07/28/2025
POV: You’ve been in survival mode so long, you started calling it personality.
You’ve made hypervigilance look like ambition.
You’ve made disassociation look like chill.
You’ve made exhaustion look like drive.
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Psychology or Chakras?
“Healing” is a word we hear all the time. It sounds good. But what does it really mean, and how do we actually get there?
There’s an interesting overlap between chakras and psychology that offers a spiritual path grounded in science.
Chakras are energy centers in the body that are believed to affect our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The earliest mentions of chakras come from the Vedas, ancient Hindu texts written between 1500 and 500 BCE.
In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced his Hierarchy of Needs. His theory of human behavior is still used today in both education and mental health. Maslow’s work was shaped in part by Eastern philosophy, which he referenced in several of his writings.
A lot of people have noticed how these two systems mirror each other. Both encourage us to heal from the ground up so we can reach our full potential and contribute something meaningful to the world.
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So where do we begin?
With the foundation.
In the chakra system, that’s the Root Chakra. It’s located at the base of the spine and is tied to our need for safety, grounding, and survival.
In Maslow’s theory, the root matches the first two levels: physiological needs and safety.
Pretty good overlap, right?
The root chakra starts forming even before we’re born.
It reflects the environment we’re born into, our labels, our caregivers, and how safe or supported we felt in those early years.
As adults, things like trauma, abuse, financial instability, or social isolation can all disrupt the balance of root chakra energy.
Whether you’re looking through a scientific lens or a spiritual one, the message is the same:
When the foundation isn’t secure, it’s hard to function at higher levels.
We get stuck in survival mode.
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What does that feel like?
When root chakra energy is imbalanced—either blocked or overactive—it can show up as:
• Chronic anxiety or fear
• Trouble focusing
• Feeling disconnected from your body
• Physical tension or illness
• Numbing out, addiction, or avoidance
• Hoarding or compulsive collecting
• Disordered eating or body-based coping
• Always on edge or easily triggered
• Constant insecurity or overthinking
Maslow and the chakra system both describe the same truth.
We all need to feel safe, supported, and grounded in order to grow.
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So what do we do about it?
Start with symptom relief.
Just like with any other physical or mental health condition, you deserve proper care and support. This may mean starting with medical intervention.
You may need a doctor, a therapist, or medication to stabilize your nervous system.
That is not a failure. That is a foundation.
Once you’re medically supported—or when you feel safe enough to start exploring—holistic tools like bodywork, grounding practices, or spiritual healing can become powerful additions.
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Root chakra support might look like this:
• Walking barefoot or time in nature
• Yoga or somatic practices
• Meditation or deep breathing
• Aromatherapy (especially wood or earth scents)
• Crystals like garnet, hematite, or red jasper
• Trauma-informed massage or bodywork
• Reiki, sound healing, or frequency work (396 Hz and 432 Hz are both helpful)
• Safe touch or nervous system co-regulation (massage, cuddling, being held)
If you’ve been through trauma or your root chakra has held unbalanced energy for a long time, these practices may help you start to feel better. They might be enough. Or they might just open the door to something deeper.
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Some of us are carrying long-term damage. Neglect, abuse, addiction, homelessness, systemic oppression. If your foundation was shaken early in life, it’s not your fault that it’s hard to feel safe now, but it is your responsibility to do something about it.
My own healing has included a lot of layers: therapy, EMDR, shadow work, sobriety, and facing parts of my story I had to bury to survive. It’s a never-ending process. But I also believe it’s why we’re here.
When we begin to create a solid foundation inside ourselves, something shifts.
We start to believe,
“I’m safe now.”
“I can rest.”
“I belong here.”
That’s when the real work begins.
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Ready to reconnect with your body?
If this speaks to you and you’re curious about body-based healing, I offer trauma-informed massage and energetic support in a safe, inclusive space.
My studio is fully accessible, and I welcome everyone seeking a more grounded connection to themselves.
911 E 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Text or call: (317) 447-9774
Weekend appointments available | Fully accessible studio
Licensed Massage Therapist – Janet Montes Phelps, LMT
Indiana License