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How do I become Baha’i?
Spirituality

A Spiritual Reaction to My Mental Illness

Merryl Hammond | Nov 19, 2018

PART 1 IN SERIES The Infirmities of the Mind

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

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Merryl Hammond | Nov 19, 2018

PART 1 IN SERIES The Infirmities of the Mind

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

Bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anorexia. Major depressive disorder. Be totally honest, now: how do these psychiatric diagnoses make you feel?

All in all, how comfortable are you with the entire topic of mental illness? I used to cower at the mere mention of these terms. I felt irrational fear and inadequacy, and I’d do anything to avoid the issue; head in the sand; think about something else.

In short, my responses were not at all spiritual. All this from me, a health professional who trained as a nurse and who has a PhD in public health. I should have known better!

But then, with no warning, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic-depression, ten years ago at the age of 51. This knocked me right off my complacent and self-satisfied feet. I was completely derailed. Learning I had bipolar disorder caused me to feel exiled, lost, shocked, confused and ashamed.

Why ashamed? You see, even though I did several rotations in psychiatric hospitals as a young nurse, I was still as judgmental about mental illness as most people in society. Deep down, I honestly thought I was “above” it; somehow inherently superior to people who couldn’t mentally “keep their act together.”

Now that I’ve been on the other side of the thin line that separates mental health from mental illness, I can appreciate how unspiritual and immature my previous attitudes were. I’m truly ashamed to admit that I stigmatized and judged people with mental illnesses. I saw them as lesser human beings, unworthy of respect, undeserving of dignity.

Now I have a mission: to help end the stigma against mental illnesses of all kinds, in all age groups, and to encourage everyone—whether we cope with a mental illness ourselves, or whether we have someone with a mental illness in our network of family, friends or colleagues—to take a more spiritual approach to mental illness.

When I was first diagnosed, I thought my world had come to an end. I honestly could not imagine a worse fate than being a mad woman, lunatic, maniac, you fill in the blank. I had completely forgotten this guidance in the Baha’i writings:

Do not grieve at the afflictions and calamities that have befallen thee. All calamities and afflictions have been created for man so that he may spurn this mortal world—a world to which he is much attached. When he experienceth severe trials and hardships, then his nature will recoil and he will desire the eternal realm—a realm which is sanctified from all afflictions and calamities. – Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 239.

When calamity striketh, be ye patient and composed. However afflictive your sufferings may be, stay ye undisturbed, and with perfect confidence in the abounding grace of God, brave ye the tempest of tribulations and fiery ordeals. – Ibid., p. 74.

Maintaining my composure posed a massive test for me as a Baha’i when I became severely mentally ill. I was in no way patient or undisturbed. In fact, one part of me felt spiritually abandoned, while another part felt separated from God as if by an impenetrable barrier. I had neither the mental nor spiritual resources to pray for myself, let alone anyone else. I simply wasn’t functioning well on any level.

This then resulted in a lot of guilt at not being able to fulfil my responsibilities as a Baha’i. I wasn’t able to attend meetings or other community events. Only later did I discover this advice to a Baha’i undergoing psychiatric treatment, which would have been very reassuring at the time:

There is no object in over-taxing your will power and strength by forcing yourself to do things for the Cause. You should let your mind rest in the thought of the infinite love, mercy and forgiveness of Baha’u’llah, and cease to fret about whether you are or are not doing your share until you fully recover your health—and evidently you already are on the road to recovery! – From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual Baha’i, March 26, 1945.

To summarize, then, taking a spiritual approach to mental illness has two components. First, for those of us in contact with people living with a mental illness, we need to be infinitely empathetic, non-judgmental and respectful towards them: after all, as the Baha’i teachings promise, their souls remain perfectly intact:

Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above and is independent of all infirmities of body or mind. – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, pp. 153-154.

Second, for those of us living with a mental illness of any kind—and statistics indicate that about one in five people will experience a mental illness each year, and one in three over the course of a lifetime—we need to face this challenge as a spiritual test, while also being compassionate with ourselves and taking all the steps needed to recover.

So, how comfortable are you with the topic of mental illness now? What else can you do to become more spiritual in your responses to mental illness in all its forms?

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Comments

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  • Merryl Hammond
    Aug 24, 2019
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    I agree 100%, Sherwin. Good luck on your personal journey, and thanks for posting!
  • Sherwin Buydens
    Aug 13, 2019
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    Having been through almost a similar situation myself, I know I am far above human labels of sick or healthy. What we have are variances of health. We are all somewhat sick or healthy, and these can change over time for the better or worse. All we really can do in my opinion, is point ourselves in the right direction, and work to improve ourselves. Believe me it takes effort, but aren't we worth it, not just for ourselves but also for the people around us and especially our loved ones? I pray that everyone realises how serious mental health ...issues are for society, for it is an issue that potentially plagues people from all walks of life, in every country at every age. There is compassion that we can give for others and ourselves.
    Read more...
  • Katayoon Crerar
    Dec 18, 2018
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    I have read Merryl Hammond's book, MAD LIKE ME : TRAVELS IN BIPOLAR COUNTRY not only once but twice. It is a fantastic book for everyone to read. Before reading Merryl's book I had no clue about mental illness and it's signs and symptoms, but now I see those signs In some people around me and understand and sympathize and love them. Thanks dear Merryl for writing these beautiful articles with quotations from the Baha'i writings, as well as your wonderful, page-turning book. Hope everyone can get a copy of it.
    • Merryl Hammond
      Dec 18, 2018
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      Thank you so much for your very supportive and encouraging comment, Katayoon. If these articles in BahaiTeachings (this one, and the other two published on Nov 22 and Dec 11, 2018) and my book can help more people like you to appreciate the inherent dignity of people like me who have a mental illness, then… mission accomplished!
  • Gloriajean Murphy
    Dec 17, 2018
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    Excellent article that succinctly addresses several critical aspects in dealing with mental illness. The sense of shame, self doubt, guilt and estrangement retard accessing treatment and prolong recovery. Equally vital is the assurance that the soul is independent of all infirmaries of body and mind. These health tests allow us an opportunity to detach from worldly preoccupations to focus on spiritual realities. I hope such concepts help destigmatize mental illness so we can all heal and support recovery in ourselves and loved ones. Eliminate prejudice and superstition,Universal education, independent investigation of truth, consult competent physicians; some of the core ...teachings of the Baha’i Faith which illuminate our spiritual journey.
    Read more...
    • Merryl Hammond
      Dec 17, 2018
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      Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Gloriajean!
  • Catherine Carry
    Dec 16, 2018
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    Thank you for writing these articles. I'm sure they will help. Love, Catherine Carry
  • rodney Richards
    Nov 20, 2018
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    Merryl, Thank you for sharing such a personal diagnosis. I too am bipolar and thanks to loving caregivers and great doctors have been lucky enough, with medications, to live a normal life. i had my first episode in 1979, well before bipolar was such a common diagnosis. It's been said 10 million Americans suffer from it. But as my wife told me, "You couldn't help yourself, it was the disease," and knowing that, has made all the difference. The Baha'i Faith and many friends also helped me stay on the straight path.
  • Rosslyn and Steven Osborne
    Nov 20, 2018
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    Thank you for your candid personal story, and my heart goes out to you and others like us suffering many dilemmas that life tends to throw at us here on earth. Yes, it is an overwhelming struggle some days-weeks, but I know Bahá-u-lláh stands by me. He has taken the brunt of my anger and lashing out when I was at my worst. Yet he was still there for me in my better times. Only I was blocking Him out.
  • Hilton McConnell
    Nov 19, 2018
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    Great article, I to have a lot of mental problems, and all the drugs they give me make me worse instead of better, I am not taking anything but most nights am lucky to get 3 hr. sleep. and have Ups and Downs with no reason. In joyed reading your article thank you.
  • Nov 19, 2018
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    Thank you for the post madam it is i feel after sharing and reading the post it becomes my eye opener and grateful for the counsel i happen to diagnose my own obstacle that i face as i have read the Writings of the beloved Master on the reality of man and all other Writings of Abdu'l-Baha even last night i was contemplating my guilt towards the impulses towards the opposite sex thank you once again and quote the Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah O SON OF JUSTICE: whither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved? ...sorry to say i do bein soft in my attitude to others now i feel to gently counsel others not test me! thank you Allah'u'Abha
    Read more...
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