Spirituality is something popular and most talked about in people but even more misunderstood by some part of a society. It is oftenly compared with religion which it’s somewhere directly related to but is not the same in nature. Although all the religions at some level promote spirituality and bring their own faith and prejudices forward but spiritualism can be emphasized as the part of faith. Every thing that moves your inner self is spirituality that gives a meaning to the life that we live. The experiences from our personal, familial and cultural backgrounds influence how we express our spirituality . some people use religion as a tool to display their spirituality. There is a level of peace and purpose that spirituality provides. These factors have the potential to significantly improve mental health; evidence indicates that religion lowers the prevalence of drunkenness, drug use, and suicide.

Additionally, it’s likely that religious principles like forgiveness, love, and compassion “get interwoven into the way the brain works.”

Life is challenging for those who have mental illnesses. Internal voices, strong stimuli, irrational thoughts, perplexing concepts, severe worries, and other symptoms can make life nearly intolerable. For example, the cognitive process frequently gets so disorganised in people with schizophrenia that even conversing can be difficult. Diverse links between concepts and ideas that most people would typically dismiss as unimportant fight to divert one’s mind in frequently contradictory ways. Holding a basic conversation with another person is a process that most of us take for granted, according to Benioff (1995). So you keep returning to these great thoughts and feelings, and that lowers stress, anxiety, and can result in a lower level of the stress hormones with the aid of spirituality,

Pargament has discovered that people often experience more mental anguish and even have a higher chance of dying sooner when they think that God has abandoned them or when they doubt his love for them.

* Present a more expansive sense of purpose. According to Park, having a connection to a higher power or truth can help you feel like your life has significance and purpose outside of the ordinary.

Our lives are profoundly enriched by the inner depth that a spiritual practise reveals, and its effects are felt in every area of life. One of the advantages is the ability to heal ailments. One begins to feel a transition as a direct experience rather than as a forced cerebral exercise when spirituality increases in the body. One begins to feel more content, imaginative, and in control of their thoughts and emotions.

More people are turning to holistic, non-invasive approaches with spiritual or religious roots to treat mental health conditions because they are said to provide profound relief and have benefits that reportedly last longer than those provided by western medicine, which struggles with a trust deficit, fear of side effects and symptoms, and a general aversion to taking pills with long-term implications on one’s health.

Regular spiritual practises may also help to reduce oxidative stress (the increase in the ratio of immune-boosting antioxidants to free radicals), cortisol, corticotropin, blood lactate, ACTH, and plasma MDA. These are some of the biochemical markers of stress that have been linked to regular spiritual practises.

A powerful mind may support a frail body. But even a robust body cannot care for a feeble mind.

Although the end goal may be spiritual, these techniques offer enormous advantages for both the mind and body.

Increases acceptance of others

 * Calmness, steadiness, clarity of mind

* Fewer thoughts, less worrying, and less overthinking

 * More awareness

* Improved perception, observation, and communication

* Sense of belonging with people and life forms around

* More appreciation for gifts of life-relationships, material prosperity

 * Increases sense of well-being

 * Reduces depressive symptoms

 * Aids in surviving and eventually recovering post-traumatic symptoms

* Gives a sense of purpose

Are religion and spirituality the same thing?

Religion and spirituality are related. However, spirituality can be more broad and encompass a wide range of topics. People’s definitions of spirituality might vary, or you can subscribe to a particular spiritual doctrine. Without being religious, one can be spiritual.

Your inner strength, peace, hope, and optimism can be developed through religion and spirituality.

They contend that spirituality can not only lessen depression and anxiety, but also fully eradicate it if we are committed, evolve, and grow along our journey. How? AiR Atman in Ravi, a spiritual figure and the founder of the AiR Institute of Realization and AiR Center of Enlightenment, provided four potent strategies for how spirituality can reduce anxiety and depression in an interview with HT Lifestyle.

1. Our true selves are revealed to us through spirituality. We are aware of our identity. We are neither our physical selves, nor are we our minds and egos. The highest immortal power that we refer to as God is made up of us, who are the divine soul. The power we seek is actually within us. As we understand, God is a power rather than the divine.

2. We experience a sense of brotherhood, love, and unification. Peace and joy are paved over by this realisation. If we are aware that we are a part of God, how can we be anxious? that the divinity we seek is a part of us?

– Can religion and spirituality benefit one’s mental health?

Your mental health can be improved and unpleasant life events can be managed with the support of spirituality and religion. There are several ways that religion and spirituality might benefit your mental health, including:

• You might have greater support and friendship if you’re a part of a spiritual or religious community.

• Feeling linked to something greater than yourself may be beneficial to you.

• It might assist you in making sense of your experiences.

• If you’re feeling poorly, your spirituality or religion may give you courage or hope; additionally –
• You might experience greater harmony with others and yourself. Your healthcare staff must respect your right to freely express and consider your faith as a fundamental human right. They might be able to include your opinions and values into your treatment if you convey them to them.

Religion and spirituality frequently offer a feeling of stability and social structure, and these convictions can be a powerful coping technique in challenging circumstances. An active religious group can offer structure, support, and a sense of acceptance, all of which are good for mental health. People can experience a sense of belonging and value when a group is cohesive. Additionally, there are some events or circumstances in life that can contradict one’s religious connections and convictions. This might involve a long-term illness, the death of a loved one, or even experiencing rejection while things are changing. During these challenging circumstances, people may turn to trusted spiritual leaders or those outside of their own faith community for advice on how to deal with the situation and maintain their mental welfare.

Spiritual leaders are an important source for their community’s mental health education, raising awareness of mental health issues and assisting in connecting congregation. To play a significant role in enhancing the general mental health of the community, it is essential to have the necessary skills, knowledge of resources, and ethical framework for supporting individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. According to Luhrmann, prayer is comparable to cognitive behavioural therapy. It is a technique for tuning in to your inner experience, letting go of negative thoughts, and concentrating on more uplifting ones. You can change your focus from how things are going wrong to how they are doing right by showing thankfulness.