The role of spirituality

in suicide prevention, depression prevention and addiction prevention

Photo by Amy HH on Unsplash

I just finished the book, the Awakened Brain, by Dr. Lisa Miller, a psychologist.

She writes that spirituality is “a moment of deep connection with another being or nature.” She also notes that it is “a feeling of awe or transcendence. An experience of startling synchronicity or a time when a stranger showed up and did something that changed your life. A time you felt held or inspired or buoyed up by something greater than yourself—a higher power perhaps, but also nature of the universe or even the surge of connection at a sporting event or concert.”

The thing I appreciate so much about this is the distinction she makes between religion and spirituality. For some, religious views and faith can certainly be spirituality, but I don’t think it always is.

Likewise, spirituality here is in terms of its benefits in the brain and overall wellness does not have to be religiously inclined.

Ie - religious and spiritual are not one in and of the same.

I was amazed by her work in this book, because she shared the research that she did - showing in brain scans how different parts were lit up with a greater spiritual connection. Essentially, our brains are healthier if we have some spiritual inclination.

Moreover, a healthy spirituality is one of the greater safeguards against depression, substance abuse/addiction and likelihood to ideate about suicide or to attempt and complete suicide.

Obviously, it’s not full proof.

My brother comes to mind - the religiously devoted Christian and pastor.

Of course, there are exceptions. And I don’t believe spirituality cancels out mental illness.

But I like the emphasis Miller also makes that spirituality is also connection with others. And when we have connection to others, a sense of purpose, a higher power, a meaning or life’s purpose that is greater than ourselves, then we are less likely to feel lost, isolated, and meaningless.

It is a good protector/defense against the isolation of depression. She even contends that depression can be a lack of connection. I think sometimes that is within self, and within our mind/body/spirit.

And, personally speaking, I also firmly believe that depression can be a manifestation of intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, an emotional inheritance component that has been passed down.

I firmly believe that that is partly what it was for my mother, passed down to me.

You could also refer to it as unhealed trauma/stuck energy.

I know how woo-woo that sounds.

Believe me.

But - energy healing and sound therapy/bio-field tuning was one of the biggest ways that I healed my generational depression.

I always thought it would be my life-long plight, just like it was for my mother.

Or, at least, that’s the story that I told myself.

Until I decided to change my story.

I also thought about my mother’s sage words -

“Danielle, there is no use suffering if there is help available.”

I also continue to be amazed by what we’re learning about childhood trauma, major stressors, increased Child Adverse Events - all of them put us at a much higher likelihood of developing a mental illness.

I also read this today, “Childhood trauma causes chronic brain inflammation and people with 4+ traumas are 3X more likely to develop depression.”

I believe it -

And if it’s not depression, it’s anxiety, it’s also other behavioral disorders or mental crises - increased likelihood of NPD, OCD, BPD.

Or, inflammation can also manifest in the body and result in auto-immune disorders, psoriasis, MS, IBS, Celiac disease, Hashimotos, Graves, and many others.

Stress and trauma can result in increased inflammation and cortisol which put you at a much, much higher likelihood of developing these conditions.

Our brain though is our super computer - and we have a healthier brain, when we are spiritually connected. In all sorts of miraculous ways.

Dr. Miller fought to draw attention to this area and finding -

Her work was focused on psychology and psychiatry. They aren’t so into the woo-woo.

But these brain scans and these statistics are indisputable.

Pretty amazing.

Maybe God isn’t your jam, but nature sychronicity is - maybe secular humanism - but whatever your own cultivated definition of spirituality is/evolves -

Science supports that you will be healthy with some form of it.

Your brain will be healthier.

You’ll be less likely to have a mental illness.

Or to have addiction/substance abuse disorder.

Or complete suicide.

Compelling evidence to take spirituality seriously.