A spiritual emergency is a period of intense and extended disturbance to a person’s ordinary sense of self and reality, which can involve psychotic-like symptoms such as mania, ego-dissolution, a heightened sense of meaning, hallucinations and a confusion of inner and outer worlds.
These experiences can be treated as symptoms of chronic brain disorders requiring psychotropic medication. However, they are better understood as attempts by the psych
e to seek greater wholeness.If properly handled, they can be transitions to greater maturity, flourishing and wisdom.This talk was given at the Rebel Wisdom Festival in late May 2020.