SPIRITUAL ASPECTS

Spirituality is a broad concept which encompasses the search for meaning of life, why we are here, what is the purpose of life, do things happen for a reason, personal values and development, a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves and extends to transcendent, i.e. beyond intellectual knowledge or normal sensory experiences (awe and wonder, mystery, God or higher power).

Spirituality is a universal aspect of human nature. Throughout their lives people attribute meaning to their experiences.

Diagnosis of a life threatening disease or an increasing awareness of one’s mortality often brings SPIRITUAL CONCERNS INTO SHARP FOCUS. Spiritual development is kind of an evolvement towards greater integration and wholeness. This includes the need for Inner Healing i.e. achieving and maintaining a right relationship with oneself, others, the environment and THE GOD.

The aim of inner healing is not to be cured or to survive, but to become whole. This includes being able to say verbally or non verbally to one’s family and friends, the following-

• I love you
• Forgive me
• I forgive you
• Thank you
• Good bye

Causes of Spiritual Distress

The impact of a person’s spirituality is either positive or negative. When positive, it is mostly supportive in the face of illness or death. When negative, it increases fear and distress. Suffering is experienced not only by the body but also by mind and soul (the consciousness). There are people who may have moderate to severe pain or other symptoms, but are still not anguished. There are others, who have no physical symptoms, but are in spiritual distress, marked by hopelessness and despair.

Evaluating Spiritual Concerns

Asking about a patient’s inner life may help to avoid ambiguity and incomprehension surrounding existential and spiritual issues. Spiritual Gurus often ask the following open questions:

• What gives you strength during hard times like now?
• What is most supportive, when life is difficult?
• How are you making sense of all that’s happening to you?
• In all this, what causes you the most distress?
• What place does God have in your life, if any?
• Are you part of a religion / faith community?  

Common Indicators of spiritual pain:

Sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness
Intense suffering- I would be rather dead than living like this; what is the point of going on like this (Feeling of loneliness, isolation and meaningless). If what is being done is the best, I would rather be dead
Remoteness of God, breaking religious ties: I do not believe in God anymore. I cannot ask him for help.
Anger towards God, religion, clergy: ‘Why? Why me?’, ‘What have I done to deserve this?’
Undue stoicism and desire to show others how to do it: ‘I must not let God/my religious foundations/my family down’
Sense of guilt or shame, being punished, bitterness, unforgiving of self or other: ‘I deserve to be ill.’ ‘I don’t deserve to get better’
Bitter and unforgiving of others: ‘I’ will hate him for ever for what he did to me/the family.’ ‘No way! He’s not welcome here. Tell him I don’t want to see him-ever!’
Vivid dreams/nightmares: e.g. being trapped in a box or falling into a bottomless pit.

RELIGIOUS NEEDS

The healthcare team finds out the religious practices of the patient, in order to facilitate them to meet religious people, their spiritual needs are likely to be facilitated by maintaining the relationship with their faith community / group. Visit by a religious Pandit / Priest / Maulvi / Spiritual Guru can help them. One must respect the religious practices of all Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Bodhs, Muslim and Christians.