Sadness, Depression, and the Dark Night of the Soul
Transcending the Medicalisation of Sadness
- 360 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Sadness, Depression, and the Dark Night of the Soul
Transcending the Medicalisation of Sadness
About this book
Revealing a tension between the medical model of depression and the very different language of theology, this book explores how religious people and communities understand severe sadness, their coping mechanisms and their help-seeking behaviours.
Drawing from her study of practicing Catholics, contemplative monks and nuns, priests and laypeople studying theology, the author describes how symptoms that might otherwise be described as pathological and meet diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder are considered by some religious individuals to be normal and valued experiences. She explains how sadness fits into the 'Dark Night of the Soul' narrative - an active transformation of emotional distress into an essential ingredient for self-reflection and spiritual growth - and how sadness with a recognised cause is seen to 'make sense', whereas sadness without a cause may be seen to warrant psychiatric consultation. The author also discusses the role of the clergy in cases of sadness and depression and their collaboration with medical professionals.
This is an insightful read for anyone with an interest in theology or mental health, including clergy, psychiatrists and psychologists.
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- Foreword by Professor Roland Littlewood
- Preface
- Part I Setting the Literary and Historical Contexts
- Part II Unfolding the Narratives of Sadness and Spiritual Growth
- Part III Stepping Beyond the Monasteries’ and Parishes’ Walls
- Appendix 1: Ethical Considerations
- Appendix 2: Limitations of the Study
- Appendix 3: Finding the Questions to Get the Answers
- Appendix 4: Summary of Findings: Main Themes and Sub-Themes Extracted from the Participants’ Interviews
- References
- Subject Index
- Author Index
- About the Author
- Acknowledgements
- Dedication
- Copyright
- By The Same Author
- Endorsements