Posted by Is it possible for spiritual convictions to contribute to one’s mental well-being? This is a straightforward query that deserves examination regardless of one’s religious background. Traditionally, someone facing depression was counselled to go to their spiritual centre or to strengthen their piety as a means to alleviate their distress.
Even today, this dangerous approach persists in some faith-based healing systems. They characterize mental disorders as something that can be solved solely through more devotion rather than as a legitimate medical condition with treatable signs and symptoms. Traditional (medical approach, such as BDT) and spiritual approach (meditations and prayers) can help in treatment.
Is there a connection between faith and mental health?
Mental health is a condition that does not discriminate between those who are religious and those who are not. It has been long debated by both the scientific and religious communities if there is a connection between spiritual beliefs and mental health, and in what ways it can either be damaging or beneficial for someone’s recovery journey. According to the American Psychological Association, 80% percent of individuals have some form of spiritual faith.
Consequently, disregarding it while seeking therapy would disregard an integral part of these people’s lives. Therefore, attending to spiritual issues in treatment can be helpful for some, while not necessary for others. Allowing spiritual beliefs and practices to be part of the healing process can be an extremely useful coping tool for those with mental illnesses.
Evidence-based treatments have revealed that spirituality can contribute to healing and recovery, as mental illness is closely connected with spirituality. However, this is not always the case. Many different variables could potentially influence one’s recovery journey, with some people requiring medication alone, while others may benefit from combined counselling and alternative therapies. For some, engaging with the spiritual aspect may be a supportive and beneficial experience in the recovery process.
What is Spiritual Health?
One could suggest that “spiritual health” is realised when an individual’s spirit is at peace. Nowadays, spirituality is not only defined by religious beliefs or organisational structures. Rather, spiritual wellness can be defined as a person’s thoughts and understanding of their life objectives, meaning, and connections with those around them.
Even though it is uncertain if having a specific purpose in life can protect a person from the development of stress or post-traumatic stress disorder, delving into these mental health matters through a spiritual outlook may play a role in enhancing a person’s healing journey.
Mental health as it relates to spiritual health
Few studies have been done to assess the connection between religion and depression or any other mental health disorders. Despite this lack of research, more than half of psychiatrists today believe discussing spiritual matters with their patients is important. It is clear that faith can both harm and help people who deal with mental health issues.
Psychiatrists have often pointed out how religion can be detrimental to individuals, but they also recognize that spiritual beliefs and practices can assist with managing some mental health symptoms. Being spiritual improves your mental health.
Treatment centres typically personalise treatments for each individual. For those who are not religious, a religious focus can be intrusive and ineffective. These centres usually have purposely vague definitions of spirituality that are accommodating to various levels and types of belief.
If these beliefs have a positive influence on someone’s ability to cope, they can be useful in their recovery. It stands to reason that when a person is connected to their spiritual beliefs, they may feel less alone, depression lessens, and they might be able to concentrate on other areas of life that require attention.
How can people invest more time in their spirituality and mental health?
Treatment centres that prioritise holistic cure often incorporate programs and therapies related to spirituality. For instance, restorative yoga is a beneficial activity for those of all faith backgrounds and ideologies. It encourages mindfulness, allowing participants to either focus on their spiritual selves or take the time to clear their minds. Therapists can also help individuals seek out activities that bring feelings of calmness and positivity – such as exercise or taking a break from technology – to reduce stress and mental health triggers.
These moments of respite can be restorative, helping people feel empowered, strengthened, and better equipped to manage their emotions in healthy ways.
Have you been ignoring your spirit?
Some people may have a negative view towards treatment programs that focus on spiritual wellness due to past experiences with religion. However, approaches to spiritual health that are open-ended can be incredibly beneficial for those who are spiritually inclined. Rather than instructing someone on how or what to believe, these programs encourage each person to bring their own beliefs while learning how to better connect with them.
Therapists recognize that spiritual wellness can have a beneficial impact on mental illness recovery. During group therapy, individuals may possess different perspectives on attaining spiritual health. In order to facilitate spiritual growth, therapists may suggest that a person take part in activities such as meditation, yoga, or listening to podcasts covering spiritual well-being, or joining support groups with an emphasis on spirituality. As people become more connected with their spirit, they may experience greater confidence and empowerment; these feelings will work to benefit mental health.
Recent advances in science have made it possible to gain insight into the workings of the brain, helping us to better understand the complexity of mental health challenges. However, researchers are still trying to make sense of the connection between mental and spiritual health. It has been found that a single psychological disorder such as clinical depression, may require various treatments, with one remedy being effective for one person while not having any effect on another. Incorporating spiritual elements into the recovery process can be beneficial for those dealing with mental or mood-related issues, including addiction.
Spirituality and hyper religiosity
Spirituality is a term that is used frequently nowadays, and about 20% of the population in the UK define themselves as spiritual, though not in a religious way. So, what does it mean to be spiritual? There are plenty of interpretations of spirituality, but generally we can say that it involves having a sense of something larger than ourselves – a transcendental observation of life where we start to understand that there is more to life than what can be seen with the eye.
This can include:
- the belief in a higher power or creator,
- a deep-rooted intelligence in the cosmos,
- internal wisdom that everyone carries in themselves.
No matter how spirituality is formed, it often leads to a greater meaning and purpose in life once one steps away from the material world and can see the bigger context. Additionally, spirituality involves feeling connected, whether it be with other people, ourselves, or a higher power, which can produce a peaceful sensation when we realise that we are not by ourselves in this world.
So, how significant is spirituality for our psychological health and welfare? Taking part in spiritual activities brings about good changes in mental health. Those who are actively involved in spiritual groups demonstrate reduced levels of depression.
Stress and unease can be eased by spiritual practice, and spirituality is necessary for recovering after trauma. Plus, having a spiritual standpoint gives greater value and meaning in life, and that has a positive effect on wellbeing.
However, when a person is too spiritual they tend to start hearing voices or see different hallucinations. When it is a long-term state, it’s called “hyper religiosity”.
Hyper religiosity is characterised by an individual exhibiting intense religious, spiritual or even atheistic beliefs and episodes which interfere with day-to-day life. This may be seen in various conditions, such as epilepsy, psychosis, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
The person will often have difficulties with work or social activity due to the phenomenon, and may display signs of spiritual delusions, supernatural or mystical experiences, rigid legalistic thoughts, extravagant expressions of piety, and/or religious hallucinations. Hyperreligiosity can manifest both as excessive religiousness, or in the form of intense atheistic beliefs.
How to cope with mental illnesses?
There are a number of ways to treat mental illnesses and make your state better. We’ll take a closer look at Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and some Stoic notions as one of the most popular directions.
What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for?
DBT was developed for people with borderline personality disorder. It helps people with mental health problems, including suicidal behaviour, self-harm, substance use, epilepsy, psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and eating disorders.
Treatment stages
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) centres around the concept of “the existence of opposites”. People are taught to both accept their experiences and behaviours as valid, while also striving for positive change in order to manage emotions and move forward.
This treatment is separated into four stages depending on how severe the individual’s behaviour is:
In Stage 1, the goal is to transition from being out of control to behavioural control.
During Stage 2, the individual may be struggling with their emotions, and the goal is to move from quiet desperation to full emotional processing.
Moving into Stage 3, the goal then shifts to learning to live and defining life goals, aiming for ordinary happiness.
Lastly, Stage 4 focuses on a spiritual connection and finding a deeper meaning to life.
How does Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) work?
An experienced therapist runs the DBT Skills Training Group in a format that is similar to a class. People are provided with practice assignments between sessions so they can develop practical, effective skills to replace any negative behaviour when they are feeling upset.
Classes are typically held once a week for two and a half hours and it usually takes 24 weeks to finish a full training program. The four skills taught include:
- Mindfulness
- Stress tolerance
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Emotion regulation
Psychotherapy focuses on boosting motivation and helping individuals apply different skills to problems and events in their lives. During these sessions, the therapist and the person work together to identify goals, and the meetings usually last between one and a half hours to two hours once a week. Telephone coaching and other coaching tactics in real life use operational support. The therapist assists the person in dealing with difficult circumstances and encourages them to use the DPT methods. The goal is making sure that the methods are effectively applied in everyday situations.
Skills Training
Individuals who suffer from borderline personality disorder can attend a weekly Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills training group, conducted in a class-like setting by a psychotherapist. During the class, exercises are given to help people learn and practice coping skills which can be used instead of unhealthy, negative behaviours when faced with distress. The class generally meets for two hours once a week for 24 weeks. During this time, participants will gain mastery over four different skills.
- the practice of being aware of one’s present state and accepting thoughts, emotions and behaviours without attempting to alter them;
- learning to manage difficult times when it is not possible to bring about a change;
- demonstrating the capacity to ask for what is deserved and to be assertive in declining requests, all while valuing oneself and fostering beneficial connections with other people;
- the ability to control and direct feelings to manage one’s mental health.
How Stoic Philosophy is connected to DBT
We have already mentioned above that religious beliefs and principles help to cure different mental illnesses. Furthermore, ancient principles are used in modern psychotherapy, like the main ideas of the Stoics. Recent studies showed that they have much in common with Buddhism:
Acceptance of things outside our control
For those devoted to the spiritual practice of yoga, the Stoics can offer guidance and encouragement to enrich their journey toward wellbeing and mental health. Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca stated, “Let go of worrying about matters outside the reach of our will.” Additionally, Epictetus proclaimed, “It is not things or events that cause distress, but rather people’s perceptions of them.” By questioning what is within our capacity to influence, we can begin releasing our anxiety over matters that are beyond our control.
Training for body and mind
Sellars explains how Musonius Rufus, a crucial Stoic philosopher, prescribed specific exercises which should be practised regularly with discipline. He mentions, “Stoicism primarily focuses on the mind rather than the body, but Musonius identified two kinds of training in his ‘Discourse on Training’ — one for the soul and one for the body. This training not only benefits the body, but also synchronises the mind, as Stoics are ‘physicalists’ and not ‘dualists’, meaning they believe in harmonising the mind with the body.”
Attention to virtues
The Stoics did not focus on mindfulness practices such as listening to breathing, but instead emphasised attention to virtues. They stressed the need for self-monitoring in order to catch the earliest signs of unhealthy desires or destructive emotions like fear and anger, and to pay close attention to our reactions. Seneca wrote, “Just as signs of a rainstorm arrive before the storm itself, so there are certain signs that announce the coming of anger, love, and all those storm gusts that vex our minds.”
More silence
The Stoics, like Buddhists, held silence in high regard. According to Sellars, Epictetus had a lot to say about this topic. He advised against speaking too often and too quickly, exhibiting humility, and assuming one knows all the answers.
Epictetus’ remarks were: “Generally speaking, remain silent or speak only when necessary, and in a few words. Occasionally, join in conversations when the situation calls for it, but avoid talking about ordinary things, such as fighters, races, athletes, food, or beverages–the trivial matters of daily conversation–and especially avoid speaking ill of, praising or comparing people.”
Recognize the transient nature of things
According to Sellars, “Meditations” contains a wealth of reflections on death, with Marcus Aurelius exploring and accepting it as an immutable part of life – a change that needs to be embraced. The Stoics, whom he often quotes in the text, were renowned for their rationalism, and viewed death as an unavoidable, yet not inherently negative reality.
Summary
No matter what your beliefs are, you can always find help and support both in special organisations and in your mind. Scientists haven’t found a direct connection between spirituality, hyper religiosity and mental disorders. Though they concluded that positive beliefs and principles provide beneficial effects on people’s lives.
Mental illnesses and recoveries are closely connected to spirituality. Religious practices can cause harm, on the one hand, but on the other – help you recover from mental and physical illnesses. The main thing is to follow your mind and heart sensibly.