Spirituality in mental health

"Let your faith be bigger than your fear."

 I am sure you might be questioning why I am not writing about medicine,

psychiatric disorders or treatment? Why spirituality?

Over the years of seeing patients, treating them for different illnesses,

I have realized that no matter what medicine you use or which diagnosis

you give, mind-body connection, faith and spirituality play a very

important role in anyone's emotional well being.  The moment you see

your patient, if he/she has faith in you as a physician or faith in life in

general,  there are more chances of getting a positive response, no matter

what treatment you recommend! It's a fact! No wonder the placebo effect works

sometimes!!

Why is spirituality important?

People in general who have faith or spiritual belief usually have a positive attitude towards life in general and that also helps them to get a positive response from the situation. 

There are studies in which people who have a faith in spiritual and/or religious belief did cope better

than others for mental health issues. 

I personally think being spiritual is more important than being religious.  

"Spirituality doesn't come from religion, 

                                          It comes from our soul."

So what is Spirituality?

So this is the google definition:

“ Spirituality means the way you look at the world and how you make sense of your place in it.”

It can include faith or religion, belief, values and “sense of being”. It 

depends on personal preference of how you want to practice spirituality 

for a sense of well being and having an inner peace.

What are the examples of spirituality?

• Prayers
• Meditation
• Miracles
• Visualizations
• Dreams

Growing up we all have come across experiencing spiritual life around us but

never tried to find out why we do it and what is the purpose of it. I have experienced a life where my

grandfather used to have a daily meditation routine, rituals of pooja, chanting mantra and as a child, I didn't know the importance of doing that but I still remember finding it peaceful! I do think people have to have positive or negative  experiences in life to reflect upon to become spiritual and only then will your soul figure out how to connect with the world you are surrounded by. You don't have to be a "monk" to be spiritual. In our everyday life, you can find ways to connect with the world- seeing life in everything and how to treasure and appreciate what we are part of and that is larger than life. 

Spirituality and purpose of life: 

Sometimes people don't know their purpose of life. How do you help someone to find purpose in life? You can’t. I believe either your soul knows what you

are born to do or life experiences teach you what makes you happy and be peaceful. In general

if you are doing any work that is helpful to others, it gives a lot of meaning to your life. 

People who do know the purpose of their life, do find their life meaningful and that brings happiness and peace.  If you have no purpose in life then you are on a wrong path of spirituality!

So ask yourself:

• Do you love your work?
• Do you find meaning in what you do?
• Is it helpful to others?
• At the end of the day do you feel that you have helped someone in need?
• Do you look forward to your day?
  

 What does science say?

Religious involvement and having spiritual life are associated with better health outcomes, including long

life, coping skills and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety,

depression and suicide.

Several studies have shown that addressing the spiritual needs of the patient may enhance recovery from

illness. Meditation has been helpful in chronic pain.

Neurological changes by spirituality/meditation:

Studies have shown that brain regions associated with attention, interoception and sensory processing like the prefrontal cortex and right anterior insula were thicker in meditation practitioners in comparison with matched controls.
The prefrontal cortical thickness was most pronounced in older participants,

suggesting that meditation probably offsets age-related cortical thinning.

Effect on Neurotransmitters:

Spiritual practices can have considerable antidepressant effects due to the associated increase in serotonin and dopamine. Additional factors like increased levels of melatonin contribute to having better sleep. There is an observed increase of β-endorphin as also NMDA receptor antagonism during meditation, both of which have antidepressant effects. The decreased level of
stress hormones also plays an important role in allaying.

Take home message:

If you are spiritual, then your view of the world could be very different.  Those who are able to see

positive things around them ,being hopeful about the situation/work or being able to turn something

negative to something positive can have a better emotional well being. 

 So keep meditating and be mindful!!!

Picture of the week

Quote of the week

"No One Who does good work will ever come to a bad end, 

either here or in the world to come"

- Bhagvad Gita

Photography - Yogesh Goswami, MD