Psychosis or Spiritual Awakening?
"Phil Borges, filmmaker and photographer, has been documenting indigenous and tribal cultures for over 25 years. His work is exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and his award winning books have been published in four languages. Phil's recent project, Inner Worlds, explores cultural differences with respect to consciousness and mental illness."
Share your thoughts and feelings on the lecture below. ♡
@blitheSun94
This is something those of us who are indigenous to different cultures/tribes (for me, I'm Tsalagi, Native American) have used for hundreds upon hundreds of years to reach the spirit world, connect our souls to our minds to our bodies, and to help guide us in life, and heal. Psychedelics are huge among south american natives as well, especially brews like Ayahuasca. Mostly westerners who attempt to go to ceremonies like that, who aren't familiar with meditation, with being in control of your mind, have fearful psychotic experiences.
Fear feeds psychosis. Absolultely. And the more we we feel we need to fear these kinds of experiences, the more we tell others they need to fear these experiences, the worse the psychotic experiences will become. In many eastern cultures, particularly in India and places like Pakistan those who experience psychosis and schizophrenia have positive experiences, voices saying good things to them, and they work and live their life generally okay. Obviously, that's very contradictory to what we experience here in the west. I've experienced bad voices, bad halucinations, paranoia and delusions that kept me secluded in my room for weeks, and when I got the chance to step back and analyze these experiences, I saw the fear and the stress and overwhelming pain/emotions which acted as a catalyst for it. For me, these experiences become a sign that I need to start taking a step back and looking within myself, see what is off balance within me spiritualy and emotionally.
I've also experienced good voices, and took in good messages that didn't necessarily incapaciate me but birthed positive experiences. Sometimes they were bizzare experiences, but that's okay. We act like these experiences are something to be shameful of, to be angry with, because they're not "okay", they're not "normal".
Well, the neurological connections within the brain are so unique we can identify people from just their synaptic connections. Every brain is different, it would be impossible for anyone to be normal, because there is no standard to match if everyone is different.
I'm enthralled that science is finally latching onto indigenous truths and using math and experiments to prove what we've known for hundreds of years lol. I know that sounds sarcastic, but I'm being legitamate. This will help spread these ideals worldwide. And the mental health system in general needs a new standard to follow, because this old one isn't working.
@Alishia
This is the most beautiful post I've read in a long time, thank you! I agree. Psychosis is often our amazing brain survival in action and can reveal quite a bit if we take the courage to face it and work through it. I know this is a controversial topic, so I appreciate your insight from the source itself. ♡
@blitheSun94 yes but psychosis is also an actual malfunction that can distract us. I almost walked into a commuter train once because I was hallucinating and distracted.
@Alishia I actually have firsthand experience in the mental health field on the front lines and am starting to see more Psychiatrists taking a person centred approach where their goal is to support the clients be the most comfortable and function as best they want to within safety. I guess what I mean by this is that their treatment is driven by the client - the goal is not to medicate the client to the hilt to eradicate voices per say, if that is what they experience. If a client hears voices but they are not disturbing, commanding them to do bad things or causing them distraction from their job, then a client may be perfectly content hearing them - sometimes even comforted by them. All treatment should be driven by the client whenever possible and aim to improve functioning and lessen distress where the client sees fit.
@purpleWest8143
So important, thank you! Over the course of my treatment I never forgot who was working for you. It is imperative to take a proactive role in your recovery and self-management. So often people feel pushed into these big important decisions surrounding their health. This is why advocacy is so important to me.
@Alishia
I agree with your comment completely! I've had many psychotic/hallucination experiences for years without understanding what was causing them. I've been told it was a "spiritual gift" to see "visions" and receive a "Weyekin" that "guides" you through the experience. Sometimes I find myself listening to the "inner voices" that are benevolent and can actually help me overcome troublesome thoughts and emotions and bring a lot of comfort and psychological healing. They usually appear when I go into a deep trance like state during prayer and meditation and will answer questions and teach important lessons usually with "metaphorical" stories or "dream symbols". It reminds me of ancient shamanism really.
I find that it is only a problem if un unexpected psychic experience is met with fear or panic, which can make for a Hell ish experience indeed! It's amazing what our brains are capable of creating. Lol :)
@blitheSun94
Thank you so much for this post. I think it's really important to know that not all psychosis like symproms are bad or scary. Sometimes hallucinations or delusions can be neutral or even positive experiances.
@UntilThen
I couldn't agree more! In fact, I could have written your comment myself. :)
Thank you for all of your feedback.
I think this is worth revisiting. ❤️
@blitheSun94i cant explain all my psychosis and psychic attacks but its all mystic and stuff happens. reality shifts. beyond delussion and hallucination. i am coming out of it this time. 25 years later on and off. ***? the point was to be a spiritual healer again. hard to know with so many messages and dead ends. but part of me always liked helping. i wish i could remember all the experiences but starting to fade. hard to know what was real.