I am collecting material for a project on spiritual emergencies. Have you experienced one? If so, would you be willing to contact me and share your story? Everything will be kept confidential.
A spiritual crisis is defined as:
Spiritual crisis (also called “spiritual emergency”) is a form of identity crisis where an individual experiences drastic changes to their meaning system (i.e., their unique purposes, goals, values, attitude and beliefs, identity, and focus) typically because of a spontaneous spiritual experience. A spiritual crisis may cause significant disruption in psychological, social, and occupational functioning. Among the spiritual experiences thought to lead to episodes of spiritual crisis or spiritual emergency are psychiatric complications related to existential crisis, mystical experience, near-death experiences, Kundalini syndrome, paranormal experiences, religious ecstasy, or other spiritual practices.
A spiritual crisis or emergency can also happen when the “lid” is taken off unprocessed psychological material, perhaps following a retreat, spiritual or healing workshop, a period of more intense meditation and prayer, asking to “be shown what’s left”, or a spiritual opening or awakening. This can lead to an intense period of anxiety, despair, depression, confusion and disorientation, and overwhelm.
If any of this applies to you, please feel free to contact you. I promise you and your information will be treated with respect, kindnes, and confidentiality. I know from personal experience how raw we can feel when we are going through a spiritual crisis.