Some of us in Oswego, Aurora, Plainfield and Naperville (IL) may experience times in our lives when it feels like the bottom is falling out from under our feet. Circumstances can overwhelm us, challenging how we think and the way we perceive things.
Whatever the situation might be, our sense of normalcy becomes upended or even cloaked in heavy shadows. Being human means being able to arrive at a dark night of the soul, a deeply existential crisis that can make us question the purpose and meaning of life.
The phrase "dark night of the soul" originated in the 16th century writings of Spanish poet and mystic St. John of the Cross. He had expressed it to describe the difficult passage that often precedes a significant step forward in one's personal growth.
Because it puts us through spiritual fire, this soul crisis also contains potentially great transformative power. For that reason, the dark night remains a study of the connection between the mind and the spirit.
The signs of a soul crisis can express themselves in different ways:
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In some cases, mounting spiritual and psychological distress can also begin to impact the body through aches, pains and fatigue.
Some symptoms may resemble those that accompany depression as well. Where depression is a diagnosable mental-health condition, a person can undergo a dark night of the soul without being clinically depressed and needing medical attention.
It is possible for depression and a soul crisis to occur together, so self-awareness is important for healing and health. If symptoms seem to be chronic for an increasing period, one should always seek professional insight and support.
A dark night of the soul typically doesn't just show up one day. Rather, it can often develop over weeks, months, years or a lifetime. Along the way, it gathers pieces of suppressed and unresolved pain and uncertainty.
Then, with the struggle locked within, certain triggers in life can swing wide the gate for a spiritual crisis to enter. Some of these triggers can be:
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Another trigger of a deeper struggle might be realizing that unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, shopping, sex or workaholism are no longer relieving pressure. In still another scenario, we may have been relying on external approval and praise to validate our self-worth until finding out it doesn't provide the calm that we seek.
Each one of us in Oswego, Aurora, Plainfield and Naperville is a distinctive being – a creation without equal that experiences life among factors that constantly shape and direct us.
Because we are all unique, each passing through a dark night will be just as singular. The crossroad might last from weeks to decades depending on what has led to it and what needs to be learned and brightened through it.
A dark night's duration can also be influenced by how alert we are to our own struggles and obstacles. When we can identify and respond to an unproductive turn or tendency before it takes us too far, we can potentially shorten the length of a dark night.
Those who find themselves in a crisis may move through particular phases. The stages might be described and arranged differently according to sources that discuss them, but collectively they might include the following:
Major disruption or event(s)
Feeling a loss of hope and direction
Becoming more aware of an important truth
Being drawn to greater spiritual study and understanding
Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
A desire for authentic, peaceful living with new purpose
As we are moving through any one of these stages, we can become more adept at self-compassion and self-care, as well as gain the insight and skill to recognize and properly manage our triggers.
We also can start to see negative patterns before they fully form and, in doing so, not allow them into our life anymore. We can relinquish our need to control life and accept with grace what it brings us, trusting that all things will lead us to a greater good.
The subject of a soul in crisis has through the years prompted different schools of thought.
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung viewed a dark night of the soul in terms of individuation and "shadow work." He believed that psychological growth integrates our psyche's hidden aspects (our "shadow") into our conscious awareness. This can be a challenging process in that it makes us confront parts of ourselves we'd often rather not see.
Existential theory views the dark night as being face to face with life's inherent lack of meaning. Because of that lack, we are responsible for creating our own meaning. We also have the free will to achieve it and thereby establish our purpose.
Transpersonal psychology centers on the connection between body and mind. Blending spiritual and scientific concepts, it puts forth that our current values, beliefs, interests, life purpose and environment all influence our mental and physical well-being.
Within transpersonal psychology, the dark night is a type of spirit emergence or crisis. Through that lens, what seems to be a "breakdown" can in fact be a breakthrough into greater consciousness and self-discovery.
The cognitive-behavioral psychological approach to the dark night focuses on how thoughts and beliefs often shape what we experience. Seen in this light, a dark night might be an outcome of negative or destructive patterns and beliefs over a period.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a dark night of the soul, you are not alone. What's important to remember is that the dark night is not meant to last forever – you can and will emerge from it. With self-awareness as well as professional support if needed, you can discover great learning, healing and joy during this time.
At Empowered Life Therapy, we welcome those who might be moving through a difficult passage. We are here to listen and to respond with approaches that adapt to the specific individual and the particular circumstances.
As we learn more about the situation and symptoms, we might recommend approaches such as:
mindfulness and meditation therapy
psychodynamic therapy
trauma therapy
PTSD treatment
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
person-centered therapy (also known as Rogerian therapy)
somatic (body-oriented) therapy
With us, you enter a safe space to explore and further understand thoughts, feelings, memories and experiences that lead to and through a dark night on your way to a transformative spiritual awakening.
Empowered Life Therapy believes in achieving inner light and peace that lead to lasting peace and clarity. If you or someone you care about is having a dark night of the soul, we are here, we care and we can help. Contact us at (630) 842-6585 to discuss our therapeutic support for individuals from Oswego, Aurora, Plainfield and Naperville (IL).
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