We have been living turbulent times for the past few months with a "once in a century" pandemic. We have been forced to stay away from our friends and families and told to stay at home. People have lost their jobs, and some have lost their loved ones.
It looks likely that the coronavirus is here to stay. We are anxiously waiting if we are going to get sick and if there will be a second wave this autumn.
Being affected by a pandemic is traumatic and can trigger PTSD for some, especially for those who have been seriously ill or seen seriously ill people. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event. Some of the symptoms are flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
Counseling is usually a recommended treatment for PTSD. Still, when used alongside talking therapies, reflexology can bring help to symptoms of severe anxiety. There was research done for a group of 15 Israeli soldiers who have PTSD. They discovered that regular reflexology proved to be significantly beneficial for reducing stress-related symptoms. With two or more reflexology sessions a week, patients experienced noticeable reductions in their depression and anxiety. Also, they experienced improved sleep and concentration. These results mirrored study results from other countries.
There is no doubt that reflexology can be a useful supporting therapy when recovering from the mental effects of Covid-19. It can also be used to reduce the anxiety about the unknown and the future of the ongoing pandemic.
It has never been a better time to start a regular self-care routine. We all should take reflexology back into our lives. After all, we deserve it.