![]() ![]() The difference between awakening and depression.Ī mental health professional I interviewed about her journey through the dark night of the soul shared the difference between awakening and depression: “I had a history of depression and knew what it felt like. ![]() Why is that number so high? She shares that antidepressants are “used as a palliative for life, and while they improve the symptoms of low mood, they don’t treat the root cause of the distress” (p. Miller explains that amongst middle-aged American women aged forty to fifty-nine, 23 percent take antidepressants. Sensed through our inner wisdom, this kind of depression – whether at a ripe life stage such as adolescence or midlife or in response to struggle or trauma – beckons us into a lifetime of awakening” (p. Miller explains that there appear to be many different types of “so-called depression” and that developmental depression is a “call from the soul.” It’s a “spiritual invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and open into dialogue with the sacred universe. Lisa Miller, the founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, explains, “This form of depression is very often a knock at the door as part of a spiritual quest.” In her book, The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and our Quest for an Inspired Life, Dr. And from a traditional psychological perspective, this may be diagnosed as depression – a form of mental illness rather than a spiritual impulse and something new that needs to emerge.ĭr. From a spiritual perspective, this is part of the awakening process. ![]() Some believe the soul withdraws energy from things not meant for us. She was going through this “ dark night of the soul” to become more fully her true self ultimately. Maybe her soul was sending her a message that she wasn’t being true to herself and needed to find the courage to look inward to connect with herself and make some outer changes. She felt depressed and anxious.Īfter reflection, this young woman had an epiphany- perhaps she wasn’t depressed. Her focus on others at the expense of herself and the suppression of her true feelings had diminished her life force energy. ![]() Her personality, combined with conditioning with messages about what it means to be a “good” woman, had become a prison for her. The ancient wisdom teachings point to the idea that there’s a difference between our conditioned self and our true self that our soul energizes. She was confused about the cause of her inner turmoil and wasn’t aware that we have a dual nature. She needed to pause, align with herself, and create the courage to make much-needed changes. She was experiencing the signs arising from her soul that she wasn’t living in the right relationship with herself. My client was beginning to feel the pull of her soul and the deeper truths of her true self. I truly believe I am not in touch with myself and believe it is the reason for countless poor choices in friendships and relationships.” Use disconnection as a doorway to awakening. She put it this way, “My biggest frustration is feeling like I am not connected within – that I am two separate people, what I think, what I feel. She felt an inner tug of war between following her path and meeting the expectations of others and the societal norms that have given her the message that her happiness would be hinged on material success, getting married, and having children. This woman was experiencing the inner conflict and turmoil that often accompanies the spiritual awakening process, a transition referred to as a “ dark night of the soul.”Īs her story unfolded, she told me she had no idea who she was and felt disconnected. What we uncovered as the session progressed surprised both of us. She wanted to feel more peaceful inside, and her counsellor recommended meditation. When I asked her why she wanted to learn to meditate, she shared that she’d been experiencing mild anxiety and depression for some time. I was teaching a young woman how to meditate and wondered whether her depression was the beginning of a spiritual awakening. Is this depression Or Signs Of A Spiritual Awakening? ![]()
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