Kundalini, Mental Illness, and Medication… Oh My!
Kundalini and Mental Illness
Since my Kundalini awakening in June of 2018, I've spent plenty of time working with four different Kundalini therapists who are also licensed therapists. Collectively, they have worked with hundreds, if not thousands, of Kundalini-awakened individuals. I have also witnessed and listened to the experiences of many Kundalini-awakened individuals in online Kundalini support groups, forums, and web spaces.
I say this to reassure anyone reading that I have more than enough personal experience to share the following information confidently, understanding that it can be a healthy, comforting map and of great use and benefit to K-awakened folks out there.
Regarding Kundalini and mental illness, I can say with certainty that it is common for individuals with Kundalini awakenings to be concerned that they might be developing a mental illness of some kind. This is particularly common around the initial awakening, the first six months, or even the first years following.
If you relate to my past self and the many other K-awakened individuals who have come across this concern, here are some tips and useful insights that I imagine could be helpful:
Discerning Kundalini and Mental Illness
I enjoy what my own Kundalini Therapist and Licensed Psychotherapist, Tara Springett, has written in her book, ‘Healing Kundalini Symptoms.’
She states the following:
“When painful, frightening, and confusing symptoms predominate, we speak of the so-called Kundalini syndrome. One should bear in mind, however, that Kundalini syndrome is not a mental illness or neurosis but is still fundamentally an expansion of consciousness, which is always a higher development even if it is very challenging at times.”
She mentions in the same section of the book that Kundalini syndrome can be confused with “drug psychosis, burnout, conversion syndrome, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, various personality disorders, and psychotic illness.”
Further, she gives distinctions between a true psychotic disorder and challenging Kundalini paranormal experiences in the Kundalini process:
One distinction is that the K-awakened individual will have the ability and desire to talk about these experiences in detail. Those with mental illness generally don't wish to speak, while K-awakened individuals generally have a strong desire to share their experiences and suffer when no one understands them.
Kundalini-awakened individuals can date exactly when their paranormal experiences started happening and can also remember how they felt before their Kundalini awakening. Psychotic people lose their ability to distinguish between ‘normal’ and ‘crazy’ thoughts and behaviors. They often behave inappropriately in public and cannot remember what it’s like to be normal. Kundalini-awakened individuals can judge well how to behave in order not to be declared mentally ill.
She goes on to say that a Kundalini-awakened individual is gaining a new “paranormal dimension” of their mind in addition to their old “normal” dimension. They can distinguish between the two and communicate about it relatively clearly. Those with psychotic illness lose the normal dimension of the mind and think and behave in a way that would be considered “crazy” by normal society without being aware of this fact. K-awakened individuals often seek help, wish to eliminate their paranormal experiences, and continue to have a clear idea of what a normal state of mind consists of.
There is an entire section on this in Tara's book, which I highly recommend reading if you feel comforted by these words.
One aspect of Kundalini that I feel is helpful to mention is how, unlike mental illness, a K awakening commonly manifests a strong desire or motivation for a healthy and integrous life. Many K-awakened individuals have this desire and will consciously take up new habits to reform, recreate, or better their life within many different categories. They may proactively navigate health, social, spiritual, and career changes, etc., in order to suit this deepening desire for integrity. Seeing the fruit of this desire in various categories might take time, but it is indeed commonly witnessed in K-awakened individuals to ultimately have a strong wish to ‘expand’ positively. This wish and the fruit of the wish for positive expansion are representative of the expansion of consciousness occurring.
If you have concerns regarding the distinctions between Kundalini and a mental diagnosis, I recommend speaking to a Kundalini therapist who is also a licensed therapist rather than someone without appropriate licensing. This can help clear your mind most fruitfully if you are especially frightened or have any lingering concerns. All of the therapists I've recommended on my reference page I have worked with one-on-one, and they are qualified to do so.
Especially in the beginning stages of awakening, which can be the most vulnerable, it is recommended to find a trusted source of support and to be careful about receiving a diagnosis from any practitioner or individual who may not understand your experiences or be quick to pathologize them. This is standard advice for those experiencing K awakenings. If you are quite vulnerable, receiving an inaccurate diagnosis can be counterproductive and hinder your ability to create a healthy relationship with your Kundalini process (which is necessary and fundamental to nourish it). If you are waiting to work with a K therapist one-on-one, then it might ease your mind to join one of the weekly or monthly support groups listed on my Favorite Kundalini References page. In these support groups, there is an opportunity to connect with a Kundalini therapist directly and ask one or a few questions.
Kundalini and Medication
While I am not licensed to give definitive medical advice, I am happy to speak a little about this topic because I personally received medication directly after my Kundalini awakening in June of 2018 (which I weaned off entirely in early 2021 and have been quite comfortable and happy with having done so since then). I feel there is a necessity for more healthy information, support systems, awareness, and insight regarding Kundalini awakenings and medication.
As someone who took medications for sleep and anxiety, I neither promote nor advise against taking medication. My goal is to provide suitable resources and mutual support and share my personal experience for anyone who may be exploring this option themselves.
Some K-awakened individuals may explore medication to help manage the intense processing that can occur during the initial stabilization period or during particularly challenging times. Other K folks may choose never to take medication, and they do well without it. I appreciate this in-depth article “Kundalini and Medications - There is No One Size Fits All” by licensed counselor and Kundalini therapist Myree Morsi.
It's important to know that certain medications might present difficulties for those experiencing Kundalini awakening. For instance, Benzodiazepine is often cautioned against by various K-awakened individuals and Kundalini therapists. Many have shared their experiences of significant challenges associated with this medication. I mention this medication because it is commonly advised against and spoken very poorly about by therapists and K-awakened individuals who’ve witnessed severe challenges that come with it.
Understanding the potential withdrawal symptoms and the process of weaning off any temporary medications is imperative. Gathering as much information as possible about the medicines being considered can be beneficial and even crucial.
