Attaining a spiritual awakening is not always a smooth journey. You may sink into unexpected depression right after achieving your deep awakening. It is a spiritual emergency that can make you feel like your world is falling apart.
How did you get there in the first place? In this article, we discuss what spiritual emergency is all about. Later on, we shall list the common signs of this crisis and what you can do to overcome it. Sounds interesting? Read on.
What Is Spiritual Emergency?
Spiritual emergency or crisis is a phase in your spiritual journey whereby the awakening is too fast for you to comprehend. And, instead of growth, you sink into a severe depression. Spiritual awakening can be overwhelming to your body and mind, leading to a lot of physical, social, and psychological problems.
What Triggers Spiritual Emergency
A spiritual emergency may follow a life-changing event like the loss of a loved one, a serious accident, or an illness. Many people attribute the crisis to the following:
- Do you have a gifted personality? Your spiritual enlightenment may lead to discovering forces in your unconscious mind you never knew existed.
- Could it be past karma? Yes, some people believe that an unresolved trauma from your past life can crop up in your present life as a spiritual crisis.
- Do you have strong beliefs about society or your immediate family? They may divert your awakening process into a crisis.
- Are you an empath? Anyone oversensitive to others and their surroundings is more likely to slip into the crisis.
Misdiagnosis
A spiritual crisis may cause you to behave or experience things contrary to the norm. For example, how you see, feel, or respond to your environment becomes “odd” to others. From afar, you seem to be going through a psychotic episode, manic depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Yet, that is never the case.
Next, your friends or loved ones may start seeking medical help for this crisis. Due to a misdiagnosis, you may end up confined to a mental health ward for weeks or months. Or, a doctor may subject you to high doses of medication that wreak havoc on your body for the rest of your life. Indeed, this sad turn of events may become your new reality.
Now, some symptoms of the crisis may respond to drugs for a mental illness. But, if the root cause of the crisis remains, you may become dependent on drugs indefinitely. So, if you suspect that you are going through a spiritual emergency, use these steps to get help:
#1: Join a support group
Such networks create a safe environment where you can express your feelings without getting judged. For sure, the crisis can make you feel like your world is falling apart. But, having a place where your experiences are validated and accepted will facilitate your healing and spiritual growth.
#2: Empower yourself with knowledge
When you understand what you are going through, you will react better to any triggers of depression.
#3: See a therapist
If the above doesn’t work, you might need help from a professional.
The Common Signs of Spiritual Emergency
Now that we know some possible triggers and misconceptions about the crisis, here is a summary of the common signs of spiritual emergency:
#1: Oversensitivity
Sounds, lights, social media, or any other source of sensation may overwhelm you. And, you may also hear sounds, smell or feel things that those around you never notice.
#2: Unexplained Physical Sensations
There are spontaneous or involuntary flushes of hotness, coldness, or electric current-like energy rushing through your body.
#3: Disrupted Cognitive Functions
You may struggle to make decisions, recall things, or think logically. Likewise, you lack a sense of time or forget how you got where you are at any given moment. Losing your sense of self can trigger inner conflict. In turn, you may shy away from society, and spend most of your time feeling lonely.
#4: Overwhelming Memories, Intuitions, Visions, and Dreams
For example, you may experience vivid out-of-body encounters, hear voices, see visions or feel spirits around you, sense other person’s energies and emotions, and undergo a telepathic experience. These visions, hallucinations, and dreams may or may not have a clear trigger point, making it confusing to you.
#5: Heightened or Impaired Sense of Expression
If you are a shy person, a sudden loss of inhibition may prompt you to explore your body’s limitations, to the point of self-harm. Likewise, you become carefree with money. In a family setup, you may also reduce the interactions with your extended family. Similarly, others develop eating obsessions or not eating at all.
#6: Loss of Interest in Daily Routines
For example, you may lose interest in going to work, school, or taking care of your favorite pet. Your moods become erratic. One time you have excessive energy and the next day you wake up completely drained. It becomes hard pinpointing the reasons why you have such mood swings.
#7: A Feeling That You Are Going Mad
Even your family and friends may say you are going crazy. But, deep down you know you are normal. And, you are yearning to find an explanation so that you can get validation.
#8: You Have a Medical Illness with No Known Cause
You may hop from hospital to hospital trying to treat a medical condition with no clear diagnosis.
#9: Ego-Inflation
Suddenly, you feel like you are a reincarnation of some enlightened figure.
#10: Disrupted Sleeping Patterns with Regular Nightmares
You can’t sleep continuously at night without screaming or sweating in between.
Coping Mechanisms
Most of the symptoms above have no logical explanation. Consequently, you may get anxious, depressed, or afraid for weeks, or months, or have overwhelming love and unity for others. Here are some coping tips you can use:
- Embrace your vulnerability
- Seek a therapist or support group as a safe environment to share your experiences
- Avoid stimulants
- Practice deep breathing
- Focus on self-care
- Know your limits and avoid stressful situations
- Minimize any spiritual practices
- Focus on a meaningful relationship, keep off stressful interactions
- If on medication, get clinical guidance before reducing or stopping them
Conclusion
Spiritual emergency experiences vary from one person to another. However, there are common signs you can observe to understand what is happening. Then, if you sense that you are in the middle of a crisis, remember that help is available. There are support networks ready to walk with you through the crisis, by providing you with all the resources you need.