The Intersection of Psychiatry and Spirituality: A Personal Reflection
In today’s world, navigating the complexities of mental health can often lead to perplexing experiences that blur the lines between perceived reality and established psychiatric diagnoses. As someone who has grappled with severe mental illness (SMI), my journey through the mental health system has raised profound questions about the nature of sanity, spirituality, and the societal constructs surrounding both.
At the young age of 20, I received a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder from a professional within a mental health institution. This was based on a misunderstanding of my experiences, particularly when I expressed my conviction that I could communicate with God. This belief, deeply rooted in my Catholic upbringing, has always resonated within me. The very foundations of my faith include the notion of divine intercession—a concept that seems to confound psychiatric standards. In the eyes of modern psychiatry, only those who conform to a specific definition of reality are deemed “sane,” while others are labelled as delusional.
Throughout my life, I have endured multiple hospitalizations—as many as ten times. In different cultural contexts around the world, my experiences might have been celebrated as spiritual awakenings rather than pathologized as symptoms of madness. Historically, individuals with my experiences may have been considered shamans or prophets. This dichotomy invites a broader discussion about how society interprets and responds to phenomena that fall outside conventional understanding.
My exploration of spirituality took a new turn when I discovered tarot cards in late 2019. While my Catholic faith taught me to regard such practices with skepticism, I was struck by the accuracy some tarot readers seemed to possess. It raised a pivotal question: If seeking truth is inherently valuable, why are certain methods deemed unacceptable? This tension between established religious doctrine and emerging spiritual practices has sparked many introspective moments in my faith journey.
In a quest for guidance and clarity, I frequently attended church, believing that divine communication was a source of protection against the intrusive thoughts that plagued me. I found solace in specific biblical passages, recognizing patterns in my life—like the recurrent number 77—that felt like signs during troubling times. Such synchronicities, which many now refer to as “angel numbers” in various spiritual communities, were dismissed by mental health professionals as mere delusions.
Despite my struggles, I’ve encountered others who share similar experiences. In psychiatric settings, I’ve met individuals who possess remarkable abilities to perceive thoughts or communicate in ways that defy explanation. Far from being isolated instances
