Navigating the Labyrinth of Spiritual Psychosis
When the lines between reality and your psyche get a little too blurred.
It’s time we discuss spiritual psychosis.
In the last six years, I have experienced things that have caused me to feel like I was losing my mind—and perhaps I was.
There were certain points of my spiritual journey where I felt incredibly isolated and afraid, both over what I was experiencing and over the fear that I may be completely crazy and lost all sense of reality.
This created a lot of distance and detachment from everyone around me. I couldn’t understand what I was experiencing, let alone try to explain it to anyone else. I was navigating a part of my psyche that frightened me—more than once—and wasn’t sure I’d ever make it back to solid ground.
Luckily, I was always guided somehow, and had friends by my side who I could confide in to help me find my footing without judging me or questioning my sanity.
I share that with you because this topic is a serious one, one that I can’t say I’m entirely qualified to speak on in a technical sense, but definitely a conversation I wish was talked about more openly so it can become less taboo.
I’m primarily going to share research on spiritual psychosis, but please digest everything with a discerning eye. If you feel this is something you’re experiencing, continue your own research. I know it can feel difficult to talk to someone about it, but with the right person, it can be incredibly helpful.
As always, my books are open if you need me.
What is Spiritual Psychosis?
Spiritual psychosis, sometimes referred to as a “spiritual emergency,” is a state where intense spiritual experiences overwhelm the psyche, leading to confusion, emotional instability, and a detachment from reality.
It’s not a diagnosis, but moreso a term used to describe a crisis that can arise during deep spiritual awakening or transformation.
This experience often blurs the line between profound spiritual insight and psychological distress, making it difficult to discern what is real and what stems from inner turmoil or imagination.
What Does Spiritual Psychosis Look Like?
Spiritual psychosis can manifest in a variety of ways, depending on your spiritual journey.
Some common signs include the following (and please note that some of these are common experiences within a spiritual awakening, however spiritual psychosis is marked by disruptions to daily life and functioning):
Heightened Sensitivity: Feeling overwhelmed by sensory input, emotions, or other people’s energy. This is a normal experience when your sensitivity is heightened, but can sometimes become too much that it leads to isolation.
Grandiose Thinking: Believing one is a chosen prophet, savior, or has a unique cosmic mission. While we all have a unique journey here connected to our individual soul growth, this usually stems from the ego hijacking your spiritual practice. Don’t feel bad. The Jesus complex is real on this journey.
Paranoia or Fear: Feeling persecuted by unseen forces, spirits, or external energies. Are you sure you’re being hexed and cursed or are you experiencing the consequences of your own actions? Again, discernment.
Altered Reality Perception: Hearing voices, seeing visions, or experiencing synchronicities that feel overwhelming.
Emotional Extremes: Oscillating between euphoria and despair. This can sometimes feel like constant manic episodes.
Disconnection: Feeling detached from the physical world or relationships, often accompanied by a loss of interest in daily responsibilities.
Physical Symptoms: Insomnia, rapid heart rate, or somatic manifestations of emotional distress.
Why Does Spiritual Psychosis Happen?
Spiritual psychosis often arises during or after significant spiritual practices or events, such as meditation retreats, Kundalini awakenings, psychedelic journeys, or deep shadow work.
Why? Well, sometimes your psyche is just unprepared. You may not be ready to process the intense spiritual revelations or energy shifts that you’re experiencing. Sometimes you experience a rapid awakening, and the sudden spiritual opening can overwhelm the nervous system and emotional body.
If you have unintegrated trauma, which many of us do, past emotional wounds or unresolved trauma can resurface, blending with spiritual insights and creating inner chaos.
There can also be energetic imbalances, especially with surges of spiritual energy, like Kundalini activations, which can disrupt your body’s natural equilibrium.
Lastly, the paradox of isolation. While it may seem natural to isolate (and perhaps at times you need to), sometimes it can exacerbate the feelings of disconnection. Grounding and a connection to community is vital.
How to Safely Navigate Spiritual Psychosis
If you or someone you know is experiencing spiritual psychosis, there are ways to navigate this challenging period with compassion and care.
Grounding is crucial. Focus on grounding activities like walking barefoot on the earth, mindful breathing, or spending time in nature. Incorporate physical routines such as yoga, exercise, or gardening to bring awareness back to the body.
During these experiences, you can get lost in the maze of your psyche and lose touch with the present moment, which is why these exercises help bring you back to your body and essentially, back to Earth.
Seeking professional support may be scary, but with the right person, it can be life-saving. I was afraid to talk to a therapist for the longest time, because I thought they would just strap a straitjacket on me and have me committed, but I was lucky enough to find a spiritually focused therapist at the time who spoke my language and never made me feel crazy for my experiences.
Consulting with a therapist or counselor who is trained in spiritual emergencies or psychology can be beneficial here. If necessary, work with a healthcare provider to ensure safety, especially if this becomes life-disrupting.
Community is key during spiritual awakenings. Yes, much of your journey may be spent in your cocoon, but it’s important that you peek out from time to time to connect.
Share your experiences with a trusted spiritual mentor, a friend, or a support group that understands spiritual processes. These connections help bring perspective and grounding (not to mention acknowledging and validating your experiences).
Discernment will be your best friend, and this takes time to sharpen. Use tools like journaling or meditation to differentiate between spiritual insights and fear-based thoughts.
Be cautious of interpretations that feed paranoia, such as grandiose or apocalyptic narratives. Challenge your mind when these things come up. What is the actual message behind this? Remember, the unconscious speaks in symbolism.
A spiritual awakening can feel like the Avengers have just summoned you and you’re about to morph into the superhero you always secretly knew you were, making this a really exciting journey that might entice you to dive into the deep end.
That’s great and all, but stay in the deep end for too long and you may find it difficult to find your way back to shore. Reduce or pause intense practices like meditation, energy work, or deep shadow work to allow your system time to stabilize.
This isn’t a race or a competition. It’s OK to take a break when you need to and reintroduce spiritual practices gently when you feel more balanced. Integrating what you’re receiving is just as important, if not more, to the practice.
You’ll need to embrace self-care through this process, which will include boundaries—both with yourself and others. Limit exposure to overwhelming stimuli, including social media, large crowds, or excessive spiritual content that may intensify confusion.
Eat nourishing foods, hydrate, and ensure you are getting adequate sleep. Engage in calming rituals like warm baths, soothing music, or aromatherapy. Go outside! Touch the grass! Hug a tree!
You may not always feel as though you are of this world, but you are still in it—and that’s a blessing, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
The Hidden Gift in the Chaos
While spiritual psychosis is challenging, it can mark a profound transformation.
It serves as a wake-up call, urging the individual to confront unintegrated aspects of their psyche and spiritual path. With the right support and care, this crisis can become a powerful turning point for deeper self-awareness, healing, and connection to the divine.
As I’ve said before, when we enter those dark periods of questioning everything to the point of forgetting the significance of life and wanting to just end it all—we’re actually experiencing a transformation that is requiring us to release an aspect of ourselves that is no longer in alignment.
If you’re not able to decipher that, of course it can feel super scary!
Spiritual psychosis is not a failure or a sign of weakness. It’s a call to slow down, integrate, and anchor your spiritual experiences into your earthly life. In every reading I’d get throughout my life, they’d always tell me, “You need to make sure to ground.”
I never understood why or what they meant. I’m a triple Earth sign, how much more grounded can I be? But then I got bitch-slapped by this experience (a few times!) and was quickly put in my place. The Universe can be very humbling in that way.
By embracing grounding practices and seeking support, you can transform the chaos into clarity and step into a more authentic, balanced version of yourself.
If you are experiencing or witnessing a spiritual emergency, remember that you are not alone. Reach out, seek help, and trust that even in the darkest moments, light can be found.
When things that have been moving in the shadows come to light, it can be incredibly confronting. Proceed with compassion, patience and balance, knowing that you are one step closer to liberation.
Xo
Beautiful post! And right on time! This resonates so much with my spiritual awakening ✨
This is my Catholic mother’s worst nightmare! Lol. I wish more people talked about this so that others might understand how to protect against it.