Spirituality and Trauma, Essay Example

Introduction

Spirituality is interpreted differently by different people. To some, spirituality means taking part in a recognized religion such as going to church, mosque or a synagogue (Lynch, 2007). To others, spirituality is something more personal. Different people communicate with their spiritual side through different ways .These include Yoga, private prayer, quiet reflection, long walks and meditation. Research has shown that even skeptics are not capable of stifling the belief that there is a supernatural power that is greater than the concrete world we live in.

Spirituality has been defined differently by different social scientists but a concrete definition has not been established .Some describe it as a search for sacred power. The power is said to be worthy of veneration and is omnipresent. Others define it as a process of seeking to be reformed with an aim of recovering the pure heart of man; Gods image. The definition and perception of spirituality has however changed in the modern era (Lynch, 2007).This however is still the same as the traditional definition when interpreted but in a different context from religion.

Trauma on the other hand is an emotional response as a result of an unpleasant event such as a natural disaster, rape or an accident. Denial and shock are always associated with trauma. Trauma can also have long term effects which include flashbacks, strained relationships, unpredictable emotions, physical symptoms such as nausea or headaches .People who suffer trauma may fully recover while others may have difficulty in overcoming the unpleasant event. Those who find difficulty in moving on with their lives are advised to see psychologists to help them manage their emotions.

Scientific research suggests that individuals who engage themselves constantly in spiritual worship services or similar activities and who feel strong spiritual power of the higher being are healthier and easily heal. The Supreme Being is a source of comfort and strength to them and their close allies.Research has revealed that those who engage in spiritual activities have a reduced rate of cancer, cardiovascular disease, suicide, drug abuse,general morality,hypertension and stroke.

Spirituality is perceived as the relationship between an individual and a supreme being. This has led to studies that have tried to integrate religion and spiritual values with cognitive behavioral therapy. This has been done using religious tenets to contradict irrational thought and religion-centered imagery methods.Other methods used in spiritually-modified CBT include worship, prayer, biblical scripture and thought processing. Studies using these techniques have revealed tremendous results for religious people with depression(Lynch, 2007).The results showed that patients who underwent pastoral counselling and religious cognitive therapy had decreased levels of depression and an improvement in social adjustment. The study also showed that non-religious therapists performed much better in religious cognitive therapy conditioning compared to non-religious cognitive therapy.Another study that was aimed at showing the relationship between spiritual well-being and depression. The result revealed that spiritual stability positively correlates to self-esteem and negatively relates to issues such as stress and depression.

The relationship between spirituality and religion has been difficult to determine due to the divided opinions that studies have come up with. The ever growing dominance of social media such as the use of tablets and smart phones has certainly brought spirituality to many people.This has forced religious institutions to rethink notions pertaining to spiritual identity and the community in face-to-face worship and online. Social networking has the ability to move those who love social media as well as those who want to re-engage with their past traditions that have only existed outside the everyday life. Social media has been credited for contributing to the understanding of God, provision of accountability and pastoral care, communicating the plan for salvation, connecting people to churches and provision of access to accurate biblical teaching .Social media can also help preachers to blog their sermon notes. YouTube can be used as a platform for spiritual teaching.

The experience of trauma and crisis are extremely experiential and individual.During periods of trauma and crisis, people feel lonely and afraid or even confused. Such moments make people to look up to their spirituality as a source of strength and comfort. A person who undergoes psychological trauma experiences feelings of disconnection and disempowerment (Burkhardt & Nagai-Jacobson, 2002). Such an experience directly affects the spirituality of a person as spirituality is defined by ones relation to the world, oneself, others and the divine being. Therefore, when a trauma or crisis injures the spirit, it can cause disempowerment and disconnection.

A group of empirical researchers have looked into the role that has been played by religion and spirituality particularly in the lives of those people struggling with terminal and chronic illnesses (Booth, 2012).Religion has specific social,behavioral, denominational and doctrinal characteristics as it involves a doctrine and system of worship within a group.Scientific literature supports the idea that religiousness and spirituality enhances the quality of life and the health of an individual (Young & Koopsen, 2011). In a review study, positive relationships were experienced with functional and physical status, improved coping, and greater well-being and reduced psychopathology.Spirituality was added to the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life instrument after the participants intimated that spirituality was an important variable in the quality of life.A large research group examined the role of religion and spirituality during stressful conditions (Herman, 2007). They concluded that spiritual and religious practices are buffers that control the relationship between quality of life and stressors.They also concluded that engaging in spiritual activities and relying on spiritual beliefs give strength and hope and give meaning during stressful times.

The relationship between spirituality, trauma and recovery has been ignored in recent times due to poor perception of individuals.However,when researchers investigated this relationship, surprisingrelationships were discovered.There is more to each and every individual than what happens. When something unfortunate happens, such as witnessing violent deaths, injuries and accidents, loss of multiple family members or survivor of rape, people identify with the pain or the trauma (Booth, 2011). However, a healthy spiritual perspective or practice them that they are something greater.The importance of spiritual life connect with the sacred place that experiences peace, wholeness and balance no matter how hard our hearts or minds may be injured.

Spiritual people have a bigger picture of their experiences. The knowledge of what faces a person helps him/her to draw strength from beyond when we cannot feel it within.A strong spirit opens doors and explains the unexplainable .A living spirit does not only concern itself with explaining the wrong and right, nor explain why bad things happen to certain people but concerns itself with providing tools to be used in making choices. This spirit is concerned with connecting people consciously to peace and power.

Article assessment

The study of spirituality and trauma was a good article that begun with the definitions of the two terms i.e. spirituality and trauma. Many people ignore the role played by spirituality in the lives of individuals in different circumstances.Researchers established that spirituality is associated with reduced hypertension, cancer, diabetes,asthma and respiratory infections.It was also established that spirituality plays a role in the recovery process of an individual.Individuals who engage in spiritual practices are likely to heal faster as they derive strength and hope from their supreme being.

Reflection

The study of research brought out some important issues that are ignored.First,spirituality has a direct correlation with reduction of stress levels and depression.Secondly, the bearing of spirituality on health and healing is an issue that has been neglected in different disciplines. Lack of exposure in this topic has made people unaware of positive relationship that exist between spirituality, healing and health.

References

Booth, L. (2012). Spirituality and recovery: A classic introduction to the difference between spirituality and religion in the process of healing : a guide to positive living. Deerfield Beach, Fla: Health Communications, Inc.

Burkhardt, M. A., & Nagai-Jacobson, M. G. (2002). Spirituality: Living our connectedness. Albany, NY: Delmar/Thomson Learning.

Herman, J. L. (2001). Trauma and recovery. London: Pandora.

Lynch, G. (2007). The new spirituality: An introduction to progressive belief in the twenty-first century. London: I.B. Tauris.

Young, C., & Koopsen, C. (2011). Spirituality, health, and healing: An integrative approach. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett.