Spirituality and it's contribution to mental health

Spirituality and it's contribution to mental health

By Orion on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 12:37pm |

URL:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-insights-new-world/202208/spirituality-and-its-contribution-mental-health

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Sure, as long as the 'spirituality' is not caused by the mental illness itself. This reminded me that many 'mystics', 'seers" and 'saints', as well as cult leaders, of history were probably schizophrenics:

Severe mental illness, such as full-on schizophrenia, is terrifying. I've seen it tear through two people in my circle, and it seems almost like some sort of divine curse. Your brain just spews pure nonsense at you, and there's nothing you can consciously do about it.
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) August 6, 2022

A friend in grad school described his first schizophrenic break: he thought he was a tree, had roots connecting him to the earth, and his role in life was swaying and soaking up the sun. This was someone who was doing a physics doctorate...who occasionally thought he was a tree.
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) August 6, 2022

(He was medicated and seemed to have it mostly under control when I knew him.)

But still...the thought your very being falls prey to deranged thoughts you can't control. And it arrives one day in adulthood with no warning.
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) August 6, 2022

In Naser's A Beautiful Mind' about brilliant academic John Nash who succumbed to schizophrenia, she quotes him: I'm often asked how such a smart person could believe such nonsense...and the same voice that gave me my brilliant ideas told me all the wild stuff, so I listened.
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) August 6, 2022

It’s even worse when it takes on a religious flavor. I had a close friend suddenly recruit me for a messianic quest involving the spacetime continuum. There is nothing you can Google that can make you feel remotely prepared to deal with it.
— Frank Fusco (@frankafusco) August 6, 2022

There is pretty compelling evidence that Cannabis *at least* hastens the onset of schizophrenia in vulnerable people (and outcomes are worse the earlier the onset).
— Burr Shot First (@ToEmisser) August 7, 2022

In some cases, after the episode ends, the person is left completely broken. Some make it back, but others just don’t. And then you lose them even though they’re in a completely lucid, though deeply depressed state.

Just horrible. What a cruel illness.
— Lee Edwards (@terronk) August 6, 2022

Horrifying, like a fire raging through the forest of someone's mind. I have strong sense memory of that terrible moment when you realize that someone's reasoning ability to be in reality has gotten away from them
— RonenNYC (@RonenV) August 6, 2022

I for one am still totally convinced that like 75% of what is diagnosed as mental illness is due to some type of "chemical' imbalance. We just don't know what it is yet and it is no doubt far more complex than most current neuroscientists understand.

by artappraiser on Tue, 08/09/2022 - 5:00pm

You could also, as alternative, join a community men's club and dance:

If I could choose to be around any demographic of black men it would be them pic.twitter.com/tlx3gcnfAe
— church gorl (@rebelxmae) June 8, 2022

watching it makes me feel safe
— church gorl (@rebelxmae) June 9, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 08/09/2022 - 4:47pm

p.s. I think it's very likely many non-pharmaceutical solutions to mental health problems are basically "chemical" in nature as well, it's just that they work like bio-feedback works. I.E., working out at the gym makes me feel less depressed - that's 'chemicals' being summoned to your brain. Same thing with prayer, religious rituals, meditation...

by artappraiser on Tue, 08/09/2022 - 4:52pm

I was going to add this other point before but didn't get around to it. Psychologists say that but today's news offers a reminder that the historical record for religion is not that exceptionally positive as regards the health of the human race:

This Salman Rushdie quote hits hard today. pic.twitter.com/Rd2y3a4SRY
— laney (@laneymakesstuff) August 12, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 08/12/2022 - 7:49pm

You will see where this is going. It's not what you think.

by Orion on Mon, 08/15/2022 - 3:13am

Spirituality and it's contribution to mental health

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