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Counterpoint
Guest
It appears to be self evident because our minds are asleep and dreaming.
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Counterpoint
Guest
You definitely will know it when you have one, because you enter into a different state of consciousness.
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jimmy
Guest
A midlife crisis is an existential crisis. College grads sometimes experience a crisis when they graduate and they don’t know what to do now that they have to support themselves. Someone might experience a crisis if they go through a radical change in belief; it may seem like they have wasted their time and energy with their former ideas of life.
I wouldn’t say it is an altered state of consciousness.
I wouldn’t say it is an altered state of consciousness.
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levinas12
Guest
Death is unfortunately real and ugly but it wasn’t intended by God from the beginning.
On the other hand, our personal consciousness survives death. Granted, we don’t have our bodies (we will have to wait until the end of the time to get our bodies back) and that imposes a limitation. But we are aware of ourselves, others and God. And if we get to get to Purgatory or Heaven, we will be able to help those still living on earth.
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LongingSoul
Guest
I’ve just posted this in another thread, but think it might belong here also.
I experienced this around the time of my early forties. (Ten years ago). Even though I have always been a practicing Catholic and never experienced any doubts in the face of clever atheistic arguments… my experience began as physical rather than intellectual. I felt as if I was existing on the edge of a great black chasm or abyss that was sucking me in. I tried to ignore it and work against it but one day I felt it ‘get’ me and I was spiralling down into it. I was more terrified than I’d ever been and prayed and prayed the rosary over and over. Eventually, I had to give up trying to fight it and said God if You are there only You can save me. Almost instantly I experienced a sensation of being scooped up by a huge Fathers hand and the lightness was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever experienced. It was the first time in my life that I had met with the Lord in that way.
Since that time there is a certain type of fear that I’ve lived without. I still have some other fears about my worthiness and whether I’m ‘hurting’ God and others by my weaknesses and sins, but I find that I want to be a better person not so much to save myself from hell (which is how I’d subconsciously lived up to that point )… but so as not to harm others and God. (I know that God cannot be harmed by me, but as my Father, my care about Him in that way seems right).
As Catholics, we are so blessed to have the food for the soul in the Eucharist and the place of cleansing and renewel in the sacrament of Reconciliation. I can’t stress to you enough how important they are to you in this life.
I experienced this around the time of my early forties. (Ten years ago). Even though I have always been a practicing Catholic and never experienced any doubts in the face of clever atheistic arguments… my experience began as physical rather than intellectual. I felt as if I was existing on the edge of a great black chasm or abyss that was sucking me in. I tried to ignore it and work against it but one day I felt it ‘get’ me and I was spiralling down into it. I was more terrified than I’d ever been and prayed and prayed the rosary over and over. Eventually, I had to give up trying to fight it and said God if You are there only You can save me. Almost instantly I experienced a sensation of being scooped up by a huge Fathers hand and the lightness was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever experienced. It was the first time in my life that I had met with the Lord in that way.
Since that time there is a certain type of fear that I’ve lived without. I still have some other fears about my worthiness and whether I’m ‘hurting’ God and others by my weaknesses and sins, but I find that I want to be a better person not so much to save myself from hell (which is how I’d subconsciously lived up to that point )… but so as not to harm others and God. (I know that God cannot be harmed by me, but as my Father, my care about Him in that way seems right).
As Catholics, we are so blessed to have the food for the soul in the Eucharist and the place of cleansing and renewel in the sacrament of Reconciliation. I can’t stress to you enough how important they are to you in this life.
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lampstand
Guest
Oh yes. I have grappled with loneliness and depression. Although, thank God, I am getting some help.
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levinas12
Guest
Thank you for sharing this. It provides encouragement to the rest of us.
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Counterpoint
Guest
I don’t consider these true examples of an “existential crisis.”
I would say the following is…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=11876142&postcount=1
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jimmy
Guest
It doesn’t matter what you consider to be an existential crisis, all that matters is what fits the definition of an existential crisis. Fear of death is part of it, so yes, hihiip’s post is an example of it.
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Counterpoint
Guest
It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe an existential crisis involves an altered state of consciousness.
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GEddie
Guest
It doesn’t.
One can face existential fear from well within one’s everyday state of mind. No drugs, hypoxia, or bizarre psychological methods needed; reality is frightening enough.
ICXC NIKA
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Counterpoint
Guest
I don’t think you understand. The point I was making is that being in a state of fear is a different state of consciousness than our normal or ordinary state of consciousness. Just like being in a state of love is a different state of consciousness than our normal or ordinary state of consciousness. (No drugs necessary to precipitate the state. But there might be a drug to cure it or, at least. alleviate it. In fact, I’m sure that most psychiatrists would look at it as a psychological disorder.)Counterpoint:
It doesn’t.
One can face existential fear from well within one’s everyday state of mind. No drugs, hypoxia, or bizarre psychological methods needed; reality is frightening enough.
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Aloysium
Guest
I get the impression the person understood, but disagreed.
At any rate, terms like “state of consciousness” and “existential crisis” are colloquial rather than technical terms. Their meanings have to be discerned from the context in which the writer discusses them.
Psychiatrists don’t classify a state of love as a mental disorder; there does exist erotomania, which is a delusional isorder. Actually, although there is a Diagnostic Manual, there is much discussion about not only the validity of the different classificatory systems, but also concerning the nature of what constitutes a mental illness.
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Counterpoint
Guest
I didn’t. The respondent’s comment seemed to suggest that I was in some way advocating drugs in order to induce an altered state of consciousness.
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GEddie
Guest
I was not suggesting that.
But the phrase “altered state of consciousness” does sound like something that would require drugs or some other method of changing the body state. “Existential crisis” has nothing to do with that, it can arise fully within our everyday mind.
ICXC NIKA
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Counterpoint
Guest
Its called a “crisis” for a reason. Your entire psychological state changes (from a positive one to a negative one). There is no question about that.
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oldcelt
Guest
I experienced an altered state of consciousness in just the past few months due to low oxygen. I must admit that it was the least crisis-filled experience internally, though my sister says that I was obviously panicking externally. The mind is fascinating…I was apparently operating in two separate consciousnesses. The visible one I cannot recall in the slightest.
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Counterpoint
Guest
That’s interesting. What exactly happened?
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oldcelt
Guest
Because of a severe case of psoriatic arthritis I have to take a biologic medication (Enbrel currently) that suppresses my immune system. About 45 days ago I went to sleep with a developing chest cold (I am a lifelong member of the COPD club). In the matter of a few hours I apparently woke with a blood oxygen saturation of 62 out of 100.
Rather than call people nearby I called a friend 50 odd miles away. Fortunately she knew my sister and called her saying that I was drifting in and out of lucidity.
By the time the ambulance got me to the hospital I was barely breathing and they eventually put me on a respirator for three days.
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Counterpoint
Guest
Okay. But what exactly was your “altered state of consciousness?” (I got the impression that your asphyxiation crisis resulted in some kind of spiritual experience.)
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