One often thinks of someone who hears voices as been deranged, unstable or even dangerous. While it is true that some people are definitely in need of psychiatric help when it comes to this exhibited behaviour there is also so much more that could be taken into account when dealing with clients who experience this phenomenon.

In some cultures and in fact not too long ago in our own, someone who was known to hear voices could be seen as a communicator with otherworldly entities and be able to provide much knowledge from the spirit world. The trouble is that in these modern times there is so much scientific analysis in regard to someone’s mental state that the very idea of a spiritual experience does not come into the diagnosis.

This author had some very intense spiritual experiences when younger and certainly my life changed from that point. The world itself never seemed the same again and the trappings of modern life never had the same hold either. On several occasions I would hear my name called out loud when no one would be there, well physically anyway, and sometimes at night my bedroom would be filled with otherworldly whisperings. I dread to think what may have happened if my parents had sought “professional” help in this matter. The medication would have been prescribed, the experiences dulled and the voices gone. Everyone would have been happy again and life would be back to “normal”.

This may sound controversial but I really do believe that all so called mental health problems that do not result from a direct, traumatic experience do in fact come from a deep spiritual experience. Especially at an early age any spiritual insight can lead the person to an intense feeling of confusion. There is a spiritual world yet there is this physical world. There is an experience of life beyond the body identity yet we are told about pensions and mortgages and jobs and sex. This can be an incredibly difficult period in ones life and can result in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other modern terminology for those who experience the true essence of duality within the modern world.

To have more spiritual involvement would be a phenomenal help in treating these effects of a confused mind. The integration of spiritual and physical would bring back the balance of the self and allow one to still experience that spiritual side yet allow one to function in society and at the same time bring forth wisdom and solace to others.

If only the “professionals” would allow themselves to see beyond their analytical tomes and prescribed medications to view mental health from a whole different perspective then I am sure there would be much suffering alleviated and so much more understanding of psychological issues. I am sure that there are some in the field that do in fact take the spiritual experience into account when treating a client yet more still needs to be done.

There is so much that science cannot explain and so much about the mind and life beyond the physical that simply cannot be diagnosed or analysed. Why then would we think that the answer is to label a client, medicate them and then somehow presume their thinking would return to what society seems as “normal”?

If you are a parent please, please talk to your child if they are having unexplained psychological issues. Do not assume and do not judge. Obviously seek professional help and make them safe but please do talk to them about deeper issues. We are not talking about religion here, we are talking spiritual experience; something beyond this world and something that religion itself cannot explain let alone the scientific community.