During my third dark night of the soul, triggered by family losses and caregiving demands, I fully surrendered to the process. Solitude became my sanctuary, allowing me to hear God’s voice and embrace healing through introspection. O genuinely believe that if I had been “allowed” to fully experience my first and second awakenings—rather than having them treated as problems to fix—this third awakening might not have been necessary, or at least not for a long time. Each interruption left layers of healing unresolved, showing the importance of honoring the process.

My Third Awakening

The signs of spiritual awakening—withdrawal, sadness, introspection—are often mistaken for depression or anxiety. Medical professionals may rush to diagnose and medicate without considering the context of a person’s experience, interrupting the natural process of transformation and growth.

Misdiagnosing Growth as Illness

Spiritual awakening is a profound and deeply personal process that can often be misunderstood. It involves a shift in awareness and connection to one’s inner self and the divine. However, society’s tendency to label these transformative experiences as depression or anxiety often leads to suppression of the growth they offer.

The Journey of Spiritual Awakening

Periods of solitude are not signs of failure or avoidance—they are essential for recalibration and healing. Whether it’s 15 minutes of daily reflection or an extended period of retreat, time spent in solitude helps us process emotions, hear God’s voice, and reconnect with our purpose.

The Sacred Role of Solitude

While both experiences may involve withdrawal and sadness, spiritual awakening is driven by a longing for renewal and truth. Depression, by contrast, is marked by feelings of hopelessness and stagnation. Understanding these differences is crucial to ensuring appropriate support and care.

Spiritual Awakening vs. Depression

True spiritual healing requires patience and trust. It’s important to give ourselves—and others—the time and space to navigate the challenges of spiritual awakening. Growth doesn’t conform to timelines, but unfolds in its own divine rhythm.

Honoring the Process

To support the healing process during a spiritual awakening, focus on practices like:	•	Journaling for self-reflection.	•	Meditation and prayer for clarity and connection.	•	Spending time in nature to restore balance.	•	Reading spiritual texts for guidance and wisdom.	•	Creative expression to channel emotions into meaning.

Practical Tools for Spiritual Healing

Many religious and spiritual texts support solitude. The Bible, one of the most far and wide read spiritual books of all time, affirms the importance of solitude for spiritual renewal. Verses like “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) remind us that stillness is not a sign of weakness but a sacred opportunity to reconnect with God and ourselves.

Scripture Supports Solitude

Through spiritual awakening, I learned to trust God and myself despite external judgment. Society’s expectations may demand that we “snap out of it,” but true healing comes when we honor the inner call to retreat, reflect, and recalibrate.

Trusting the Inner Call

As a society, we must stop pathologizing natural processes like grief, introspection, and spiritual awakening. By creating spaces for rest and renewal, we allow individuals to heal and grow into their authentic selves, benefiting both the individual and the community.

A Vision for Change

Spiritual awakening is not a mental illness but a sacred journey. By trusting the process and allowing ourselves to grow, we reclaim our spiritual freedom and align with God’s purpose for us. It’s a path of courage, transformation, and ultimately, divine connection.

Reclaiming Spiritual Freedom

When spiritual growth is misdiagnosed, individuals may be pushed back into the grind of daily life too quickly. This not only robs them of the opportunity to heal but reinforces societal norms that suppress introspection and spiritual evolution.

The Danger of Suppression

Twenty years ago, my first spiritual awakening—a “dark night of the soul”—was misdiagnosed as depression. Instead of being allowed the time and space to heal, I was placed on medications after a single short doctor’s visit. The treatment not only disrupted my spiritual process but led to severe physical and emotional consequences.

A Personal Story of Misunderstanding

Modern culture teaches us to equate withdrawal and solitude with dysfunction. We are trained from an early age to prioritize productivity over personal reflection, leaving little room for the sacred rhythms of rest, renewal, and connection to God. This disconnection suppresses spiritual growth and creates a deeper societal issue.

Society’s Fear of Solitude

Spiritual awakening often involves a period of discomfort as old beliefs and patterns fall away. While it may appear chaotic or isolating to others, it is actually a sacred process of renewal. Mislabeling it as illness can cause harm and prevent individuals from reaching a deeper understanding of themselves and their connection to God.

A Path Misunderstood

Nearly twenty years ago, I experienced what I now understand to be a spiritual awakening—a dark night of the soul. But at the time, my attempt to embrace this deeply personal and transformative experience was met with fear, skepticism, and ultimately, suppression. In the eyes of the world, my withdrawal into solitude and reflection wasn’t…