Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes Crisis – Book Review brings together the work of Stanislav Grof, Christina Grof, R.D. Laing, Roberto Assagioli, John Weir Perry, Keith Thompson, Ram Dass, Lee Sannella,Jack Kornfield, Paula Rebillot, Holger Kalweit, Anne Armstrong, Bruce Greyson. This book gives an opportunity to psychologists, psychiatrists, spiritual teachers, and readers to address important questions: What is spiritual emergency? What forms does spiritual emergency take? What are the pitfalls — and promises — of spiritual practice? How can people in spiritual emergency be assisted by family, friends, and professionals?

“Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes Crisis” reveals that within the crisis of spiritual emergency lies the promise of spiritual emergence and renewal. Increasing numbers of people involved in personal transformation are experiencing spiritual emergencies — crises when the process of growth and change becomes chaotic and overwhelming. Individuals experiencing such episodes may feel that their sense of identity is breaking down, that their old values no longer hold true, and that the very ground beneath their personal realities is radically shifting. In many cases, new realms of mystical and spiritual experience enter their lives suddenly and dramatically, resulting in fear and confusion. They may feel tremendous anxiety, have difficulty coping with their daily lives, jobs, and relationships, and may even fear for their own sanity. Unfortunately, much of modern psychiatry has failed to distinguish these episodes from mental illness. As a result, transformational crises are often suppressed by routine psychiatric care, medication, and even institutionalization. However, there is a new perspective developing among many mental health professionals and those studying spiritual development that views such crises as transformative breakthroughs that can hold tremendous potential for physical and emotional healing. When understood and treated in a supportive manner, spiritual emergencies can become gateways to higher levels of functioning and new ways of being.