Psycho-Spiritual Wellness
“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual toward freedom” (Einstein).[1] Although they originated as a Christian charity to promote physical, mental and spiritual health, modern hospitals and medicine have focused and made stride on physical diseases.[2] In the process of gaining dominance in contemporary society, the mainstream medical system has gradually separated from religious concerns about the soul while building hidden alliances with profit-driving forces called “medical-industrial complex”.[3] Supported by scientific evidence of the positive impact of religious practice on both mental and physical health, attention to psycho-spiritual wellness has resurged since the mid-20th century. IWLA advocate the holistic wellness of a person’s body, mind, and soul, which we treasure as three intertwined branches of a unique tree of life.
Emotion and Health
1. Human emotions
Emotions constitute a central part of humanity. Due to its complexity and subjective nature, however, emotion is not considered a scientific concept[4]. Human emotions are so complex that some research even suggests that human can experience over 34,000 unique emotions.[5] Its controversial definitions are often a list, such as aesthetic experience, anger, anxiety, compassion, depression, envy, fright, gratitude, guilt, happiness, hope, jealousy, love, pride, relief, sadness, and shame.[6]
2. Major negative emotions
Emotions an individual’s overall wellness. Research suggests 76% of diseases are related to psychological factors, especially long-term negative emotions.[7]
· Fear: A response to the present danger or threat that is real or definite.
Rooted in human survival mechanism, fear is a normal fight-or-flight response to keep a person’s safety.
· Anxiety: A response to future danger or misfortune that is intangible and imprecise. Anxiety is a normal human fight-or-flight response to keep a person’s safety amidst uncertainty.
· Anger: An intense antagonism towards someone or something that you feel has deliberately done you wrong. Everyone feels anger from time to time. It’s a normal response to frustrating situations.
· Grief: The anguish or deep sorrow experienced after a significant loss, such as losing a beloved person via death or divorce, or losing your home, career, dream/goal, or health. It is often overwhelming and intense.
· Stress: A response to our inability or inadequacy (real or perceived) to cope with demanding situations. It’s another form of fight-or-flight response to help us to adapt to a life challenge.
3. Physical harms of excessive negative emotions
· Fear, Anxiety, and Stress. As fight-or-flight responses to help us to cope with
real or perceived danger and threats or to adapt to a life challenge. However, long-term experience of fear, anxiety, and stress has negative impact to our overall health. It weakens our immune system, causse cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, leads to accelerated ageing and even premature death. It can also impair formation of long-term memories and cause damage to certain parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus. It can also result in chronic fatigue, clinical depression, and PSTD.
· Anger. Frequent angry outbursts can increase the risk of heart attack, causing
chest pain, high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, digestive problems. If you already have a heart condition, your chronic anger may affect your ability to recover and keep your heart healthy in the future.
· Grief. Loss is an extreme stressor that can take a major physical toll on your
body. Grief can overwork your nervous system and weaken immune system. Symptoms include fatigue, headaches, insomnia nausea, restlessness, upset stomach, heart palpitation, weak muscles and joint pain, tightness of chest of throat, decreased or increased appetite. Grief can also result in chronic fatigue and clinical depression.
Intense and long-lasting negative emotions often overlap and cause mental disorders that compromise individuals’ normal life.
Treating Psychological Disorders as “Brain-Sickness”
Modern medicine deals only with mental illness, which is located at one extreme end in the spectrum of negative health impact of emotions. Based on its material-oriented approach to health, mainstream medicine identifies and treats mental disorders primarily as a physiological problem, or the sickness of the brain.
1. Mental illness/disorders
In modern medicine, “mental illness” (or mental disorders) is defined as clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior. [8] According to WHO, [9] In 2019, 1 in every 8 people (or 970 million people) around the world were living with a mental disorder, which typically interferes or impairs a person's daily function. The most common types are:
· Anxiety disorder: excessive worry that interferes with daily activities.
· Clinical depression: Low or depressed mood and a loss of interest in activities that once brought joy.
· Bipolar disorder: Unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration, making it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks.
· Post-Traumatic Syndrome: Intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings triggered by a terrifying event which a person experienced or witnessed.
· Schizophrenia: Abnormal interpretation of reality, resulted from hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking.
· Eating disorder: Abnormal eating behaviors that adversely affect a person's physical or mental health, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
2. The impact of mental disorders on physical health
Neglected mental disorder can lead to a wide range of physical illness, including
heart disease, high blood pressure, weakened immune system, asthma, obesity, gastronomical problems, and premature death. Depression alone can cause chronic fatigue, insomnia, and increased sensitivity to aches and pains due to abnormal function of neurotransmitters in the brain.
3. Physio-chemical treatments of “brain-sickness”
Relying on material-oriented science, mainstream medical practice approaches mental illness as “brain-sickness.” Therefore, the treatments are primarily physical and chemical methods.
· Brain stimulation therapies: Activate or inhibit the brain with electricity.
The electricity can be given directly through electrodes implanted in the brain or indirectly through electrodes placed on the scalp. The electricity can also be induced by applying magnetic fields to the head. Major methods are:
§ Electroconvulsive therapy
§ Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
§ Vagus nerve stimulation
§ Deep brain stimulation
Side effects of brain stimulation therapies include seizure, infection, headache, confusion, trouble concentrating, stroke, and hardware complications. Earnest Hemingway was hospitalized at Mayo Clinic where he received electroshock for his depression. He was further depressed and lost his ability to write. He committed suicide in 1961, a few days after he was released from the hospital again upon receiving more electroshock treatments.[10]
· Medications: Influence brain chemicals with synthesized drugs
Mainstream medical practice also treat mental disorders by influencing the brain chemicals that regulate emotions and thought patterns with drugs, such as:
§ antidepressants
§ anti-anxiety medications
§ mood stabilizer
§ stimulants
§ antipsychotics
Antipsychotics are rather effective in treating severe mental illness such as schizophrenia. Regarding other types drugs, the side effects vary and the overall effect of many are questionable.[11] The common side effects of antidepressants include nausea, weight gain, sleep problems, dizziness, agitation, restlessness, anxiety, and heart-rhythm problems.[12] Rare side effects are diabetic and hyponatremia in elderly[13] and an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior in individuals younger under 25 years.[14] A study suggests only about half of the patients in the trial ultimately got better after antidepressant treatment.[15]
Despite its limitations and side effects, the consumption of mental-illness drugs has witnessed significant growth.[16] The global market size for antidepressant drugs alone has reached USD 18.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around USD 25.22 billion by 2033.[17]
Improving Psychological Health
1. Psychotherapy (talk-therapy)
Rather than “fixing the brain,” psychotherapy aims to alleviate psychological disorders by helping a person identify and change negative emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.[18] Conditions that can be helped by psychotherapy include coping with the impact of trauma, the death of a loved one, or long-term stress from a job, family, or physical sickness. In general, the goals of psychotherapy are to gain relief from symptoms, maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life.
Major types of psychotherapy are[19]:
§ Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies focus on changing
problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations.
§ Behavior therapy focuses on learning's role in developing both normal and
abnormal behaviors.
§ Cognitive therapy emphasizes what people think rather than what they do.
Cognitive therapists believe that it's dysfunctional thinking that leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors. By changing their thoughts, people can change how they feel and what they do.
§ Humanistic therapy focuses on free will, human potential, and self-
discovery. It aims to help the client to develop a strong and healthy sense of self, explore their feelings, finding meaning, and focus on their strength.
Psychotherapy is based on mainstream psychology. It usually takes place one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, and counselor.
2. Positive Psychology
· A psychology branch focusing on the positive
Unlike traditional psychology, which centers on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, positive psychology aims to elevate positive human experiences such as happiness, hope, and resilience. While traditional psychology often asks, “What is wrong and how can we fix it?”, positive psychology adds another layer by asking, “What is right and how can we enhance it?” It asks not just how to alleviate suffering, but also how to cultivate the best within us. This dual focus allows for a more holistic understanding of mental health, acknowledging not just the absence of illness but the presence of wellness.[20]
· Five principles of positive psychology[21]
1) Gratitude involves noticing and being thankful for the positive aspects of life, no matter how big or small. Multiple studies have shown that cultivating gratitude can significantly improve psychological well-being, reduce stress, and even enhance physical health. Methods to cultivate gratitude:
§ Keeping a grateful journal;
§ Mindfully recognizing everyday positives.
2) Optimism is an orientation towards viewing challenges and opportunities in a
positive light, often expecting successful outcomes even in difficult or uncertain circumstances. It is associated with better mental and physical health outcomes, as well as increased resilience in the face of challenges. Methods to cultivate optimism are:
§ Reframing negative thoughts
§ Visualizing successful outcomes
3) Resilience is the ability to rebound from difficulties and setbacks. Resilient
individuals tend to adapt well to change and maintain high levels of well-being, even in the face of stress. Methods to develop resilience are:
§ Developing problem-solving skills;
§ Establishing strong social support.
4) Mindfulness refers to the conscious awareness of one’s immediate experience,
marked by openness, curiosity, and a lack of reactivity. It has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve overall well-being. Methods to practice mindfulness are:
§ Mindful meditation
§ Focusing on each of your five senses to bring you into the present moment
5) Social Connections. Relationships and social connections are paramount to
human happiness and well-being. Numerous studies in the field of positive psychology underscore the importance of quality relationships for both mental and physical health.[22] Strong social ties have been linked to an array of benefits, including improved mood, greater resilience, and even increased life expectancy. Methods to foster social connections are:
§ Spend time building those relationships you already have.
§ Be open to new opportunities.
Positive psychology is a popular source of self-help. Meanwhile, professional therapists also incorporate its theories to help their clients.
3. Stress management: Self-help techniques
Stress management provides techniques to deal with unhealthy levels of stress, cope with challenges and adversity, and build resilience. Stress management can help you break the hold stress can have on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive.[23] Methods of stress management include:
· Identify the sources of stress in our lives
It’s easy to identify major stressors such as divorcing or changing jobs. To identify what’s really stressing us out chronically, we need look closely at our habits, attitude, and excuses. Sure, we may know that we are constantly worried about work deadlines, but maybe it’s our procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that is causing the stress.
· Avoid unhealthy ways of dealing with stress
We tend to resort to unhealthy and unproductive ways to cope with overwhelming stress, such as smoking, bingeing, withdrawal, and procrastinating. These strategies can temporarily reduce stress, but cause more damage in the long run.
· Relax and release stress in the moment
The fastest way to reduce stress is by taking a deep breath and using your senses—what you see, hear, taste, and touch—or through a soothing movement. By viewing a favorite photo, smelling a specific scent, listening to a favorite piece of music, tasting a piece of gum, or hugging a pet, for example, you can quickly relax and focus yourself.
· Practice deep breathing[24]
Deep breathing is a great way to reduce the activation of our sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's response of fight or flight to a perceived threat. Deep breaths taken in for a count of five seconds, held for two seconds and released for a count of five seconds, can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system to rest and digest, which helps reduce the overall stress and anxiety you may be experiencing.
Enhancing the Wellbeing of the Soul
Cambridge Dictionary defines soul as “the spiritual part of a person that some people believe continue to exist in some form after their body died, or the part of the person that is not physical and experience deep feelings and emotions.”[25] If the soul is indeed the essence of humans and the core of individuals, its wellbeing would be the deep inner source for individuals’ psychological wellness and physical health.
1. Do humans have souls?
Answers to this question reflect opposing understandings of human nature: Humans are either essentially material as animals, or spiritual beings with physical bodies.
· Yes. “You are a soul. You have a body” (C.S. Lewis)
Throughout human history, it is commonly believed that the supernatural exists, so do human souls.
All religions. Religion is the belief in a supernatural power or powers, including
the existence of human spirits or souls after death. Religion is found in all contemporary cultures and all societies with historical records. Archeologists also discovered beliefs in life after death even in the stone-age burials.[26]
Premodern philosophies. Many premodern philosophers have developed
theories on the soul. Socrates,[27] Plato, [28] and Aristotle[29] all believed that death is not the end of human existence. Socrates considers the soul immortal, and Plato believes it eternal. Socrates defines the death as the mere separation of the soul from the body.
Some scientists find compatibility between the science and religion. Galileo
Galilei and Isaac Newton were devoted to illuminate God’s creation in their research. Even in the 20th century, some greatest scientists have been people of faith, such as Georges Lemaitre (the Catholic priest who first proposed what later known as the Big Bang theory) and physicist Max Planck (the founder of the quantum theory).[30] A 2009 survey shows that 51% scientists in the U.S. believe in God or a higher power.[31]
· No. Belief in the soul or supernatural is superstition
Modern science studies material phenomena, often debasing religion as
ignorant superstitions.[32] Especially, evolutionism concludes that plants, animals, and humans are all a result of a natural progression. Since humans are nothing but the material, there is nothing exist after the death.
Atheism believes only in the natural (materialism), denying the existence of the
Supernatural, such as God, soul, afterlife, and miracles. Atheism became influential since the 17th century.[33] Karl Marx (1844) argued, “man created religion… It is the opium of the people”.[34] Nietzsche (1882) declared that “God is dead.”[35] Dawkins (2008) deemed religion “the God delusion.”[36] Atheism has been widely recognized by the general scientific and rationalist movement and philosophies such as existentialism and secular humanism since the 20th century.
2. Existential pains or soul-aches
· Definition and major types
Like humans, animals have emotions, some pets might experience depression. However, only humans suffer from existential pains or soul-aches, i.e., psychological distress caused by contemplation of death and the ultimate meaning of life.
Existential dread: Anxiety resulted from confronting the meaning of life. Most
people experience this at certain point of their lives due to external triggers (e.g., the death of a loved one) or transitions of life stages, such as midlife crises.
triggered by a loved one’s death or midlife crises.
Existential terror: An intense sense of fear and meaninglessness resulted from
recognizing the inevitability of death and what comes after death.
Existential despair: A deep sadness and hopelessness resulted from the
inability to find the meaning of life.
Existential depression: Ongoing despair and hopelessness in the struggle to
find meaning in life, sometimes leading to suicide ideation and action.
· Atheist approach to existentialist pains
Assertion: Life is ultimately meaningless
Atheism perceives human life as essentially material and ultimately meaningless. From an evolutionary perspective, the existence of Homo sapiens is as meaningless as the existence of dust, weed, and worm. Specifically, the universe “has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference”[37] Since the universe is “purposeless” and “void of meaning,” all human endeavors are “destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system”.[38]
Coping methods[39]
Based on atheism or humanism, the core methods to cope with existential pains are:
§ Minimize ruminating thoughts over existential questions (avoidance)
§ Create transient meaning of individual life despite its ultimate meaningless
The above two principles lay the foundation of humanistic therapy in treating existential depression. They are also recommended for self-help.
The ultimate futility of these coping methods
The avoidance method might offer temporary relief to soul-aches or existential pains. However, avoiding the root causes of a problem contributes nothing to its solution.
In comparison, the creative strategy offers a sense of purpose for life amidst its ultimate absurdity. The purpose is to seek and achieve of your unique self or authentic existence by creating your own meanings in the meaningless world. In the light of existentialism, however, the creative method is ultimately futile, like all human endeavors.
Hemingway’s writings as well as his own life exemplifies the futility of existential creativity.[40] Many characters in his short novels passionately searched for their unique meanings of life amidst disillusion, despair and depression. Unfortunately, all their efforts were either defeated or overshadowed by the ultimate meaningless of the world, even concerning the most inspiring figure in The Old Man and the Sea. Hemingway’s own life powerfully testified the same tragedy. His dedication to seeking his meaning of life via writing brought him to the pinnacle of creativity and achievements in winning the Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize. He also attempted to realize his unique authentic existence via large-game hunting in Africa. Tragically, Hemingway’s embracement of the existentialist philosophy of ultimate meaningless of life went hand in hand with his long-term depression and eventual suicide, which extinguished such a beaming light of humanity.
3. Religious impact on individuals’ holistic wellbeing
· Anthropology: Religion meets psychological needs of humans
As a branch of social science, anthropology dismisses the validity of religious beliefs in the supernatural. To explain the universality of religion, however, anthropological theories affirm its function in meeting humans’ deep psychological needs.[41] Specifically, religions help to reduce individuals’ fear and anxiety amidst uncertainties and potential dangers through prayers or rituals. Most importantly, religious beliefs shelter its believers from fear of death and anxiety over meaning of life by giving them answers to three basic questions concerning human existence[42]:
Who am I? (What is the essence of human existence?)
Where did I come from? (What’s the origin of humans? How is human life
connected to the cosmos? What’s the purpose for life?)
Where do I go? (What happens after death? How does the present life impact
one’s wellbeing in the supernatural world now and after death?)
· Evidence of general health benefit of religious practice
Mental health. Abound quantitative research discovered positive relation between mental health and religious beliefs and practices, which help people to cope better with stressful life circumstances, give meaning and hope, and surround depressed persons with a supportive community. Among 178 most methodologically rigorous studies, 67% find religious and spiritual practice reduce depression (7% shows the opposite results)[43] 80% of the 49 highest-quality studies found religious or spiritual practice reduce suicide actions or ideations (4% shows the opposite results).[44]
Physical Health. Ample empirical evidence indicates positive impact of religion or spirituality on physical health, overall wellbeing, and longevity. In a 2012 review, over half of major published studies demonstrates that religious participation is related to lower blood pressure, better cardiovascular function, less coronary artery disease, better immune function, better endocrine function, better social support, greater marital stability, greater purpose in life, and overall higher levels happiness and subjective well-being.[45] Extensive literature search based on large samples also indicates religious involvement is associated with lower odds of death during any specified follow-up period.[46] A study of more than 20,000 US adults estimates that religious involvement can prolong life by about seven years.[47]
Benefits of mediation. Meditation is mental exercise (such as concentration on breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.[48] Most popular meditation techniques are rooted in various religious traditions. Plentiful scientific findings demonstrate the effect of meditation to reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-awareness, improve memory, lengthen attention span, manage addiction, lower blood pressure, strengthen immune system, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.[49]
· Evidence of some negative impact of religious practice on health
As shown above, a very small percentage of solid research have revealed negative influence of religious or spiritual practice on metal health.[50] Despite of its rarity, this phenomenon still calls for precaution and explanation. Potentially harmful factors include group religious life that overshadows personal spirituality, religions that express symptoms of mental illness, and spiritual struggle that arise from conflicted meanings, motivations, and actions within religious life.[51] The nature of the supernatural in a religion also shapes its impact on mental health: Love vs punishment are associated with positive and negative effect, respectively.[52] Health outcomes are also found related to individuals’ relationship with their perceived supernatural being: Opposite impact of religious involvement on anxiety and depression are observed among believers with intrinsic faith (positive effect) and those with extrinsic belief.[53]
4. Resurgence of religion/spiritual function in mainstream medical care
The influence of religion began to resurge in mainstream medical system amidst proliferating scientific evidence of its benefits on health, leading to partnerships between religious and public health institutions.[54]
· Medical care provided by religious and faith-based institutions
Religious groups have promoted health within their religious settings, such as church-based prevention programs for diabetes, maternal and child health, and hypertension.[55] Religious institutions have also provided material resources and infrastructure for hospitals, clinics, and medical missions worldwide. In several African countries, faith- based organizations provide between 30% and 50% of health-related facilities.[56]
· Spiritual integrated psychotherapy
Spiritually integrated psychotherapy intends to draw upon the spiritual resources, motivations, and coping strategies available to clients with religious beliefs.[57] Studies show that certain forms of Christian cognitive behavioral therapy yield higher recovery rates for Christian patients than is achieved with regular cognitive behavioral therapy (Koenig et al., 2009). Spiritually oriented positive psychology emphasizes that both worldly and spiritual pursuits have important contributions in building meaningful life and character strengths such as hope, gratitude, optimism, and resilience.[58]
· Spiritual integrated medical care
Rather than firmly rejecting religion, mainstream medical care has begun to
recognize the spiritual needs of many patients. In many American hospitals (such as Mayo and John Hopkins), chaplains of the pastoral/spiritual care department help patients and their families with the insights of psychology, religion, spirituality, and theology. Now, spiritual care training is available in over 80% of U.S. Medical School curriculum, even though mostly as an elective course.[59]
To conclude, IWLA advocates holistic wellness of the physical, mental, and spiritual. “You are a soul. You have a body.” A healthy soul helps you to grow in positive energy, grow in joy, peace, gratitude, resilience, kindness towards others, filled with purpose or mission, and being connected to something greater than yourself, even the eternity. If you compare your body as your only vehicle in your journey of life, your soul would be its sole owner and driver. The modern world pressures individuals to spare no effort in pursuing transient goals, often at the expense the wellbeing of both the “vehicle” and the “driver.” We gently reminds you to treat your body better than your car, paying even more attention to take care of the “driver.” Dear readers, we pray that “you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”[60]
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[50] Zimmer, Zachary et al. 2018. “Religiosity and health: A global comparative study.” SSM - Population Health vol. 7 100322. 15. Ursula Wuthrich-Grossenbacher, et. al. 2023. “Religious and traditional beliefs and practices as predictors of mental and physical health outcomes and the role of religious affiliations in health outcomes and risk taking.” BMC Public Hewalth 23: 2176.
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