An individual is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder after he or she has spent at least six months dealing with symptoms on a regular basis.

Some of the specific symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder may include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Tense muscles
• Irritability
• Tiring easily
• Feeling restless or on edge
• Trouble concentrating

Benefits of Reiki for People with GAD

Studies have shown that Reiki offers several potential benefits for people with generalized anxiety disorder. Some of these benefits include:

1.Lower stress levels

People with generalized anxiety disorder have higher stress levels than the normal population. Both research studies and anecdotal reports indicate that Reiki may assist to alleviate some of this stress.

2.Relaxation

Having generalized anxiety disorder makes it difficult to relax even when no significant stressor is present. Many people who participate in Reiki sessions report feeling relaxed both during the session and after it is complete, which may be beneficial to someone who struggles with anxiety.

3.Improved mood

Not every person who has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder will experience depression. However, for many people,these two issues go hand-in-hand. Research indicates that people who participate in Reiki sessions on a regular basis feel less depressed than they did prior to therapy.

4.Better sleep

People with generalized anxiety disorder may find that they have trouble falling asleep, are unable to stay asleep or don’t feel rested even after sleeping all night. Reiki sessions may alleviate some of these issues and improve the quality of sleep.
Reiki is noninvasive and doesn’t pose any risk to the client. It also causes no side effects. Thus, Reiki can be used in conjunction with virtually any other treatment prescribed by a physician, including medication and other types of therapy.
Once an individual has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, their physician may prescribe various medications to control symptoms, including tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Physicians may also recommend different types of therapy, including interpersonal therapy, exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy.