Psychosis or Spiritual Awakening? A Clinician's Reflection on What We Call 'Mental Illness'
As a mental health clinician, the topic of psychosis is extremely relevant to my daily work. But what if our Western, pathological view is only one part of the story? What if some experiences that we label as "illness" are viewed in other cultures as the emergence of a gift, or a "spiritual emergency"?
Reflecting on the work of Phil Borges and Eleanor Longden, I've been exploring this profound parallel and what it means for how we approach healing.
The Trauma Connection: From 'What's Wrong With You?' to 'What Happened to You?'
One of the most interesting parallels is the connection to trauma. Both speakers noted that their experiences of psychosis were triggered or brought on by traumatic events. This reframes the symptoms not as a random brain disease, but as a survival mechanism—a psyche trying to work something out. It shifts the fundamental question from "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?"
This reminds me of what I've learned about shamanic traditions in some cultures. There is often a belief that one must endure hardships as a "rite of passage" to become a shaman. This is a fascinating way to reframe "negative" life experiences, seeing them not as the cause of a disorder, but as part of a calling.
A Clinician's Dilemma: The Real-World Challenges
While this perspective is beautiful and important, applying it in the modern mental healthcare system presents some major challenges.
The Insurance Problem: It's incredibly difficult to engage in this kind of deep, spiritual work when you're required to diagnose and treat according to the DSM, otherwise medical insurance won't pay. This creates a reality where this type of holistic care is often only available to people who can afford to pay out-of-pocket.
The Client's Cultural Beliefs: This approach needs to be relevant to the client's culture. If a person has been brought up to believe that hearing voices is "demonic," it can be very difficult—and potentially harmful—to try and reframe it as a gift without a great deal of care and trust.
The Need for Specialized Training: Working with "spiritual emergencies" requires special training that most clinicians don't have. However, I believe all clinicians should at least be trained in how to identify a potential spiritual emergency and know where to refer the client for appropriate support.
Ultimately, I believe that when we understand our consciousness and our brains from all levels—psychological, biological, and spiritual—we can learn to utilize even the most challenging symptoms to create wholeness. As Phil Borges said, "The psyche will work out whatever it is... and help them even out the imbalance." The key is trusting our nature and our innate connection to the world around us.
