Sadness, Depression, and the Dark Night of the Soul

by Gloria Dura-Vila

Revealing a tension between the medical model of depression and the very different language of theology, this book explores how religious people and communities understand severe sadness, their coping mechanisms and their help-seeking behaviours. Drawing from her study of practicing Catholics, contemplative monks and nuns, priests and laypeople studying theology, the author describes how symptoms that might otherwise be described as pathological and meet diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder are considered by some religious individuals to be normal and valued experiences. She explains how sadness fits into the 'Dark Night of the Soul' narrative - an active transformation of emotional distress into an essential ingredient for self-reflection and spiritual growth - and how sadness with a recognised cause is seen to 'make sense', whereas sadness without a cause may be seen to warrant psychiatric consultation. The author also discusses the role of the clergy in cases of sadness and depression and their collaboration with medical professionals. This is an insightful read for anyone with an interest in theology or mental health, including clergy, psychiatrists and psychologists.

Genres: Mental Health

360 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2017

Reviews

[Joe Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by an academic friend who heard the author talking about her work at an event in London. Anyone with an interest in psychology or psychiatry and religion will find it fascinating. I tended to skip the end notes and concentrate on the stories of the people in the book who had all suffered from some form of crisis whether religious or not, told with real sympathy. The stories show how people were able to escape form the ‘Dark Night’ of the title by finding meaning in their suffering. It’s very relevant to those of us who know, or know of, people who have gone through depression and found their own way out. It's not clear whether the author is religious or not- she’s able to be objective about people’s beliefs and their self-examination. The author has a nice sense of humour and doesn’t take herself too seriously, but the fact that she is a psychiatrist who is concerned with her day to day treatment of mental illness is obvious in her concern for the people in her narratives. A challenging read, but well worth it.

[Sharon L. S. Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written like an academic paper. Very repetitive. Excellent content, but way longer than necessary. Would make a terrific paper.