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Spirituality and Mental Health

Benefits of Spirituality in Mental Health Care.

Spirituality and psychiatry on the face of it, they look very different and diverse, and seems as two different sides of a same river. But, in reality, spirituality can help us to regain status of our mental health. For this exercise, there is no requirement to hold a formal religious belief, to take part in religious practices or belong to an established faith tradition for experiencing spirituality.


What is Spirituality ? 

There is no straight forward definition or one line defining statement of spirituality. But in general meaning and sense, we can understand spirituality by the following things :

1) Spirituality is something everyone can experience.

2) Spirituality helps us to find meaning and purpose in the things we value.

3) Spirituality can bring new hopes and healing waves in the times of loss and suffering.

4) Spirituality encourages us to seek the best with ourselves, family members, friends and peers.

The experiences are the part of the human life and they are important for people who are suffering with various mental health issues such as intellectual disability, anxiety, depression, dementia, head injury and many more to count. In the situation or state of emotional stress, physical and mental illness, loss, bereavement and even at the time of approaching death.
All health cares are meant for relieving pain and curing but a good healthy condition requires something more. The something more is spirituality and spirituality focuses on the healing of the person, not only about the disease. It views life as an ongoing journey, where good and bad experiences can help you to learn, develop and mature.



How is Spirituality different from Religion ? 

Religious rituals and traditions certainly include individual spirituality which is universal in nature. But each religion has its own distinct and diverse community based worship, beliefs, sacred texts and traditions. Spirituality is not necessarily linked or tied to any particular religious beliefs or traditions. Although, beliefs and cultures can play a vital part in spirituality, every person has their own personal and unique experience of spirituality. Spirituality also highlights the connection of different people with the World.

What is Spiritual Health Care ?

People with mental health disorders have said that they want following things by the path of the Spirituality :

1) To feel safe and secure.

2) To be treated with dignity and respect.

3) To feel that they belong to somewhere and, are valued and trusted.

4) Time to express feelings to mental health carers.

5) Meaningful activity such as creative art, work or enjoying nature.

6) The chance to make sense of their life, including illness and loss.

7) Permission or support to develop their relationship with God or the Almighty.

Someone with a religious beliefs may need the following things :

1) A time, a place and privacy in their prayers and worships.

2) The chance to explore spiritual concerns.

3) To be reassured that the psychiatrist will respect their faith and ideology.

4) Encouragement to deepen their faith.

5) Sometimes, to be helped with forgiveness. 

What difference can Spirituality make ?

Patients revealed that they have gained the following things from the Spirituality :

1) They have better self-confidence, self- control and self-esteem.

2) They have easier and faster recovery, often through healthy grieving of losses and through recognizing their strengths.

3) They have better relationships with oneself, family members, friends and even with God, creation and nature.

4) A new sense of meaning, hope and peace of mind.

Spiritual Practices - There are wide ranges of spiritual practices, ranging from religious to non-religious. Some of the prominent spiritual practices are as follows :

1) You may belong to any faith or tradition and can take part in services or other activities with other people.

2) Reading holy scriptures and texts.

3) Someone can visit pilgrimage and retreats.

4) People can take part in rituals, symbolic practices and other forms of worship.

5) People can follow practices and traditions of various forms of Yoga, Tai Chi and similar disciplined practices.

6) People can increase their time spending on nature.

7) You can spend time in reading poems, literature, story books and novels.

8) You can be creative and take participation in painting, sculpture, clay making, cooking and gardening.

9) You can listen various things such as devotional songs, hymns, psalms and songs.

10) You can also play team sports or other sporting activities.

Spiritual values and skills - Spiritual practices can be helpful for developing the better self of one. They can help us to become more calm, creative, honest, hopeful, innovative, joyful, kind and more compassionate. These are all part of the best mental health care.
Spiritual skills can be included as the following :

1) One can be able and honest to oneself/yourself as others see himself/herself.

2) You can be able to stay focused in the present, to be alert, unhurried and attentive.

3) You can be able to do rest, relax and create a still, and peaceful state of mind.

4) You can develop a deeper sense of empathy for others.

5) You can develop the capacity for forgiveness.

6) You can learn to able be with someone who is suffering, while still being hopeful.

7) You can be able to do better judgment, for example, about when to speak or act, and when to remain silent or do nothing.

8) You can be able to grieve and let it go.

How to start Spirituality ?

Spirituality is deeply personal. It can discover person's best potential. A three part daily routine can be helpful :

1) A regular quiet time such as meditation, prayer or reflection.

2) The study of religious and/or spiritual material.

3) For making supportive friendships with others with similar spiritual and/or religious aims and aspirations.

There are wide range of religious organizations which are offering various spiritual practices and traditions. Now a days, spiritual activities are becoming popular and easily available for people. For example, many complementary therapies have a holistic element or spiritual that is not part of any religion.

Source :
www.rcpsych.ac.uk    

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