Autumn Damiana
Mental health is a huge concern in today’s world. With the evolution of awareness in how the body, mind, and spirit are interrelated, we are more conscious than ever of the need to address issues like stress, negative thinking, bad habits, addiction, etc. Pagans seem to intuitively understand this and nurture that connection through various techniques and practices, including prayer, meditation, ritual, and alternative medicine. Pagans are also known for being more generally accepting of those who are eccentric, odd, or otherwise on the edge of mainstream society. This means that they are also less judgmental of those who are mentally ill, right?
I wish this were not the case, but the stigma of mental illness persists, even among Pagans. Despite the incredible advances that have been made in the psychiatric field over the past few decades, there is still fear surrounding mental illness.
Wrong. I wish this were not the case, but the stigma of mental illness persists, even among Pagans. Despite the incredible advances that have been made in the psychiatric field over the past few decades, there is still fear surrounding mental illness. This topic is important to me because I myself am bipolar (also called manic depressive). I was diagnosed twenty years ago and have lived with this reality my entire adult life. For better or worse, being bipolar has shaped my identity probably more than any other factor. I have also met many other Pagans who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and, like me, have questioned how this affects them spiritually.
Mental Illness and Discrimination
The most common adult mental illnesses are depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, addiction, and eating disorders. (Note that most of these are labeled as disorders and not diseases, because a disease has a known pathology and in some cases can be cured. Tuberculosis is an excellent example of a disease.) The symptoms of these illnesses can range from mild to severe, but what they all have in common is that they are disruptive enough to interfere with a person’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Many of these mental health issues and their manifestations are related; one can be the catalyst for another, or symptoms may be identical in more than one type of illness, and misdiagnosis is common. Therefore, it is important to understand that screening for mental illness relies on many variables and can be difficult to ascertain even by a professional, so avoid diagnosing yourself or those around you.
With that said, this subject doesn’t usually even come up unless someone discloses that they have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. This is where discrimination can come into play. There are, regrettably, plenty of Pagan groups/circles that bar entry to anyone who is in treatment (including recovery and/or therapy) or is taking psychiatric medications. However, it is important to remember that this information is submitted voluntarily by that individual. I feel that such an admission should be looked at as a positive instead of a negative: yes, this person might have a more complex mental health situation than others, but the person is honest enough to admit to it and responsible enough to seek treatment. Pagans value both honesty and responsibility, and self-improvement is always seen as an admirable pursuit. So why should this be any different for those with a mental illness?
Time, Place, and Circumstance
There are those who would say that all Pagans are crazy anyway. We live by different standards than most of the population since we easily accept belief in such things as alternative medicine, the supernatural, magic, divination, past lives, alternate planes of existence, direct communication with our gods, and so on. While some of these beliefs may be commonplace in other cultures, overall they are considered strange in ours. This is one example of why the topic of mental health is so subjective—“abnormal” psychology is determined simply as being outside of what is considered “normal,” and this differs greatly from one culture to the next. Because our culture values logical reasoning and concrete scientific evidence, faith-based experiences are often regarded as symptoms of mental illness, not only among Pagans but in many other spiritual traditions as well. So how is it that we can be sure that we are not all crazy?
There is no definitive answer to this question, but I have noticed some similarities between people’s experiences. For example, a person who is attempting to see ghosts, fairies, visions, premonitions, etc., will not be alarmed if they actually do, but instead will feel rewarded if that is the result. This is distinctly different from someone who is suffering from psychosis in which they have visual or auditory hallucinations, which can cause extreme fear, paranoia, and distress because they are unwanted. Belief in magic and the ability to cast spells can be viewed as delusions of grandeur by those who do not understand a religion in which that is an accepted reality. And I personally have stories about those around me mistaking my elevated mood and the energetic “high” that I sometimes get after ritual as the beginnings of a manic episode.
The important message here is that mental illness can only be viewed from a cultural perspective. What is the norm for one group of people may be highly unorthodox for another. However, this also provides some insight into how to do a mental health reality check. I think it is safe to say that if there is a framework in place, such as a religion, that supports a belief, behavior, or practice that might seem like a symptom of mental illness, it should be further investigated. Your experiences should not necessarily be considered “wrong” unless they could cause undue or long-term physical or psychological harm. Hearing voices in a cemetery may signal that you are clairaudient, but hearing voices that say you can fly may cause you to seriously injure yourself. For example, shamans often recount that their calling and/or initiation happened as a result of a traumatic psychological event. Vodou practitioners value possession by their gods as a sacred expression of their belief. Catholics sometimes report positive experiences of visions and/or voices that they believe have been sent to them by God. And many cultures over the ages have valued those with unusual minds, going so far as to speculate that these individuals are holy and can more readily access the spirit realm or journey into the unknown. When viewed from this perspective, I can’t help but wonder if in a different time, place, and circumstance, my mental condition might have been honored as a gift. In such a culture, I likely would have become a healer, prophet, or other religious specialist even though in my present culture I am viewed as being mentally ill.
Complications and Misunderstandings
Practicing good mental health habits can sometimes prevent disorders such as depression and anxiety from getting out of control or can at least lessen the severity of the symptoms. However, a mental health professional should always be consulted if you feel that you are suffering from a mental illness, because these almost never go away on their own and can get worse over time without treatment. Likewise, self-help and spiritually based methods of dealing with a mental health condition work remarkably well in conjunction with medical care but should not be relied on as a stand-alone remedy. You can’t “magic away” a mental illness.
And yet, because of the shame associated with being diagnosed with a mental illness, there are too many people, especially in the Pagan community, who refuse to seek help. Why this is the case could be a whole article by itself, but I will sum up the major reasons as I see them. For one, the DIY spirit that is so common among Pagans leads them to believe that they can cure themselves—and that if they “succumb” to a mental condition, they were just not eating the right diet, not giving adequate offerings to their god(s), or maybe not meditating or visualizing hard enough. Another reason is that in some cases Pagans believe that they deserve mental illness because by working with so-called negative influences such as dark gods and goddesses or the shadow side, they are actively inviting ailments such as depression or psychosis into their lives. Then there are those who adamantly refuse to even consider taking medication because they claim it will worsen health problems, lead to addiction, or diminish their mystical and/or creative abilities.
This last point of view is a conviction that I held for years and, unfortunately, was based on some real experiences. After being diagnosed with bipolar, I had a bad reaction to my main medication that threatened my physical health. In addition, the other meds that I had been prescribed after that incident were causing negative side effects, such as mental fogginess that alternated with panic attacks. I was also unconvinced that I even needed treatment, believing myself to be an artist and a freethinker who was clearly misunderstood by society (a classic bipolar rationalization). That, coupled with my medication ordeals, pushed me over the edge into complete denial of my condition. I spent the next eleven years trying to manage my symptoms and my illness on my own unsuccessfully. I dropped out of school, had a difficult time maintaining a job, was plagued by numerous relationship problems, and used drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. After a long period of depression, I started to feel suicidal and relented in my decision to refuse treatment. I got psychiatric help and turned my life around, and aside from some regret over my “lost decade,” I have never looked back.
Realistic Expectations
My story should not be seen as an endorsement of medication or other forms of therapy, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But I can say with certainty that if you think you need help, you should explore all possible avenues of medical care and intervention. Resisting treatment for a mental illness makes about as much sense as refusing to put a broken arm in a cast—not only will it never heal quite right, but the process will be slow and painful and you may permanently lose full use of the arm. The same is true for the mind. Mental health conditions are not given the same level of importance as physical ones because they are not readily apparent, so a mental illness can go untreated or even undetected for years. People may be drawn to Paganism because Pagans tend to be highly individualistic people and are often cited for their sensitivity and introverted behavior. It’s no wonder then that we attract those who feel uncomfortable in mainstream society, including people with a mental illness, because we offer them a niche where they can hide out.
Pagans tend to be highly individualistic people and are often cited for their sensitivity and introverted behavior. It’s no wonder then that we attract those who feel uncomfortable in mainstream society, including people with a mental illness.
It is also important to remember that not everyone with a mental illness acts badly, and not everyone who acts badly has a mental illness. I’m sure you have met people in a Pagan context who are overly dramatic, self-serving, or inconsiderate of others, and/or are constantly seeking attention, causing conflict, or playing the victim. This kind of conduct may be exhibited by anyone, but the sad fact is that if a person has known mental health issues, people always look to place the blame on that first. And so sometimes those of us who act functional are accepted to be “sane,” whereas those who are disruptive may be accused of having a mental illness. This is why covens and groups should address the undesirable behavior and not condemn the person or speculate whether or not they have a mental illness. First and foremost, that individual is a person—not a disability, not an illness, not a condition, and not a diagnosis.
Here’s why a diagnosis, which can be used as a tool of self-understanding, can also be a curse that follows you everywhere: even when you don’t reveal its existence, you know in the back of your mind that the diagnosis is still there and you can’t help but wonder if others can “see” it and if they are judging you. Therefore, I think that full disclosure is a good thing: you can weed out those around you who might discriminate, and if you meet some compassionate and accepting Pagans, they can be supportive of your treatment and, as friends, can serve as an early warning system for potential mental health problems creeping up on you. It’s also a great way to show others that those with mental health disorders aren’t the violent and unpredictable monsters that the media portrays, but are just regular people like everyone else who have a few extra challenges to contend with.
Words of Caution and Parting Thoughts
I was taught the “skills and pills” philosophy of treatment, which is simply that medication and therapy go hand in hand, and that one is not much good without the other. Yet I hear all the time about people in therapy who refuse to cooperate or go off their meds despite their doctor’s orders. Needless to say, no matter how supportive you are of anyone with a mental illness, it is still that person’s choice whether or not they want to work at improving their mental health. You can’t “save” anyone from themselves. You can, however, help people make good choices as long as they are receptive to them. On the subject of prescriptions, I have often heard the complaint that antidepressants can block the ability to sense the paranormal. However, isn’t it better to feel well enough to participate more fully in other aspects of spirituality? Also, it is very possible that the medications you are taking aren’t right for you. I tried a whole bunch of them before I found ones that work for me, and while it was an arduous process, it was worth it to finally feel productive, happy, and whole.
Just as with spirituality, each person has to travel their own path to wellness. And there are some situations where a person is so lost on that path that you may have to consider ejecting them from your group or coven or avoid them entirely. I also caution against including individuals in practices that may “trigger” certain forms of mental illness. For example, you probably wouldn’t want to serve alcohol in a circle that includes a person in Alcoholics Anonymous recovery or practice skyclad with someone diagnosed with a sex addiction.
Similarly, other situations or conditions may arise that intensify other forms of mental illness. Raising energy, energetic exchange, trance, communication with the spirit world, etc., can all trigger imbalances and even certain forms of psychosis. Most mental illnesses require therapy, medication, a lot of self-searching and introspection, and continued alertness to a possible relapse. With that being said, I don’t think you will permanently aggravate someone’s mental condition accidentally. Simply be aware, reserve judgment, show compassion, and treat the person equally—in essence, include them in your circle of “perfect love and perfect trust,” and there’s no reason anyone with a mental illness can’t be just as spiritual as anyone else.
Autumn Damiana is an author, artist, crafter, and amateur photographer. She is a Solitary Eclectic Cottage Witch who has been following her Pagan path for almost two decades and is a regular contributor to Llewellyn’s annuals. Along with writing and making art, Autumn is currently finishing up her degree in early childhood education. She lives with her husband and doggie familiar in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. Visit her online at autumndamiana.com.
Illustrator: Tim Foley