What Is Spiritual Psychosis?
What is spiritual psychosis?
Spiritual psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by psychosis symptoms associated with religious or spiritual beliefs. Symptoms of psychosis include experiences not rooted in reality, such as hallucinations and delusions. If you’re experiencing symptoms that could indicate spiritual psychosis, it’s important to seek help. In this article, we’ll explore the signs and symptoms of spiritual psychosis as well as available treatment options.
An overview of psychosis
Psychosis is defined as an altered state of mind. During a period of psychosis, sometimes called a “psychotic episode,” a person usually becomes detached from reality to some degree. This can be distressing, and people experiencing it may not always be aware that something is wrong.
Common symptoms of psychosis
Psychosis tends to involve several different symptoms.
Hallucinations in psychotic experiences
Hallucinations are experiences or sensations that seem real but aren’t. They can affect any of the five senses. For example, people experiencing psychosis might find themselves:
- Hearing voices, static, knocking, or banging
- Seeing figures, shapes, lights, or colors
- Tasting or smelling things that aren’t there
- Feeling sensations in their body with no clear cause
Delusions
A delusion typically refers to a belief that someone can’t be talked out of, no matter how illogical or impossible it is. Someone with a delusion may cling to it even when shown proof that it isn’t true or that there’s no such thing. Common delusions people may experience during a psychotic episode include:
- Having supernatural powers
- Being in a relationship with a celebrity
- Receiving secret messages through the radio or TV
- Having thoughts implanted in their mind
- Other people trying to harm them
Changes in mood, thought, and behavior
Psychosis can also affect people’s thoughts and emotions. Although this may not be obvious to the person themselves, their friends and loved ones might start noticing changes in their behaviors and routines, such as:
- A loss of motivation to do daily tasks
- A loss of ability to feel pleasure
- Changes in speech, such as rambling, mixing up words, or drifting off-topic
- A loss of interest in socializing and relationships
- Unpredictable behavior
Causes and variations of psychosis
Psychosis can look different for different people. Although it’s often associated with mental illnesses like schizophrenia, it can also have many different causes. People may experience psychosis due to extreme stress, lack of sleep, head trauma, or other conditions.
What is spiritual psychosis, and is it an official term?
If you have strong religious or spiritual beliefs, these might play an important role in your life. When something happens to make you rethink or question those beliefs, this can be distressing. You might find yourself wondering about the meaning of life, the human condition, your purpose, or your values. You might also have questions about the nature of reality, a higher power, or what happens after death.
In the field of transpersonal psychology, which generally views human spirituality in the context of psychology, this is sometimes called having a “spiritual crisis” or a “spiritual emergency.”
Causes of spiritual emergencies: What is spiritual psychosis?
Spiritual emergencies can have various causes:
- The death of a loved one
- A near-death experience
- A terminal illness
- Using mind-altering substances
- Deep meditation or other spiritual experiences
- Major life changes, like divorce or childbirth
Psychosis and spiritual emergencies: Similarities and triggers
Like psychosis, spiritual emergencies can look different for different people. However, they are often defined by intense changes in thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. Some common symptoms include the following:
- Intense emotions or mood swings
- Changes in perception
- Feelings of unreality or detachment from oneself
- Anxiety about and obsession with existential ideas
- Changes in relationships
- Trouble managing daily responsibilities
The causes of psychosis and spiritual emergencies can also overlap. Psychedelic substances can serve as one example. These substances may cause some people to experience a sense of “spiritual emergence.” However, these transcendent states can sometimes have psychotic features.
For others, psychedelic substances may even trigger psychosis.
Differentiating a spiritual experience from a psychotic episode
Given their similarities, it may not always be easy to distinguish a spiritual crisis from a psychotic episode. However, research has uncovered a few clues that may make them easier to tell apart.
Study on the overlap between spiritual crises and psychosis
In a 2020 study, researchers looked at 106 people who were seeking help for mental health symptoms. They used a tool called the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS) to evaluate whether the patients’ symptoms met the criteria for psychosis. They found that there were usually similarities between spiritual crises and psychosis, like symptoms of depression and anxiety.
That said, a few symptoms were only present in psychosis, such as disturbances in thinking and social function.
Seeking professional help for spiritual experiences and psychosis
Even though there may be ways to tell them apart, distinguishing between a spiritual experience and psychosis often requires an expert opinion. Only licensed mental health professionals can officially diagnose or rule out a mental illness. That’s why, if you have concerns about your experiences, you might want to talk to your doctor. They may be able to get more insight into your symptoms and, if needed, recommend further treatment.
Online therapy for psychosis symptoms and mental health
Talk therapy is proven to be effective for treating symptoms of psychosis. While therapy is an effective treatment for psychosis symptoms, some people may avoid in-person therapy because they feel ashamed of their symptoms. With online therapy therapy, you can connect with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your own home.
Online CBT for psychosis and mental health
Research shows that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of psychosis. One study observed adherence patterns and efficacy of internet-based therapy in 100 participants who had been diagnosed with a lifetime psychotic disorder. The results of the study show that patients who completed more modules throughout the eight-week treatment period experienced lower levels of delusions, compared to participants who completed fewer modules throughout the eight-week treatment period.
Takeaway
A spiritual crisis can sometimes have symptoms in common with psychosis, which is a state of detachment from reality that’s typically associated with hallucinations and delusions. Spiritual psychosis requires treatment from a mental health professional. If you’re experiencing symptoms that concern you, consider reaching out to a mental health professional in person or online.
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