Spiritual Crisis and Recovery

Spiritual Crisis and Recovery
(adapted from: www.spiritualcrisisnetwork.org.uk)
What is Spiritual Crisis, Spiritual Emergency and

Spiritual Emergence?
A spiritual crisis can be described as a turbulent period of spiritual

opening and transformation.
Spiritual crisis is also referred to as spiritual emergency, where a

process of spiritual emergence, or awakening, becomes unmanageable for
the individual.
Spiritual crisis and mental health difficulties often overlap.
The relationship between spirituality and mental health is a complex one.
If understood and supported appropriately, these experiences can be

deeply transformative, offering the possibility of breakthrough rather
than breakdown.
A spiritual crisis may involve:
← profound psychological transformation

← one's entire being
← non-ordinary states of consciousness
← intense emotions, visions, other sensory changes
← unusual thoughts
← various physical manifestations
Episodes often revolve around spiritual themes and may

include:
← sequences of psychological death and rebirth

← feelings of oneness with the universe or nature
← encounters with various mythological beings
What might someone going through spiritual crisis
experience?
Stanislav Grof identifies the following as being typical of someone going
through spiritual crisis. A person may:
be bombarded with inner experiences
have old beliefs and ways of being challenged
find it difficult to cope with the demands of everyday life
have difficulty distinguishing the inner visionary world from the

external world of daily reality
experience physical sensations of forceful energies through the body
feel a strong urge to communicate their experiences
sound out of touch with reality, disjointed or messianic
What are the different types of spiritual crisis?

Each individual's experience is unique. Whilst it is possible to identify
common themes and thus to categorise different kinds of spiritual crisis,
characteristics of several of these may be present in any one experience.
Grof identifies the following types:
← The shamanic crisis

← The awakening of kundalini
← Peak experiences
← Psychological renewal through return to the centre
← The crisis of psychic opening à Past-life experiences
← Communications with spirit guides and 'channeling'
← Near-death experiences
← Experiences of close encounters with UFO's
← Possession states
See Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a

Crisis, edited by Stanislav & Christina Grof, Penguin Putnam 1989.
What causes spiritual crisis?
The phenomenon of spiritual crisis appears to be on the increase. There
are possibly two main reasons for this. Some people think that there is a
shift in consciousness taking place globally. It is possible that more and
more people may experience spiritual crisis as a result of this.
The other reason is that many in the West today are practising spiritual
techniques which in the past were taught only by highly experienced
spiritual teachers in safe and supportive environments such as
monasteries. This has been described by some as a DIY approach to
spirituality or a 'pick and mix' approach.
There are many possible different triggers for spiritual crisis. The
following are some of the more common ones: ·
← the intense use of spiritual practices such as, for example, prayer
or meditation
← yoga, tai chi, and other similar techniques, particularly if practiced
intensely
← extreme stress, physical or emotional shock or trauma
← childbirth or intense lovemaking
Spiritual crisis can, however, also happen seemingly at random with no

obvious trigger.
Spiritual Crisis from a mental health perspective

A growing number of mental health professionals are starting to recognise the
territory of spiritual crisis.
In the diagnostic manual DSM-IV there is a category of

'Religious or Spiritual Problem'. This diagnostic manual is used by
mental health professionals. It is used more widely in the USA
than in the UK.
In the DSM-IV spiritual problems are defined as distressing

experiences that involve a person's relationship with a
transcendent being or force but are not necessarily related to an
organised church or religious institution.
What Helps?
The following suggestions have been gathered from listening to people
who have been through spiritual crisis and seeing what they have found
helpful. Bear in mind that what works for one person may not for another.
Each person's experience is unique and they will have their own sense of
what feels right and what is needed.
Normalising
It can be reassuring to know that other people have experienced

something similar. It's useful to have a context for understanding the
experience. Finding a framework could be supported by talking to a
spiritual teacher or through reading. (See: The Spiritual Crisis Network).
Grounding
Consider the basics…eating… sleeping...exercising…gardening…being in

nature.
Food: The general consensus seems to be that heavier foods are useful
for grounding such as grains, root vegetables, pulses, dairy products and
meat. Remembering to eat really helps. Fasting often makes things worse.
Avoid sugar and stimulants such as caffeine.
Sleeping: Normal sleep patterns may be interrupted, which may be OK for

a time especially if it's possible to rest as and when it's needed. However
prolonged loss of sleep is a problem. Consider sedating herbs such as
Passiflora, Scutalleria, Avena Sativa or Chamomilla.
If possible ask a medical herbalist for a herbal tincture as these are

much stronger than herbal tablets. We recommend not taking herbs
while on prescription medicines or pregnant or breast feeding without
seeking advice from a qualified herbalist. If herbs don't help consider
seeking medical help, taking a sleeping tablet for a few nights may help
re-establish a normal sleep pattern.
Exercise: Some people find vigorous exercise, like running, very helpful
because of the amount of energy they are experiencing in their bodies.
Others find gentle walking or yoga to be more what they need.
'Doing ordinary': In an 'extra-ordinary' time, 'doing ordinary' can be
very grounding. By this we mean focusing on ordinary every-day tasks
such as cleaning the house, chopping vegetables, weeding or digging the
garden, walking the dog etc.
Being creative: Many people have found this to be a time where their
creative energies become powerful and can be used as a way of
expressing their experience, releasing emotion and grounding and
focusing.
Support
Not many people can go through this on their own. There is a need to be
supported. This can take many forms, from someone cooking dinners, a
friend who offers a listening ear, a therapist who understands spiritual
crisis, to a whole community offering 24/7 support. Having people around
who understand what is happening can make all the difference.
Community resources: Many people have found the following resources

helpful:
Complementary therapies e.g.: homeopathy, medical herbalism,

acupuncture, nutritional therapy, massage, cranio-sacral therapy
Psychotherapy (especially helpful to help integrate the experience) ·
Health services e.g.: G.P, mental health services (which can be

accessed either through contacting your G.P and asking to be
referred, or contacting them directly) ·
Members of local spiritual groups.
Environment
The environment has a huge effect on someone who is in a heightened
sensitive state. Reducing stimulation is thought to be helpful. Consider
what may be over stimulating, such as television, noisy busy places,
situations of conflict and high emotion, etc. This will vary from person to
person.
Spiritual practise
Some consider it wise to temporarily stop practises such as meditation,

yoga or Qi gong which potentially intensify the experience of inner
processes. Spiritual practise can be deceptively powerful at times of
spiritual crisis.
However some people find that with insight and care, gentle practise can
provide a sense of safe space and enable integration of the crisis
experience. The important element is whether the practise in question is
grounding and therefore helping to create 'balance'. Anything which
opens an individual up even further to intense spiritual energy is
potentially going to increase the experience of feeling overwhelmed.
The Spiritual Crisis Network

The Spiritual Crisis Network is a loose group of interested people with a
core development group of a dozen or so.
Some of the development group are experts by experience, having been

through personal spiritual crises. Some are mental health professionals,
including community psychiatric nurses, psychotherapists and a consultant
clinical psychologist. Some have both personal and professional expertise.
To express an interest in joining the development group, please email
[email protected]
Spiritual Lessons in Recovery
Pat Deegan, November, 2004 www.patdeegan.com
I was in a very difficult, emotionally turbulent passage, punctuated with periods of

psychosis. The anguish of it seemed endless, and I had lost all sense of time. I
remember pressing my body against the concrete wall in the corridor of the mental
institution as wave upon wave of tormenting voices washed over me. It felt like I was in a
hurricane. In the midst of it, I heard a voice that was different from the tormenting voices.
This voice was deeply calm and steady. It was the voice of God, and God said, “You are
the flyer of the kite.” And then the voice was gone. Time passed and I kept repeating
what I had heard, “I am the flyer of the kite.” When I repeated this phrase, I had the
image of a smaller me, standing deep down in the center of me. The smaller me held a
ball of string attached to a kite. The kite flyer was looking up at the kite. To my surprise,
the kite looked like me also. It whirled and snagged and dove and flung around in the wild
winds. But all the while, the flyer of the kite held steady and still, looking up at the
plunging and racing kite.
“I am the flyer of the kite”, I repeated again. And, slowly, I began to understand the
lesson. “I have always thought I was just the kite. But God says I am the flyer of the kite.
So, even though the kite may dive and hurl about in the winds of pain and psychosis, I
remain on the ground, because I am the flyer of the kite. I remain. I will be here when the
winds roar, and I will be here when the winds are calm. I am here today, and I will be
here tomorrow. There is a tomorrow, because I am more than the kite. I am the flyer of
the kite.”
The notes in my chart that day probably said I was floridly psychotic. However, for me,
that day was an epiphany. The lesson I learned on that day was a lesson I relearned,
over and over again, in my recovery. Basically, I learned there was a deeper part of me,
that was centered and unmoving and steady and constant and calm. Without this deeper
part of myself, the wind could easily blow me away. This deeper me learned not to over
identify with the good times or the bad times.
Like the kite blasting around on a windy day, my recovery often meant having a difficult
time, with lots of ups and downs, pain and suffering, setbacks and bad days. But God
taught me there was more to me than these ups and downs. Deep down inside, no
matter how rough things got, there was a still, quiet place within me that held steady and
that survived. On some days, recovery, was just about learning to ride the tumultuous
winds, while hanging tightly to the kite string, until the storm passed. At other times in my
recovery, I needed my therapist or a trusted friend to hold the string, until I could
reconnect with the flyer of the kite within me.
If mental health professionals are to support the spirituality of people in the recovery
process, then it is important to remain open to the possibility that people receive
authentic spiritual teachings during periods of what gets called psychosis or psychiatric
disorder. These spiritual teachings can provide a resting place for the weary;
nourishment for the hungry; meaning for those in despair and a compass for those who
are trying to navigate the passage of recovery. Simply allowing a client to discuss the
spiritual teaching, while listening respectfully, can be healing. If the client is willing,
exploring the teaching, applying it to daily recovery, and reminding the client of the
teaching when it’s been forgotten can be helpful.
It is imperative that professionals not invalidate spiritual teachings received during
psychosis or severe emotional distress. It is important not to dismiss such teachings as
delusions. Do not interpret them as symptoms of disordered minds and then ask for an
increase in psychotropic medications. If, as a mental health professional, you feel
uncomfortable listening to spiritual teachings, because you are not an expert in such
matters, own this personal limitation and share it respectfully with clients. Clients are then
free to find other people who are more receptive to talking about spiritual teachings
received during periods of altered consciousness and extreme emotional distress.
In addition, if mental health professionals are to develop an understanding of the role of

spirituality in recovery from psychiatric disorders, they must be prepared to explore the
depth and breadth of their own spirituality. It is not enough to study the spirituality of
people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, as if our spirituality were somehow different
from yours. This objectifying, non-reflexive perspective will not do. If professionals are to
support people in recovery, they must live in hope and understand no one is beyond
hope. No one is completely lost. No one is chronic. All are of value. No one is a waste of
your time. In other words, professionals must be willing to look into the places where
human hands can not reach and abide in faith that there, too, God dwells.
←

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Spiritual Crisis and Recovery

(adapted from: www.spiritualcrisisnetwork.org.uk)

What is Spiritual Crisis, Spiritual Emergency and

A spiritual crisis can be described as a turbulent period of spiritual

Spiritual crisis is also referred to as spiritual emergency, where a

Spiritual crisis and mental health difficulties often overlap.

The relationship between spirituality and mental health is a complex one.

If understood and supported appropriately, these experiences can be

A spiritual crisis may involve:

← profound psychological transformation

Episodes often revolve around spiritual themes and may

← sequences of psychological death and rebirth

be bombarded with inner experiences

have old beliefs and ways of being challenged

find it difficult to cope with the demands of everyday life

have difficulty distinguishing the inner visionary world from the

experience physical sensations of forceful energies through the body

feel a strong urge to communicate their experiences

sound out of touch with reality, disjointed or messianic

What are the different types of spiritual crisis?

← The shamanic crisis

See Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a

Spiritual crisis can, however, also happen seemingly at random with no

Spiritual Crisis from a mental health perspective

In the diagnostic manual DSM-IV there is a category of

In the DSM-IV spiritual problems are defined as distressing

It can be reassuring to know that other people have experienced

Consider the basics…eating… sleeping...exercising…gardening…being in

Sleeping: Normal sleep patterns may be interrupted, which may be OK for

If possible ask a medical herbalist for a herbal tincture as these are

Community resources: Many people have found the following resources

Complementary therapies e.g.: homeopathy, medical herbalism,

Psychotherapy (especially helpful to help integrate the experience) ·

Health services e.g.: G.P, mental health services (which can be

Members of local spiritual groups.

Some consider it wise to temporarily stop practises such as meditation,

The Spiritual Crisis Network

Some of the development group are experts by experience, having been

To express an interest in joining the development group, please email

Pat Deegan, November, 2004 www.patdeegan.com

I was in a very difficult, emotionally turbulent passage, punctuated with periods of

In addition, if mental health professionals are to develop an understanding of the role of

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