Root Chakra/Muladhara: Influences
Trigger Warnings: Pregnancy/Traumatic Child Birth. Neglect. Food/Eating Disorders. Physical Abuse. Domestic Violence
Next, I’ll be focusing on what influences our root chakra.
This chakra starts developing from within the womb until the age of 1.
Our Root Chakra is focused around self-preservation, survival and our basic physical needs. Therefore, anything that depletes us of our basic needs, damages our body, makes us feel unsafe/insecure or threatens our survival will have an impact
Our birth is our first experience in the world and first impressions usually last. Its something that none of us remembers and don’t really think about (unless it caused a condition such a cerebral palsy) but being born is possibly the biggest event in our lives.
Being born in a traumatic way means that your first feeling is fear/stress as your survival instincts kick in.
Trauma in birth can include: near death experiences, brain damage, delayed labour, sudden birth, use of forceps, needing neonatal care, premature birth, infection, hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
I personally experienced Meconium Aspiration in the womb (basically I inhaled/ingested my first poo while still inside). This can be caused by stress, long or difficult labour (my mum was in labour for about 24 hours), overdue (I was about a week late), diabetes or hypertension/high blood pressure in the mother.
This meant I had difficulty breathing, became limp and my blood pressure dropped (I still have trouble with this).
As soon as I was born I was taken from my mum and had a tube placed down my throat to suck the fluid out.
As a baby/infant, we are completely dependent on others to meet our needs and sometimes our parents/caregivers can’t meet our needs or they are unable to be present. It might be that they didn’t want a child, they passed away, became unwell or weren’t supported themselves.
No matter the cause, it remains a fact that our basic needs were not met and we learned that we have to fight to get them met or go without.
After giving birth to me, my mum experienced postpartum psychosis (later diagnosed as bi-polar) and had to be sectioned and placed in a hospital and I had to go into care. Although I have never blamed my mum for this and I completely understand, (in fact, if I ever have a child its something that needs to be monitored.) When I was at that age, all I knew was that my mum was no longer there and would’ve felt “abandoned”. My father wasn’t around, even before I was born and I never managed to meet him before he died; his side of the family never accepted me wither. At around the age of 2, the man who was a “stand-in daddy” also left, without explanation to me.
Poor physical bonding with mother
Again, this might not be intentional but the fact remains that, as a child, would not understand. It has been shown that infants will take their mothers’ physical love over other needs such as food (as seen in Harlow’s studies, check for a link to a video at the bottom.)
When I was born and needed my lungs drained, I was unable to bond with my mum physically and again each time she was hospitalised (7 in total). Around the age of 3, I suffered horrific abuse and this led me being unable to touch my mum (without distress) until the age of 17.
My mum passed away late last year, and although I am coping fine, I still don’t think it’s hit me that I’ll never have her physically again.
Physical neglect to yourself.
In addition to your caregivers being unable to meet your needs, as you grow and become independent, you become your own responsibility. You need to keep yourself fed, hydrated, clean, well-rested, safe etc. Not doing this will knock the root chakra out of balance.
Throughout my depression there have been times where I wouldn’t wash for long periods of time, I would overeat to the point of making myself nearly sick, wouldn’t drink much and my sleep patterns were all over the place. As time has gone on, I’ve learnt to look after my physical self better. (still working on that eating though!)
Malnourishment/Feeding difficulties
This could be caused by many factors such as difficulty latching to the breast as a baby, a mother is unable to produce milk, baby refusing to feed, low socio-economic status and not enough food, malnourished while developing in the womb, gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. constipation or Crohn’s disease), oral problems (e.g cleft palate), difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia), an eating disorder.
Remember it is possible to be overweight or well fed but still be malnourished. For example, If you only eat carbs with no vegetables, fruit or unprocessed meat, you’re likely to be malnourished.
Growing up, my cupboards were always full and I was always “well-fed”. I have had difficulties maintaining a healthy weight since childhood, leaning more towards being overweight/obese, due to overeating and unbalanced meals.
Over time, I began to use food to fulfil more than a physical need, it started to have emotional value.
I also have difficulties absorbing nutrients in my intestines because of my Irritable Bowel Syndrome and lack of muscle definition there caused by Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and lack of collagen production.
Physical Abuse/ Violent Environment.
Physical abuse is anything that caused physical harm intentionally (e.g. slapping, hitting, biting, burning, kicking, pinching, grabbing etc).
A violent environment could be from witnessing domestic violence, living in a war-torn area or any environment where you felt fear of being hurt/killed.
It is possible to experience both of these simultaneously or separately.
At the age of 3, I was abused by my mum’s boyfriend. The physical part of the abuse included: having my hair ripped out, being bitten, punched ( including in the face), suffocated, forced underwater, being tied up, being forced into tight and dark places, as well as being thrown down the stairs.
These experiences installed a fear (the main “demon of this chakra” in me that altered me for a very long time. I became hyper-aware all the time and developed severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I never felt safe and couldn’t relax.
Thankfully now, I am fully recovered from my PTSD symptoms and highly encourage anyone out there who has suffered abuse and/or symptoms of PTSD should seek professional help.
Next Time… I will be looking at fear, the “demon” of the first chakra.
As always I recommend the book: Western Body, Eastern Mind by Anodea Judith
Links: Harlow’s study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrNBEhzjg8I
