August 13, 2022

02. The Root Causes of "Psychosis”: Mental Health Crisis as An Opportunity for Healing

43 minutes

When we think of a severe mental health crisis, we may think of experiences that get labeled as psychosis, schizophrenia, or other extreme states that require intensive support. But what if these experiences also held rich meaning and opportunity for healing when we can care for them without pathologizing or stripping away autonomy? In this episode you'll hear my personal story of surviving a mental health crisis outside the system, having an intense spiritual awakening, and learning vital lessons about the root causes of mental health concerns.

In this episode you’ll learn:

what it’s like to survive an experience of “psychosis” from someone who has lived it

why even the most serious mental health crises can be generative

how to use multiple frameworks to understand why a mental health crisis happened

what autoimmunity, trauma, ancestry, spiritual awakening, and structural oppression all have to do with psychosis and mental health crises

Links:

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Research:

The Inflamed Mind by Dr. Edward Bullmore (a book about links between immune system and mental health) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39899586-the-inflamed-mind

Dube, et al(2009). Cumulative childhood stress and autoimmune diseases in adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3318917/

Jeppesen, & Benros, (2019). Autoimmune diseases and psychotic disorders. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00131/full

Jordan, Malla & Iyer(2019). “It’s Brought Me a Lot Closer to Who I Am”: A mixed methods study of posttraumatic growth and positive change following a first episode of psychosis. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00480/full

Phillips III, Lukoff, & Stone (2009). Integrating the spirit within psychosis: Alternative conceptualizations of psychotic disorders.

Read, et al (2005). Childhood trauma, psychosis and schizophrenia: a literature review with theoretical and clinical implications. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00634.x

Ritunnano, Humpston, & Broome (2021) Finding order within the disorder: a case study exploring the meaningfulness of delusions https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348416655_Finding_order_within_the_disorder_a_case_study_exploring_the_meaningfulness_of_delusions

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

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DEPTH Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast

By Jazmine Russell

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