CREST.BD Spirituality & Bipolar Disorder Slides

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CREST.BDBipolar Wellness Center Webinars Connect. Learn. Engage.

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Bipolar Wellness Center Webinars Connect. Learn. Engage. CREST.BD

Spiritual

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Bipolar Wellness Center Webinars Connect. Learn. Engage. CREST.BD CREST.BD

Spiritual

Featuring: Victoria MaxwellCREST.BD Member, Owner of Crazy for Life Co.,Mental Health Speaker, Actor and Writer@Victoria_BPP

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Webinar focus

Defining spirituality/religionWhy spirituality may be important to your QoL Spirituality and BD How you can take action

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Defining spirituality/religionSomething an individual finds sacred or awe-inspiringInside or outside of formal religious practice

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Defining spirituality/religionSpirituality can be expressed in many ways, such as:• acts of compassion• deep reflection, contemplation, meditation or prayer• engaging with and enjoying nature• reading of poetry, literature, spiritual teachings, etc.• engaging in creative activities• belonging to a faith tradition or community• maintaining relationships with high levels of trust and intimacy

The Royal College of Psychiatrists, Spirituality and Mental Health, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/ therapies/spiritualityandmentalhealth.aspx, accessed June 2006

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Can support:• learning and growth in difficult situations• ability to cope with illness• feelings of connection, compassion and belonging with the universe

Why could spirituality be important to QoL?

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Research has identified two styles of spiritual/religious practice1:• Positive style of coping

❒ More common ❒ Can be a source of comfort, compassion, direction and growth

• Negative style of coping ❒ Less common ❒ Can be a source of guilt, close-minded thinking, blame or fear

1Stroppa, A., & Moreira-Almeida, A. (2013). Religiosity, mood symptoms, and QoL in BD. Bipolar Disorders, 15(4): 385-393.


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Spirituality may have positive benefits for mental, emotional and even physical wellbeing2,3,4:• providing social support and sense of belonging• increasing emotional resilience• lowering blood pressure and promoting exercise• reducing risk of suicide• reducing substance misuse

2Ellison, C. G., & Levin, J. S. (1998). The religion-health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 25(6): 700-720. 3Taylor, S. E. (1989). Positive illusions: Creative self-deception and the healthy mind. New York: Basic Books.4Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of religion and health. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.


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But there are possible challenges around spirituality • Some spiritual beliefs don’t agree with medical advice and treatment5 • Some systems of belief can make people feel bullied or discriminated against6

5Mitchell, L., & Romans, S. (2003). Spiritual beliefs in BD: Their relevance for illness management. Journal of Affective Disorders, 75: 247–257.6Pargament, K.I. (2007) Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy. New York: Guildford Press.


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Spirituality and BDHyper-religiosity: • can be a symptom of BD• can make you question the “reality” of your spiritual experiences7 Spiritual ideas can be intense in times of mania or depression• Can represent an early warning sign• Can be confusing when experienced in a mood episode• Can be complicated by cultural factors

7Michalak, E. E., Yatham, L. N., Kolesar, S., & Lam, R. W. (2006). BD and QoL: A patient-centered perspective. QoL Research, 15(1): 25-37.

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How you can take actionSpirituality is personal – no ‘right’ way to practice!• Ask what keeps you going in hard times• Learn about a variety of spiritual organizations• Look at your inner resources and outside supports • Consider mindfulness

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How you can take actionOpenly discussing spiritual matters with your supports may help: • increase understanding• develop a holistic recovery plan• healthcare providers and spiritual advisors to work collaboratively

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Tools and Resources

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Conversations on Religion and Mental Illness (YouTube Channel of Dr. Nancy Kehoe, Harvard)Brief discussions about spirituality in the context of mental health challenges with a variety of guest speakers such as clergy, spiritual leaders and healthcare providers. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnxEfr-kxZR3C0b4mwGG3JQ/videos

Resources

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Resources:

Healing from Within: Spirituality and Mental Health. Royal College of Psychiatrists’ paper on spiritual needs and care as a factor in both symptom relief of mental illness, as well as general wellbeing. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/LarryCullifordHealingSpirituality.pdf

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Spirituality and Mental HealthHarvard University’s research on the relationship between religion and mental illness, including a list of publications for further reading. http://projects.iq.harvard.edu/rshm/spirituality-and-mental-health

Resources

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For more information and resources, visit our Bipolar Wellness Center at:

http://www.bdwellness.com/

To assess your quality of life, visit our QoL tool at:

http://www.bdqol.com/

http://www.bdwellness.com/

http://www.bdqol.com/

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Acknowledgments

CREST.BD Spirituality & Bipolar Disorder Slides

Education

Transcript of CREST.BD Spirituality & Bipolar Disorder Slides