Life giving resources. Faithfully delivered.
FREE delivery on orders over £10
Serving over 2 million Christians in the UK
with Bibles, Books and Church Supplies
Our Buy-Now-Pay-Later accounts used
by over 4,000 UK Churches & Schools
Excellent 4.8 out of 5

Trustpilot

You now have 0 of this item in your basket

Sadness, Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul

Transcending the Medicalisation of Sadness [Paperback]

by Gloria Dura-Vila

Author
Gloria Dura-Vila
Book Format
Paperback
Publisher
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published
November 2016

Read full description

Click to expand

Today's Price

£28.12

Free UK Delivery

Available - Usually dispatched within 48 hours

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account

Enter the product quantity

Sadness, Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul

Today's Price £28.12

Frequently Bought Together

Sadness, Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul

by Gloria Dura-Vila

Paperback

When God Was a Bird: Christianity, Animism, and the Re-Enchantment of the World

by Mark I. Wallace

Paperback

Add both to basket for £52.17

Product Description

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.