Spiritual Distress

Definition

Disruption in the life principle that pervades a person's entire being and that integrates and transcends one's biologic and psycho-social nature.

 

Related Factors

Separation from religious and cultural ties; challenged belief and value system, results of moral or ethical implications of therapy or result of intense suffering.

 

Characteristics

• Expresses concern with meaning of life and death and/or belief systems.
• Verbalizes inner conflict about beliefs, concerns about relationship with deity.
• Questions moral and ethical implications of therapeutic regimen.
• Description of nightmares or sleep disturbances.
• Unable to accept self.
• Engages in self-blame.
• Anger towards God.
• Questions meaning of suffering.
• Questions meaning for own existence.
• Seeks spiritual assistance.
• Unable to choose/or chooses not to participate in usual religious practices.
• Displacement of anger toward religious representatives.
• Regards illness as punishment.
• Denies responsibilities for problems.
• Alteration in behavior or mood evidenced by anger, crying, withdrawal, preoccupation, anxiety, hostility, apathy, etc.

Treatment

The individual accepts his or her past life and whatever life has in store in the future.

Offered by Debra.