Most people think of reflexology as a beneficial therapy for people dealing with physical imbalances in the body. In the Soviet Union however, reflexology first earned recognition for its psychological benefits (starting in the late 1800’s).
Katy Castronovo, a 2010 graduate of the Academy’s certification program, recently set out to test the assumption that reflexology could help those suffering from psychiatric imbalances. She completed a 6-week study with a 31year-old male professional suffering from clinically diagnosed panic disorder. (Two attacks were severe enough to land the subject in the hospital.)
Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by episodes of intense apprehension, fear, and/or terror, and recurrent attacks of panic. The disorder can include somatic symptoms such as dyspnea, palpitations, dizziness, vertigo, faintness and/or shakiness and psychological symptoms such as feelings of unreality, fear of dying, “going crazy” or losing control. Between attacks chronic nervousness generally persists. Approximately 6 million American adults 18 years or older suffer from panic disorder in a given year. Many of those people are forced into a lifetime dependence on medications and psychiatric care.
Read Katy’s case study and the surprising results she and her subject experienced.
I rent the downstairs space at Eve’s for my workshops. I like the casual atmosphere of conducting classes in the comfy living room, the fully-equipped kitchen, hot tub and the fact that we are a short three blocks from the beach. An added bonus past attendees have taken advantage of are the two bedrooms in this charming old Florida beach retreat that can be rented for only $25/night when attending my workshops!