support FOR the entire family using a coupling of coaching & reflexology
Many individuals, adults and children, both typical and non-neurotypical (those with special educational needs) are suffering from anxiety and related issues. With recent news coverage indicating that half of the UK population take at least one prescribed medication, how can coaching and reflexology help?
Coaching may help to clarify exactly what is going on for you, sometimes just verbalising how you are feeling can be helpful. Through coaching you can identify the symptoms and evaluate the measures you might take to help manage it. Anxiety can effect all of us in different ways and there are many symptoms:
What is anxiety?
Some of the most common symptoms include:
Constant and obsessive worrying
Feeling overwhelmed and or wanting to cry all the time
Obsessive and repetitive thoughts
Wildly fluctuating emotions
Difficulty remembering things
Insomnia
Digestive transit issues
Feeling tense and difficulty relaxing
There are many options available and coaching may help to identify which treatment or range of treatments would be most appropriate for the specific individual in question.
A recent NHS survey of more than 8,000 adults shows one quarter of people are on at least three drugs. The survey also suggests rising numbers of people are suffering mental health problems, with a doubling in rates of distress among young men in the last five years. Overall, levels were found to be highest among women aged 16 to 24, with 28 per cent thought to be likely to be suffering from conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Talking therapies can be very valuable and combined with complimentary therapy such as reflexology, there is every chance that the anxiety symptoms can be reduced without the need of medication.
What is reflexology?
Reflexology is a calming and relaxing complementary therapy in which thumb and finger pressure is applied to the feet or hands. Importantly, reflexology is a holistic therapy which means it aims to treat the whole person to provide physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. It is a natural, non-invasive and drug free therapy which may be used alongside traditional medical care to support client health.
It is estimated that around 75% of illness can be attributed to stress. Long term stress can have serious effects on the body such as a less efficient immune system, headaches & migraines, digestive complaints, anxiety, and sleep problems. Reflexology helps to counteract the effects of stress by promoting deep relaxation, improving blood and lymph circulation, relaxing muscles, stimulating nerve pathways, improving sleep and bringing balance back to the body. Reflexology helps your body to achieve its own healthy balance and support the body in its process of self-healing.
A course of Reflexology is a non-invasive way to aid relaxation and manage stress levels to combat anxiety related symptoms. The treatment is profoundly relaxing and over time the patient is able to reach a very deep and relaxed state of being. As the feet work as a mirror of the body a professional reflexologist is able to stimulate each and every organ, muscle, gland and body system in order to work holistically – treating both the symptoms and the cause. In this way Reflexology works the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects and treats the person as a whole. The symptoms are not treated in isolation but holistically to balance the system and help your return to good health and wellbeing.
What is Coaching?
Used as a talking therapy coaching empowers people to find their own solutions to challenges. It is forward thinking and focuses on identifying mindset, beliefs, behaviours, or habits that may not be working and then taking the necessary positive steps to resolve the difficulties. Coaching and Reflexology work very well together and complement each other.
When reflexology is coupled with coaching or another talking therapy (depending on what is most appropriate for the individual), stress is reduced and insights uncovered to allow a greater understanding of the triggers associated with an individuals anxiety and practical measures can be put into place. Hand reflexology for self treatment can also be used in between sessions in order to manage your response to your anxiety symptoms yourself. One technique that many find useful is to develop the habit of working the solar plexus point on the hands from the moment you start to feel anxious.
Specific Reflex Points to Relieve Anxiety
Solar plexus – One of the most valuable reflex points to learn as a means of controlling anxiety symptoms. Working the solar plexus point will enhance feelings of well being, can reduce the sensation of butterflies in your stomach, encourage you to breath slower and deeper and generally calm down all the physical indications of stress.
Head & brain reflexes – Working these can help to control any sense of being overwhelmed, and will encourage clear thinking and a more balanced approach to your problems. Working these areas will also help you to concentrate more effectively and to be less distracted when you are trying to learn or absorb something new.
Stomach – work the stomach reflex areas if your symptoms include nausea, ‘butterflies’ or changes in your appetite.
Small intestines & colon – These are worth concentrating on if you are also experiencing irritable bowel symptoms.
Adrenals – If you have been experiencing anxiety symptoms for some time, then it is likely that your adrenal reflex areas will be quite painful when worked. Working the adrenal reflexes in this way can encourage your adrenal glands to adjust their production of the stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol.
Pineal – The pineal gland is responsible for the sleep-wake cycle of the body. This reflex will help if you are struggling with insomnia or other sleep-related symptoms.
Pituitary – The pituitary reflex is found close to the centre of the big toe. The pituitary gland is one of the most important endocrine glands and is closely linked to the body’s stress response. This reflex point will help reduce any anxiety symptoms as well as help to adjust your body’s response to stress.
