Autism & Autism Spectrum

Imagine the shock, the fear, anger, sadness, the “you-name-it-I-got-it” emotions that must go through a parent when you suspect or are told that your kid is “autistic” or is on the “autism spectrum.” For awhile your entire world crashes down around you. You grieve.  But when you pick yourself up again (and you do, because you are an adult!), you buckle down to find answers that will give your kid the best chance for living a happy, meaningful, and productive life, no matter what that looks like.

Kids with autism, or displaying aspects that fall on the autism spectrum, are not unintelligent, retarded, or dim-witted. Actually, it is usually quite the opposite. These kids are just most often “over-loaded” or “over-stimulated”; they cannot differentiate and filter all the information coming from their environments. So they select what to focus on (usually this is an unconscious, default selection). They focus on all of it, or they focus on none of it; hence the use of the word “spectrum”. This leaves kids removed, distant, withdrawn, and not terribly in touch with the realities of their environments and those people who love and care for them.

While not all kids on the spectrum can hold still and be coaxed into cooperating with a traditional Reiki session, with a little creativity, they can still receive the benefits Reiki has to offer. Reiki calms and re-balances their overloaded systems. It allows them to receive “good” touch without being asked for anything in return. And if they can’t be touched, they can still receive Reiki from a distance, along with all its benefits.

Kids who have received Reiki regularly have shown improved sleep, concentration, more appropriate focus, filtering ability, and increased interactions with parents and siblings. Reiki is not invasive, involves no drugs, no special supplements, and best of all, can be learned by parents and caregivers. (And they can benefit from Reiki, as well!)

If you are a parent looking for answers regarding Autism and the Autism Spectrum, look into Reiki. It may be just what you need to help you and your kid connect in a whole new way.