It has dawn on me, as I embarked on the journey of professional development in the field of mental health, that my passion and therefore specialty lies in “spiritual struggle.” I have not been able to declare this before because, paradoxically, it was too obvious to me. Only as I stepped into the professional field did I realize that it took a few pioneering scholars their whole lives to make “spiritual struggle” a thing. And only upon such realization could I begin to articulate my take on it. I guess “all living is meeting” - without the other there is no “I.” Although I cannot help getting frustrated at the field for being so slow to recognize the obvious, I have to thank them for helping me find myself.
Let me share with you the result of my initial articulation:
What is Spiritual Struggle?
Spiritual struggle means tension, conflict, or strain of the spiritual kind. What, then, count as “spiritual”? There are three directions this can go:
First, “spiritual” may relate to existing religious traditions. This kind of spiritual struggle is often expressed in religious language. For example, one may struggle with his/her relationship with “God," questioning at His “divine plan,” and wondering whether such doubt amounts to “sin." Many psychologist-philosophers have considered the religious experience underlying established religions and came up with the concept of the numinous, which describes the mysterious aspect of life that defies rational understanding and inspires awe and dread at the same time. They therefore contend that “spiritual struggles” are issues related to anything people hold sacred.
The second interpretation renders “spiritual” synonymous as “supernatural,” which may refer to anything related to spirits, astrology, divination, psychic abilities, paranormal phenomenon, mystical experiences etc. This form of spirituality is commonly known as occultism owing to the obscure nature of the supernatural realm. I would say this kind of “spiritual struggle” is not of our concern here as most people with supernatural problems resort to supernatural solutions anyway.
The third interpretation, the most relevant one, understands "spiritual" as the spiritual dimension of human existence, independent of religious affiliation. It refers to the immaterial, free and creative dimension of our being, contributing to our worldview and identity. In this sense, spiritual struggle involves grappling with life’s deepest concerns and biggest questions: Who am I? Why am I here? How should I live my life? What is my purpose? Are people or the world inherently good or evil? What is real? Am I alone in the universe? Do I have control over my destiny? How do I make sense of injustice and suffering? Rather than “sacredness," this more neutral understanding of "spiritual" emphasizes qualities of ultimacy, depth, transcendence, boundlessness, profoundness, and timelessness.
How is Spiritual Struggle Different from Psychological Distress and Mental Illness?
Psychological distress simply means negative cognitive, affective and behavioral patterns. A lot of people go to therapy because they “feel bad.” However, beyond mere sadness, anger and anxiety, a personal struggling spiritually also suffers a sense of disorientation, meaninglessness, emptiness, hopelessness, powerlessness etc. In other words, spiritual struggle involves pain experienced at the soul level, not just the emotional level.
Psychological distress is a common to both spiritual struggle and mental illness. From a philosophical perspective, this distress is itself only a peripheral symptom of a more central problem—one that is moral, existential, and spiritual in nature, much like a fever is a sign of an underlying infection. The point, therefore, is not to eliminate psychological symptoms, but to deal with the underlying spiritual struggle which may serves as an opportunity for growth and transformation. However, if an individual is unable to find a path toward growth, this distress can solidify into a persistent, maladaptive compulsivity, ultimately leading to mental illness.
When and How Does Spiritual Struggle Happen? What Are the Causes?
Spiritual struggle occurs when one’s worldview and identity break down, either abruptly or gradually, leading to a loss of ability to make sense where life appears to have lost its meaning. This breakdown may occur abruptly due to dramatic changes in circumstances that overwhelm one's capacity to comprehend. For example, it could be a traumatic event or a major life transition, such as the death of a loved one and emigration. Alternatively, they may break down gradually as one’s career or marriage become increasingly unfulfilling. In this later case where there is no external interruption, the causes of spiritual struggle may simply be that one’s life goals, as shaped by one’s worldview and identity, are inauthentic or too shallow.
Carl Jung once brilliantly said, “the causes (sources) of neurosis were always present, but had no pathological effect until a disturbance of the conscious attitude set in.” Arguing against Freud, he said that “when conscious life has lost its meaning and promise, it is as though a panic had broken loose and we heart the exclamation: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ It is this mood, born of the meaninglessness of life, that causes the disturbance in the unconscious and provokes the painfully curbed impulses to break out anew.”
What this means is, when one’s "conscious attitude," i.e. worldview and identity, remains intact and whole, instinctual impulses and psychological distress resides within a governable sphere of consciousness and do not esculate into crisis. It is only when this “conscious attitude” breaks down,
a person loses the ability to make sense that negative emotions become problematic. When faced with life's unexpected challenges, the individual's conscious attitude is initially shaken - he/she is prevented from making sense in the usual way and is confused about what to do. At this stage, this person is said to be in the midst of a spiritual struggle.
Those who successfully overcome adversity either possess a vital attitude or manage to repair, grow, and strengthen their worldview and identity. In contrast, individuals who fail to adapt remain in a state of disorientation and brokenness, which manifest as constant psychological distress that one cannot seem to resolve on his/her own. In this light, we can say that behind every complaint that is brought to the therapist’s attention is spiritual struggle, if we dig deep enough.
Who May Be Afflicted by Spiritual Struggles?
Anyone.
Spiritual struggles are not limited to those with explicit religious or spiritual beliefs. Atheists, Agnostics and non-religious individuals are equally susceptible to spiritual struggle, since, as explained above, the word “spiritual” refers to the spiritual dimension of our existence - the deepest core and the furthest edge of our being. This dimension is universal to everyone, whether or not we have a religious outlook; it is there, even if we are distract ourselves from it with mundane trivialities.
Life is so full of uncertainty and mystery. It can happen to anyone, anytime, that life challenges the limits of our worldview and identity, forcing us to transcend old conditioning and "upgrade" ourselves.
An interesting observation is that spiritual struggle appears to be more common in adults than in children. This could be because a child’s worldview and sense of identity are not yet fully developed, and thus not susceptible to the kind of breakdown adults experience. For children, trauma may act as an obstacle to the formation of a complete identity and worldview, leaving them in a chronic state of unspoken (unconscious or inarticulate) brokenness, manifesting primarily as psychological distress in the context of developmental problem rather than a full-blown spiritual crisis.
Quiz: Am I Having Spiritual Struggle?
Do you feel like the issue at hand challenges your values and who you think you are?
Have your core beliefs been shaken?
Are you questioning the nature of the Higher Presence or your relationship with the Higher Presence?
Do you feel like what you see in reality does not match what you once believed?
Have you been asking “why” in your struggle?
Do you feel a deep sense of longing for something or searching for answers, yet nothing satisfies you?
Do you feel as though the practices you once believed in no longer provide comfort, meaning, or guidance?
Do you feel a sense of emptiness, hopelessness, or meaninglessness despite having external success or stability?
Do you feel like you have lost faith or trust in the world or people in general?
Are you troubled by injustice?
Are you experiencing inner conflict between what you feel and what you think you should feel or do?
Are you experiencing guilt or regret regarding the past decisions you have made?
Do you feel loss or stuck?
Do you feel disconnected or isolated from others, even when surrounded by people?
Do you feel violated?
Do you feel like you’re being punished?
Do you feel like your world is falling apart?
Are you worried about how your choices affect who you will become?
If you answer “yes” for any of the above questions, it’s likely that you’re having spiritual struggle.
What Can I Do If I Have Spiritual Struggle?
First of all, you can sit with it. If you can manage it without causing too much harm to yourself or others, there's a good chance you'll get through it soon. How long is "soon"? A month? Six months? A year? Six years? Only God knows.
I wish I could recommend seeking professional support, but unfortunately, most mental health professionals are poorly equipped to address spiritual struggles. Many are reluctant to address spiritual issues because they insist that psychology must remain "scientific." While some do recognize the role of spirituality in mental health, very few have received any formal training in this area. Although research has shown the undeniable significance of spiritual struggle in mental health, educational institutions have been slow to adapt. As a result, there will likely be a shortage of professionals qualified to help with spiritual issues in the near future.
That said, both spiritually-integrated psychotherapy (SIP) and philosophical counselling are emerging fields, though still in their early stages. However, I feel that neither approach alone is entirely sufficient. On the one hand, spiritual struggles are often deeply intertwined with moral and existential issues that SIP therapists may not be adept to deal with. On the other hand, these struggles are often accompanied with profound psychological distress that philosophical counsellors may not be proficient at handling. So, what can I say? Ideally, you would want to speak with someone trained in both areas.
Of course, the best approach ultimately depends on the nature of your struggle. If your issue leans more toward a moral dilemma and you're looking for new perspectives, a philosophical counsellor would be a good fit. If you're experiencing intense emotions alongside your spiritual struggle and are looking for comfort and emotional regulation, a SIP therapist may be more appropriate.
My intention with this blog post is simply to raise awareness of spiritual struggle, particularly its unique place in one’s life and in the mental health field, so that people can make a more informed decision when searching for the right therapist.
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