Emergence vs Psychosis


WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOSIS AND EMERGENCE?

Before trying to differentiate between psychosis and Emergence we should recognise that altered states of consciousness can also be caused by medical conditions, such as brain tumour or infection, diseases of other organs, or electrolyte imbalance. Appropriate medical examinations and tests are recommended to rule out biological causes before a diagnosis of Spiritual Emergency can be formed.

It is important to understand that psychiatric labels, eg, "schizophrenia", "manic depression" and "paranoia" are ways of categorising particular symptoms which often have no supporting evidence of any biological cause. [Christina and Stanislav Grof (1990)] note that:-

"Since traditional psychiatry makes no distinction between psychotic reactions and mystical states, not only crises of spiritual opening, but also uncomplicated transpersonal experiences often receive a pathological label...

"Under present circumstances, the use of diagnostic labels obscures the issues and interferes with the healing potential of the process. In addition to its socially stigmatizing and psychologically damaging effects, it creates a false impression that the disorder is a precisely identified disease and serves as a justification for suppressive medication as a scientifically indicated approach."

Although the symptoms of psychosis and Emergence may appear identical, it can be the person's attitude to the experience which determines the distinction and the outcome. [Emma Bragdon (1988)] states that: "Flexibility to adapt and accommodate to new areas of experience is part and parcel of the spiritual emergence process — in contrast to inflexibility, which characterises deeply entrenched psychosis."

Christina and Stan Grof have developed guidelines to help distinguish between psychosis and Spiritual Emergence, although they state that:- "There is no way of establishing absolutely clear criteria for differentiation between spiritual emergency and psychosis or mental disease, since such terms themselves lack objective scientific validity." The Grof's table for [Differentiation Between Spiritual Emergence and Psychiatric Disorders] presents some useful distinguishing guidelines.

Various people have attempted to define criteria which distinguish psychosis from Spiritual Emergence. Others question whether it is appropriate to try and distinguish between them at all. Sometimes so called "psychotic states" can become mystical experiences. Sometimes Spiritual Emergencies can slide in and out of psychosis. Some people suggest that these terms belong to two separate paradigms, or ways of thinking about our world. The Western medical paradigm generally labels anyone displaying severely out-of-the-ordinary behaviour as psychotic. Many tribal cultures and modern-day theorists would view the same behaviour as an important process of spiritual awakening.

The problem remains that people experiencing extreme states usually have severe difficulty coping within the cultural confines of society. They can also get stuck in prolonged intense periods of extreme distress. They can get lost in unfamiliar realities without a road map to get home. In such instances we need to try to find out where they are, what is happening to them and give as much support and assistance as possible.

Before making a diagnosis of spiritual emergence, and deciding whether to use strategies of transpersonal psychotherapy, a good medical examinatination is highly recommended. It is important not to miss or neglect conditions that can be diagnosed by today's clinical and laboratory techniques and require medical attention, such as infections, tumours, or circulatory diseases of the brain, or severe mental illness.

DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN SPIRITUAL EMERGENCE
AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

from: [The Stormy Search For The Self]
by Stanislav and Christine Grof
Characteristics of the process indicating need for medical approach to the problem Characteristics of the process suggesting that the strategy for Spiritual Emergence might work

Criteria of a Medical Nature

Clinical examination and laboratory tests detect a physical disease that causes psychological changes

 Negative results of clinical examinations and laboratory tests for a physical disease
Clinical examination and laboratory tests detect a disease process of the brain that causes psychological changes (neurological reflexes, cerebrospinal fluid, X ray, etc.) Negative results of clinical examinations and laboratory tests for pathological process afflicting the brain
Specific psychological tests indicate organic impairment of the brain Negative results of psychological tests for organic impairment
Impairment of intellect and memory, clouded consciousness, problems with basic orientation (name, time, place), poor coordination Intellect and memory qualitatively changed but intact, consciousness usually clear, good basic orientation, coordination not seriously impaired
Confusion, disorganization, and defective intellectual functioning interfere with communication and cooperation Ability to communicate and cooperate (occasional deep involvement in the inner process might be a problem)

Criteria of a Psychological Nature
Personal history shows serious difficulties in interpersonal relationships since childhood, inability to make friends and have intimate sexual relationships, poor social adjustment, usually long history of psychiatric problems Adequate pre-episode functioning as evidenced by interpersonal skills, some success in school and vocation, network of friends, and ability to have sexual relationships; no serious psychiatric history
Poorly organized and defined content of the process, unqualified changes of emotions and behaviour, unspecific disorganization of psychological functions, lack of meaning of any kind, no indication of direction of development, loosening of associations, incoherence Sequences of biographical memories, themes of birth and death, transpersonal experiences, possible insight that the process is healing or spiritual in nature, change and development of themes, often definable progression, incidence of true syncronicities (evident to others)
Autistic withdrawl, aggressivity, or controlling and manipulative behavior interferes with a good working relationship and makes cooperation impossible Ability to relate and cooperate, often even during episodes of dramatic experiences that occur spontaneously or in the course of psychotherapeutic work
Inability to see the process as an intrapsychic affair, confusion between the inner experiences and the outer world, excessive use of projection and blaming, "acting out" Awareness of the intrapsychic nature of the process, satisfactory ability to distinguish between the inner and the outer, "owning" the process, ability to keep it internalized
Basic mistrust, perception of the world and all people as hostile, delusions of persecution, acoustic hallucinations of enemies (voices") with a very unpleasant content Sufficient trust to accept help and cooperate; persecutory delusions and "voices" absent
Violations of basic rules of therapy ("not to hurt oneself or anybody else, not to destroy property"), destructive and self-destructive (suicidal or self-destructive mutilating) impulses and a tendency to act on them without warning Ability to honor basic rules of therapy, absence of destructive or self-destructive ideas and tendencies, or ability to talk about them and to accept precautionary measures
Behaviour endangering health and causing serious concerns (refusal to eat or drink for prolonged periods of time, neglect of basic hygiene rules) Good cooperation in things related to physical health, basic maintenance, and hygiene rules

top home