The Spiritual Dimension of Depression
Carlos Warter, M.D., Ph.D.
The great spiritual traditions of the world tell us that pain and suffering are rooted in the forgetfulness of our true divine nature-- our separation from the universal source. Psychiatrist Carlos Warter, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneer in spiritual psychology and psychospiritual integration, shows us how depression can manifest through ignoring or forgetting our true identity as spiritual beings. In treating hundreds of individuals with symptoms of depression, Dr. Warter recognizes the validity of each treatment modality, and the importance of looking at the physical, biochemical, mental and emotional causes of depression. To be really effective, however, he has discovered that one must cross into the realm of the spiritual to create a truly comprehensive treatment approach. "In the majority of depression cases that I have treated," says Warter, "the essential problem is that the individual's identity is firmly established in the smaller story of the personality and their larger, divine identity has been 'forgotten.' "
The solution, according to Warter, is to help the individual to move from the small, contracted story where depression is able to develop, to the awareness of a larger dimension of one's being, the large or big story of human life. This elevation in awareness entails a fundamental shift in the very notion of who one is, thereby undercutting very basis of the existing depression. In this final chapter, Dr. Warter charts out the spiritual terrain of healing, by combining both eastern and western spiritual traditions, and providing many practical tools and exercises to help us reclaim our wholeness and spiritual birthright.