Disclaimer:

It is essential to understand that spirituality and religion is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment and should be viewed as complementary approach to support mental well-being. The knowledge of the subject is based on the author’s experience while suffering from mental health issues.

 A lot of us think Religion and Spirituality are the same due to the complexity of the subject itself. This makes people confused about how spirituality can help us with Mental Health Even though they lead you towards a similar purpose, the ways are different ways. Both approaches can be beneficial for mental well-being depending on individual core values & beliefs and what closely resonates with them.

This blog is going to be about how Religion and spirituality can help your mental health when you go through rough patches in life. This age-old wisdom passed on by the sages has some deep scientific mysteries that we have overlooked to be just some random religious practices. The only way to decode them is through self-experience and unleashing your inner wisdom through Spiritual practices.

What we are living today is a Half-baked life, we think we have advanced to a level where we can reach the skies. But as Sadhguru puts it rightly, We are operating without knowing our user manual of this complex machine called “Human being”.Until we master this “Inner Engineering “we cannot master to our fullest potential in any area of life.

While researching this subject I came across this impactful Ted Talk  speech given by Fr. Nicholas based on how Religion can be helpful as a complementary approach to mental health to give answers to certain existential questions that help us make sense of things and accept the situation in hand gracefully. This might resonate with people who closely relate to Religious practices.

Note: Please do not take this info as a replacement for Mental health issues. It is just one of the complementary approaches that can help you with your mental health issues. All people have unique genetics with different values and tolerance levels, hence The best way to treat mental health issues is an integrative holistic approach consciously depending on the intensity of the situation one is going through. 

For ages we have been influenced by Religion which has driven us to believe and have faith in a higher power. Philosophy and spirituality were discovered later when people started having deeper questions about life and human existence. Hence it is different from everyone’s experience.

For me, both religious practices and Spirituality helped me elevate my mental well-being throughout the lows and highs of my life experiences. From what I have understood through my experiences religion is a tool to lead towards your spiritual journey. When you learn the logic through your own experiences you start understanding why people do certain rituals or traditions during conducting religious practices. The only difference is back then we never asked many questions and followed things blindly when you follow the same practices after knowing its benefits for your well-being we also start respecting the process as it starts making sense to us. 

So let’s understand the universal definition of spirituality 

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality can be expressed in a variety of ways as each experience is different and unique. The definition of spirituality is complex to describe as it has multi-faceted aspects and can be defined in many ways. It could involve a set of beliefs and values, a sense of connectedness to something higher than us.

Here I would like to borrow words from Meetu Bisht’s Book as I think her definition of spirituality is explained most rationally and logically which could make sense to a lot of us who are on the journey of seeking Spirituality 

“ Spirituality has no specific definition but rides on pure experimentation. It is the experimentation of our belief system through religion and philosophy through higher wisdom, which helps us strive for our higher self That is why spirituality can be best described as a way of life. It is discovering the suitable way of life for your spirit to thrive harmoniously on this planet.”

Now that we have understood Spirituality to the best let’s understand what is mental health 

What is Mental health?

“The World Health Organization (WHO) conceptualizes mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community”.

When do you think an individual recognizes their own abilities? or Achieve this level of equilibrium. When you nourish your mind with the right diet it will operate to its best potential. So where is this rich source of diet for Mental Health?

Our body and mind both need a good combination of diet, sleep, and exercise. Additionally, our mind needs a good diet of positive thoughts, regulating our emotions, trashing what is not required, self-reflecting, etc. To be frank none of us hardly do this as we don’t even consider that our mind needs any sort of nourishment. I feel if your mind is wounded badly apart from all the above practices it also needs deep healing, and that healing is given through spirituality or religion-based practices like praying or self-help books, love, and compassion from your loved ones.

It took me a mental illness, to come to this understanding before that even I was an ordinary person operating unconsciously without nourishing my mind rightly throughout my life. But it also made me realize the importance of Professional Help which I took at the right time as things had started worsening mentally. It felt such a relief after talking to the Psychiatrist who understood me so well. Without it, I don’t think I would have been able to achieve a neutral mental state back to normal feelings.

So please do not underestimate or feel embarrassed to get professional help at the right time. I feel proud of myself for taking the help at the right time. And I will continue taking it when things get worse or out of my control in my life.

Diving back to the topic of Spirituality 

Spirituality and Religion can have a powerful impact on mental health in myriad ways. It can help you deal with stress by helping you cleanse all the trash you have been carrying in your mind which releases cortisol hormones.

How can Spirituality and Religion help with your mental health?

In a world that constantly bombards us with challenges and problems, Spiritual Wellness acts as restoring the balance by borrowing much-needed energy and resilience with faith from the universe.

• Religion and Spirituality help you understand the deeper existential questions about human beings which no other knowledge or philosophy can answer deeply

• Spirituality helps you uplift your self-esteem through self-care, Self-control through practices, and confidence through self-exploring. When this happens one becomes resilient and unstoppable ready to face the world head-on on.
• Religions give us a sense of community, structure, moral guidance hope, and peace

• Spirituality helps us find the real logic behind the religious aspects which are none other than attached to one personal growth as a soul.

• Various spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, yoga, or mantra chanting can help you regulate your emotions and reduce feelings of anxiety.
• Spirituality helps you accept what is happening to you gracefully through your own internal GPS. Acceptance is the first door towards any healing, without acceptance healing is difficult to initiate.

• When a sense of Higher purpose is instilled through Inner guidance it keeps you alive and motivated always to keep going and gives you that inner fulfillment and strength to keep your hope burning.

• It helps us connect with nature deeply. When you start understanding the interconnectedness we share with nature we start spending more time in nature. In turn, it heals us unknowingly in numerous ways.

• When you know your soul food through self-exploration they help you keep sane the amidst any disturbing phase in your life.

Considering the chronic nature of mental illnesses many people lose hope to live with this condition throughout their lives as it affects their self-image and identity. But during the same phase, if guided rightly through how Spirituality can help us stay mentally fit, we can help people rebuild hope, resilience, and faith that they will be taken care of by the universe or a higher force. This realization itself acts as a placebo effect on many.

Spirituality helps you answer those existential questions about life, and death & karma which helps us accept our current situation with grace and acceptance and eventually make peace with ourselves 

Jill Sylvester, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, explains “I believe that when a person aligns with a form of spirituality, whether that be church, temple, nature, or meditation, it becomes the guiding force for their life”. When it acts as a guiding force you no longer feel lonely and left out.Spirituality helps you transform the quality of your mind to the next level.

There are many variables when it comes to mental health issues, Few need instant medication support whereas some need therapy and medicine combo, Few might benefit from spiritual engagement. We all are different and react and respond differently to different treatments do what works best for you, understanding the intensity of your mental health at that particular time. For me Spirituality works as the most sustainable and long-term solution to sort out our in-between low phases where you think you can handle yourself with the support of divine guidance.

When it comes to treating mental health it is difficult to measure what must have worked hence adopting a Holistic Approach approach is required here. Making your own experiences as proof of healing will guide you further toward other modes of healing and treatment that work best for your type. It helps us build resilience as we learn to understand life in its raw way and learn to accept everything will keep changing, when we learn to accept things the way they are. Our rich traditional and religious practices promote a sense of belongingness and when you feel a part of the community you don’t feel alone.

It is essential to understand that spirituality is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment and should be viewed as a complementary approach to support mental well-being.

The relationship between spirituality and mental health is complex and delicate. One needs to have an open mind without attaching any meanings to it based on one’s religious belief. The whole effort is to how you use various spiritual practices to support good mental health with a strong foundation to stabilize to cope with present-day stress and pressures.

Overall, spirituality helps you build a sense of purpose in life and helps you rebuild faith, hope, and a sense of community. It introduces us to the laws of the universe and karma that help us understand the deeper meaning behind our existence. It encourages imbibing qualities like kindness. Compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude help us resolve our conflicts in our minds eventually. When you realize your nonmaterial identity the outer factors don’t matter much as we remain in peace with ourselves. 

Spirituality and Personal Development books are my two strong hands that have supported my genetic mental health issues. They have acted as pillars of support and strength when I had no one to lean on. Sometimes though you take professional help, mental illness healing can be a lonely journey. Personal development can act as your external compass and Spirituality can act as your internal compass to make this stressful journey smooth and fulfilled. 

Recovering mental illness ness is like a partnership between doctor and patient we both have to equally put in the effort to see the results by applying an integrative approach as each patient is different when it comes to personal beliefs and approach.

There is no use of meds if you don’t accept the illness or make efforts to heal your past or future worries. The waste inside your mind can be only reprogrammed through your self-efforts. The journey of self-discovery is unique for each one of us. The key lies in the path that aligns with your circumstances and resonates with your soul. It is all about discovering the power of crafting your journey through your inner GPS. And implementing it as a way of your lifestyle to live in harmony mentally, physically, and spiritually.