一旦客戶對靈氣感到滿意，他們通常會尋求幫助減輕身體疼痛的治療。那些因頭痛、肩痛或背痛而參加治療的人會發現他們的疼痛得到了緩解，就像與我一起工作的其他純粹有身體疾病的人一樣。然而，我相信癮君子和酗酒者所遭受的大部分痛苦都是情緒誘發的。一旦身體平靜，頭腦放鬆，疼痛就會消退。

客戶也遭受了巨大的情感痛苦。成癮症會造成悲傷和內疚。成功的治療很大程度上依賴於提供一個促進自愛與接納的環境。靈氣完全符合這個要求。許多客戶聲稱他們第一次感受到無條件的愛是在靈氣治療期間。客戶經常在靈氣期間哭泣，這也有助於釋放身體和心理中累積的壓力。

客戶的評論回饋說，他們的靈氣課程是他們第一次在沒有人想要他們的情況下被親切地撫摸。許多成癮者受到身體和/或性虐待。體驗這種柔軟和關懷使他們能夠釋放由於保護自己免於受進一步虐待的願望而導致的緊張情緒。這些客戶中的許多人第一次在他們的生活中體驗到平靜。

情緒治療以另一種方式得到幫助。有時，當我把手放在不同的靈氣位置時，客戶會想起過去的創傷。由於靈氣的鎮靜作用，來訪者會想起這件事，而不會經歷當時的痛苦。這讓客戶可以成為創傷的觀察者而不是參與者，這能夠幫助他們更清楚地看到過去的行為或未解決的問題是如何導致復發的，並幫助他們解決這些問題而不會被恐懼所阻礙。

我合作過的許多客戶都曾多次接受過化學的戒斷治療。 他們保持清醒的能力在一定程度上受到了他們未解決的問題和壓抑情緒的抑制。 這使得客戶們會經常尋求某種方式來使他們處於拒絕與否認任何東西的狀態。而靈氣治療的這個過程是打破阻礙他們理解自己的牆壁的寶貴工具。 它有時也幫助客戶釋放與原始創傷相關的慢性身體疼痛。

This article is dedicated to all those who have looked at their lives and dared to change - to those who have faced their problems and gone on to live full and rewarding lives. To all of my friends and clients in the recovering drug and alcohol community, I thank you for allowing me to bring Reiki into your lives.

From 1991 to 1993, I had the privilege of working at Hope Ranch, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Triangle Lake, Oregon where I was hired to give Reiki to clients and staff. During that time I became a counselor and participated in more than 1,500 Reiki sessions with addicts and alcoholics in different stages of recovery - from early detoxification to years of sobriety.

Prior to working at the treatment center, my understanding of Reiki was that it is used to encourage physical healing and promote relaxation. I had previously worked with clients suffering from a variety of ailments, including ulcers, cancer, arthritis and other physical maladies. Because my experience showed that Reiki had a positive effect on these people, I thought those suffering from drug and alcohol withdrawals could also benefit from exposure to the Universal Life Energy.

Withdrawal from chemical dependency is extremely stressful, both physically and emotionally. Symptoms include muscle pain, bone aches, headaches, vomiting, the shakes, diarrhea, cravings, sleep disorders, loss of appetite and extreme moodiness. I quickly discovered that Reiki was very helpful in relieving the physical symptoms, and in calming the body and mind.

New clients were often understandably reluctant to participate in the Reiki session, as they usually had trust issues. However, within a half an hour the calming effect of Reiki greatly reduced or eliminated their shakes. Furthermore, once the shakes stopped, they did not return. I would then continue to administer Reiki, focusing my consciousness on the client's sense of calmness, peace and safety. Once the body felt safe and supported, it seemed to release the sense of panic and trauma that accompanies withdrawal symptoms. At this point, I usually had a pretty willing client for future sessions.

I observed that these clients, who usually suffered from anger and shame issues, were beginning to behave more gently, openly and compassionately once they experienced Reiki. The staff also reported that clients who received Reiki appeared to become calmer and were less likely to have destructive emotional outbursts. The more Reiki they received, the more centered they became. Once clients became comfortable with Reiki, they would often seek a session to help alleviate physical pain. Those who came into a session with a headache, shoulder pain or backache would find relief from their pain just like others I worked with who suffered from purely physical afflictions. However, I believe that much of the pain suffered by addicts and alcoholics is emotionally induced. Once the body is calmed and the mind relaxed, the pain subsides.

Clients also suffered from tremendous emotional pain. The disease of addiction creates reservoirs of grief and guilt. Successful treatment relies in great part on providing an environment of acceptance that promotes self-love. Reiki fits this requirement perfectly. Many clients claimed that the first time they ever felt unconditionally loved was during a Reiki session. Clients often cried during Reiki, and this too helped release built-up stress in the body and psyche.

Clients also commented that their Reiki sessions were their first experience of being touched lovingly without someone wanting something from them. Many addicts have been physically and/or sexually abused. Experiencing such softness and care allowed them to release the tension that resulted from their desire to protect themselves from further abuse. Many of these clients experienced peace in their lives for the first time.

Emotional healing was aided in another way. Occasionally, when placing my hands on the different Reiki positions, a client would remember past trauma. Because of the calming effect of Reiki, the client would remember an incident without experiencing the original pain.

This allowed the client to become an observer instead of a participant in the trauma, which helped the client see more clearly how past behaviors or unresolved issues could lead to relapse, and helped the client to address such issues without being blocked by fear.

Many of the clients I worked with had been through chemical dependency treatment a number of times. Their ability to stay clean and sober was inhibited, in part, by their carrying unresolved issues and repressed feelings. Clients were often seeking some way to access whatever it was that kept them in a state of denial. This process was a valuable tool in breaking through the walls that kept them from understanding themselves. It sometimes also helped clients to release chronic physical pain that was associated with the original trauma