What Is Spiritual Psychosis? Exploring Symptoms And Treatment

Spiritual psychosis typically involves delusional spiritual beliefs that have no basis in reality. This form of psychosis may also involve additional psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, paranoia, personality changes, and confusion. Understanding spiritual psychosis and how it differs from other types of spiritual experiences may help you determine whether you or someone you love might be showing early signs of a psychotic episode. Treatment options are available, and you’re not alone. 

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What is spiritual psychosis? 

Spiritual psychosis is not an official diagnostic term, but generally serves as a description of certain types of delusions and beliefs that can accompany a psychotic episode. 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), psychosis refers to a “collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality.”

Symptoms of a psychotic episode

Symptoms of a psychotic episode can include the following: 

• Hallucinations 
• Delusional beliefs (firmly held beliefs with no basis in reality)
• Disorganized thinking, speech, and behavior
• Paranoia 
• Confusion 
• Personality changes 
• Suspiciousness and unease around others
• Social withdrawal 
• Decline in self-care 
• Disruption of sleep 
• Difficulty responding to reality, as well as hostility or irritation when others point out fallacies 

Spiritual psychosis typically involves the above symptoms but also has a focus on spiritual or religious beliefs. For example, an individual impacted by spiritual psychosis may believe they are a reincarnation of a goddess, or that spiritual deities and supernatural beings are speaking to them. This can differ from a spiritual crisis or spiritual emergency, which may be thought of as losing one’s faith or undergoing dramatic changes in one’s spiritual beliefs.

Risks of psychotic episodes in spiritual practices

Common spiritual psychosis beliefs tend to involve ideas about the end of the world, the existence of other dimensions, mystical experiences, and beliefs that one is spiritually superior or born to spiritually “heal” others. 

For the person in this altered state, these beliefs can seem real. Individuals experiencing spiritual psychosis may become frustrated or hostile when others challenge them. Spiritual psychosis can be harmful because the condition may lead to unhealthy behavior that harms oneself or others, including suicidal and homicidal thoughts and actions. 

Signs of early spiritual psychosis 

Psychosis often occurs in stages, including an early or “prodromal” stage that may indicate an episode is developing. Identifying these signs early may help an individual reach out to services quickly before spiritual psychosis progresses.

Common signs of spiritual psychosis

Below are some of the most common signs for which to look: 

• Increased attention to religious and spiritual topics
• Increased irritability
• Increased ideas of grandeur (beliefs that one is better or more “special” than others) 
• Anxiety
• Depression 
• Increased social withdrawal 
• Hyperfixation on religious and spiritual topics or activities 
• Difficulty concentrating on daily tasks like work, school, and chores
• Changes in affect, such as a lack of emotion or severe mood swings
• If living with bipolar I disorder, episodes of mania
• A decline in self-care and hygiene practices
• A decline in sleep hygiene practices 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that early or first-episode psychosis can be an opportunity to receive life-changing and radical treatment before the episode progresses. For this reason, reaching out for support as soon as possible may be beneficial. 

If you or someone you love is experiencing early signs of psychosis, reach out to a hotline, local mental health emergency service, therapist, or doctor for guidance. These professionals can screen for both common and severe mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and early psychosis. 

What is the difference between spiritual psychosis and healthy spirituality? 

People in spiritual or religious communities often have intense beliefs that greatly impact their lives. They may experience spiritual emergence (an experience of transformative growth related to their beliefs) or a sense of connection with a god or other deity. 

Distinguishing between someone who is simply connected to their beliefs, someone who is having a spiritual experience, or someone experiencing psychosis may be challenging.

Differences between spiritual psychosis and intense spiritual beliefs

Below are a few ways spiritual psychosis usually differs from intense spiritual beliefs:  

• People experiencing psychosis often have hallucinations involving auditory, olfactory, visual, tactile, and gustatory perceptions of sensory stimuli. 
• Delusions may have an element of grandeur, which can involve thoughts that one is more important than others in a spiritual community. 
• People experiencing psychosis may believe a certain action must be taken within a timeframe based on their delusions. For example, an individual might believe they must recruit five other people to their belief system before the next weekend to not “upset a deity” or to “fulfill their purpose.” 
• Those in a psychotic episode often experience other challenging mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and anger issues. 
• Psychotic episodes are usually temporary, often lasting a few days to a few weeks. Spiritual and religious beliefs and practices are often long-term endeavors. 
• After a psychotic episode, individuals are often able to realize that they were in a state of delusion and may experience shame and regret. 
• Psychosis often causes significant functional difficulty and a reduction in well-being, and may harm a person and others around them. 

If you’re unsure whether your spiritual beliefs and practices could indicate psychosis, talking to a therapist to receive a psychosis screening may be helpful. 

Causes of spiritual psychosis 

In general, spiritual psychosis does not have one specific cause. However, experts believe a combination of risk factors may lead to this condition, including, but not limited to, the following: 

• A family history of serious mental illness, especially schizophrenia spectrum or psychotic disorders 
• A diagnosis of schizophrenia, a psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, or bipolar disorder 
• Experiencing a traumatic event  
• Changes in prescription medication or side effects of certain medications
• Substance use  
• Previous psychotic episodes
• Medical conditions, such as an autoimmune disorder
• Hyperfocus on a higher power or spiritual beliefs 

If you are at high risk for spiritual or mystical psychosis, reaching out to psychiatric services to be screened for psychotic features may be helpful. However, note that some people may develop this condition without any risk factors, and others with the risk factors may not. 

Mental health support options 

Various support options are available for the treatment of psychosis. An active psychotic episode is a mental health emergency, so reach out for support as soon as you notice symptoms in yourself or someone else. 

Immediate crisis support

If you’re unsure where to find crisis mental health support in your area, you may call a hotline like those listed above for information about resources in your area. Hospital emergency departments are normally trained to screen for severe mental illness and may refer you to crisis services, such as inpatient mental healthcare. 

Medication and medical treatments

Antipsychotic medications are often recommended as the primary treatment for psychosis of any type. These medications can reduce the impact of symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thoughts, which can help an individual stabilize enough to reach out for other forms of support, such as support groups or therapy. Medications are often used in the short term to regulate symptoms and may be tapered down after the episode has ended. 

Consult a medical doctor before starting, changing, or stopping a medication for any condition. The information in this article is not a replacement for medical advice or diagnosis.

Support groups to improve mental health

Although they may not be a helpful option while experiencing an active episode, support groups can connect individuals who have previously experienced psychosis with others who relate to their experiences. Social support may improve mental health and help individuals find new coping techniques. 

Spirituality self-care

Self-care practices can reduce the aftereffects of psychosis and improve general mental health. When you care for yourself, you may be better able to care for others and show up daily to complete essential tasks. Below are a few self-care activities to try: 

• Engaging in physical movement, such as walking, going to the gym, or taking a dance class  
• Eating nutritious meals that nourish your body 
• Asking loved ones for support 
• Drafting a safety plan for challenging episodes 
• Reaching out to a crisis line if you notice worsening symptoms
• Journaling about your mental health 
• Practicing regular hygiene
• Partaking in hobbies 
• Listening to music 
• Spending time with others

Work through the impacts of spiritual psychosis

Connect with a licensed therapist online

Therapy

Therapy can be an effective prevention method for psychotic symptoms. A therapist can assess the severity of symptoms and help clients develop safety plans for the future. Talking to a therapist can be a step toward independence and safety, and many therapists practice using different modalities, so finding one that resonates with you may be helpful. For example, some professionals may use aspects of transpersonal psychology, which generally combines spirituality with principles of psychology, to help individuals who may have experienced spiritual emergencies.

Online therapy: Options and limits for psychosis care

Some people may avoid in-person therapy due to their symptoms or barriers like financial challenges. In these cases, online platforms like BetterHelp may be more feasible. Online therapy platforms typically enable you to choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions and connect with a therapist on your schedule. In addition, you can attend therapy from your home or any location with an internet connection. 

According to a 2021 study, “Emerging evidence suggests that Internet-based interventions for people with psychosis are feasible and efficacious.” The study further noted that individuals who actively participated in an online intervention tended to experience reduced delusion severity after treatment. Online therapy may be helpful for individuals who have previously experienced spiritual psychosis, but online therapy is not a replacement for crisis services, and those currently experiencing acute psychotic symptoms may need to seek in-person care.