I Have Witnessed Miracles

Lessons learned from transformation

mir·a·cle /ˈmirək(ə)l/

noun

a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

In my training and career, I've been repeatedly fed the idea that psychiatric illnesses are real medical conditions, demanding pharmaceutical drugs to correct (insert the latest fad theory).

They preach the gospel of evidence-based mental health treatments – the magic combo of a carefully researched therapy plus the perfect psychiatric drug is supposed to be the golden ticket to managing one's "illness." It's like they're saying, "Here's the recipe, mix it right, and ta-da, your mental health is solved!"

Nevertheless, despite the touted scientific progress, we find ourselves struggling with soaring rates of so-called "mental illness." Incidents of despair-driven deaths, suicides, and drug abuse have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels.

Over decades, I've observed individuals deteriorating under the umbrella of psychiatric care. The labeling, drugging, and conceptualization of mental illness have proven overwhelmingly detrimental, wreaking havoc on the health and lives of countless individuals. Our younger generations is being indoctrinated into this narrative through influential campaigns supposedly aimed at "reducing stigma," but often, they steer more people toward toxic ideologies and drugs. If we label more individuals as mentally ill, they expand the customer base for mental health services.

If deeming the use of drugs and targeted therapies as the scientific protocol for treating individuals submerged in despair, trauma, fear, eating disorders, or profound emotional distress is considered a scientific law...then, in my experience,

I've witnessed nothing short of miracles.

In truth, the only route I've observed to true healing involves rejecting these labels and reclaiming one's health. This article encapsulates the profound lessons gleaned from transformative journeys — an exploration into what it truly takes for someone to craft a life of purpose and value, one truly worth living. To move beyond the label of a mental illness and to understand how people truly change when therapy is responsibly provided. These lessons are the gifts to be shared with others who may be struggling.

Lesson #1: "My emotions make sense and are valid. Their presence is designed to serve my growth."

By the time I assess someone and embark on the transformation process, most individuals have mastered the art of invalidating their emotions, suppressing painful memories, and struggling to recognize that their emotional reactions are entirely understandable given their personal history. Instead, they've been indoctrinated into the belief that there's a medical flaw within them. They believe they are different from others—experiencing more intense pain, with thoughts and behavior that seem out of control. Psychiatry might label them as having major depressive disorder, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, or some other self-limiting idea of themselves.

The quest for the right diagnostic label becomes the guide to determine the precise chemical dose needed to correct the perceived chemical imbalance responsible for their struggle. Perhaps their thought patterns are distorted or their reactions “crazy”. Regardless, the overarching message remains consistent—they are perceived as broken, in need of fixing. This notion is further ingrained in our culture and medical system: You are unwell; this drug should provide the remedy.

Yet, far from offering a solution, it merely reinforces the notion that the issue lies beyond their control. Most begin to worsen. Every distressing thought, challenging day, and emotional pain experience becomes a haunting reminder of their "mental illness." They are now conditioned to perceive each internal experience as a symptom of mental illness, and the benchmark for living well is defined by the absence of these thoughts and emotions.

Efforts to dull or numb these experiences only compound the invalidation of emotions and impede the recovery process. The acceptance of emotions, the processing of emotional responses, and the utilization of emotions to navigate toward essential changes are all hindered by the very concept that emotions are symptoms of an illness.

So, how does the transformation begin? It starts with the rejection of the notion that they are inherently unwell. Instead, it involves the gradual, careful tapering off of the often numerous psychiatric drugs they have been prescribed. As the fog of medication begins to lift, they gain a clearer understanding of their emotions in context — recognizing them as beautiful gifts intended to facilitate their transformation. This reduction in internal judgment of emotions consequently diminishes the intensity of these reactions. Only when emotions are fully accepted, and without judgment, can someone take the necessary steps to learn and grow.

In many instances, the discontinuation of psychiatric drugs alone produces such a dramatic improvement in how the person feels that it serves as compelling evidence to them that they are not inherently unwell.

This might as well be a miracle, considering it defies explanation in the realm of psychiatric scientific literature (and yes, it's probably the first time "psychiatric" and "scientific" have shared a sentence).

Let's label it divine intervention—the acknowledgment that emotions exist to foster personal growth rather than to be numbed and sedated.

Lesson #2: “The struggle in my life is an opportunity for growth.”

“Hardship is a blessing when it spurs effort and development; ease is a curse when it increases complacency and self-indulgence.”— Muso Kokushi

A profound shift begins when you embrace your reactions to life events as opportunities for growth. No longer are you viewed as broken. Whether it's a suicide attempt, drug abuse, self-injury, anorexia, binge eating, or social isolation and avoidance—all serve the same purpose: seeking temporary relief, an escape, an attempt not to feel. This makes sense, considering individuals have been conditioned to believe that what they're feeling is wrong, dangerous, a disease.

Yet- it creates profound suffering and compounds the existing problems that already exist.

Contrary to seeking temporary relief from the challenges of life, the true essence of living is found in a complete, radical acceptance of the full spectrum of emotions gifted to us on this journey.

Now the work begins.

Changing self destructive patterns requires a daily commitment, a set of skills, and the courage to confront fears. It involves learning to observe the stories the mind creates, clarifying values, and understanding that, fundamentally, most people seek a life filled with love, creativity, experience, and learning. Ironically, these are often the things people fear the most: the fear of feeling love and potentially losing it, the fear of rejection, the fear of taking risks and facing failure, the fear of grief, and the fear of feeling inferior compared to others. The inherent dangers of living can be daunting. Fear remains a constant.

For those who have experienced trauma, whether through physical or sexual violence or by witnessing unspeakable horrors, the struggle to fully engage with life may be especially challenging.

The miracles I've witnessed involve transcending fear to embrace a life with courage. This courage opens doors to new experiences that may have otherwise remained unexplored. Through this courage, I've seen individuals create lives filled with extraordinary love, service, and devotion. The wisdom gained from transcending these challenges surpasses what could have been achieved without the struggle. Personally, I've had the privilege of learning from these remarkable individuals, receiving the gift of their wisdom.

Once more, it's the role of divine intervention—the miracle. The struggle proved to be the transformative path, essential for their transcendence. Without the presence of those challenges, they wouldn't have achieved the lives they now lead, nor acquired the necessary lessons. In hindsight, they perceive their past as the catalyst for alchemy—a resurrection and reclamation from what was old to what is new.

"Behold, I make all things new."

Lesson #3: “We live in the eternal NOW”

Fully accepting this concept can be challenging for most people to grasp. Even if one comprehends it intellectually, putting it into practice requires a profound paradigm shift. Many individuals in distress find themselves caught up in ruminating about past pain, anticipating future hardships, and getting entangled in the stories and judgments within their minds.

In reality, many fail to recognize that it is the mind itself that is creating the suffering, becoming attached to an internal dialogue and judgment of self and others, as if it were an absolute truth. We are all creators of our own reality and this reality can be painful depending upon the themes. Negative self judgments and pessimistic predictions become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We can live only in the present. Peace is felt in the now. Learning happens in the now. Love exists in the now. To fully free oneself from the burdens of worries and judgments, one must accept that the future is a concept of the mind. When the realization hits that the past is done, existing only as a memory and perhaps a lesson, attention can then shift to living fully in the present.

The eternal now is a spiritual concept where God and life unfold. You, a divine being, exist beyond the constraints of linear time. Miracles happen in the present. Training our minds for full presence through centuries-old practices like meditation, prayer, and mindfulness liberates us from fear ingrained in our survival-evolved bodies, fostering a connection with spirit.

Witnessing transformations reveals a link to an inner wisdom, intuition, and a powerful voice when fully engaged in the present. This experience transcends the fear-based mind. Explaining it is challenging; it's learned through experience only. Those unfamiliar may vilify or devalue it, choosing the comfort of familiar rules over concepts they haven't encountered or fail to understand.Psychiatry struggles to explain certain phenomena (most phenomena), choosing to categorize what is not understood as “disorders.”

When transformation takes place, individuals tap into the miracles inherent in the present. Their thoughts and actions undergo a profound shift. Many describe experiencing intense joy, a newfound comfort, and a revitalized sense of purpose. A distinct energy surrounds them, accessed when they learn to detach from the judgments, fears, evaluations, predictions, and entangled narratives of the fear-based mind.

This transformative experience of now can occur beyond the reach of scientific measurement and the limitations of our consciousness.

Must be a miracle.

Lesson #4: Our Interconnectedness

In prolonged emotional distress, individuals may perceive themselves as disconnected from nature, fellow humans, and any sense of collective humanity. This perspective can foster a view of others as threatening, oneself as fragile and vulnerable, and the world as competitive, nihilistic, and self-destructive. While these aspects certainly exist to a degree and must be acknowledged, accepting them as the complete truth would overlook the existence of beauty and love. As inherently social creatures, our connections to each other and the nature around us are sources of peace and love.

Any idea or system that profits from cultivating separateness is bound to disintegrate and be reclaimed. In my observations, transformation leads to a profound recognition of interconnectedness—realizing the capacity to receive love and blessings through the act of giving. This may be the divine essence of the present moment or a result of the earlier mentioned lessons. I routinely observe change materializing within relationships—expressed through service to others, acts of love, connections with people, and contributing to a higher calling.

The transition from an energy of fear to one of courage and love marks the culmination of transformation. I've observed individuals who have endured the most unspeakable sexual and physical trauma develop an unparalleled compassion and love for others, propelling them to serve their community with a profound sense of purpose.

I've witnessed others transcend from the harrowing depths of sex trafficking and drug addiction to establish marriages, build families, and forge meaningful careers. While the cases vary, the underlying lesson remains constant. These individuals somehow navigate the journey from isolation, fear, and self-protection to a profound understanding of interconnectedness, choosing connection over withdrawal even when it seems easier to retreat from others.

Certainly, this transformative process is far from easy. It involves a emotional processing of painful or traumatic memories, a deep journey towards self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others, and a fundamental shift in perspective on the world, forged from the lessons previously mentioned. It requires resilience, introspection, and a profound commitment to personal growth.

In a world of psychiatric labels and the allure of quick fixes, the journey of transformation may seem daunting or even unattainable. Yet, it is precisely in this journey that crucial lessons are learned and carried into the eternal now.

Challenges arise as we find ourselves divided by those who benefit financially or politically, making it more difficult to bridge the gap of perceived disconnection. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that navigating this path is necessary for collective well-being and understanding.

It's understandable why some who have been harmed would develop a broad-based fear of others. Yet, it's the transcendence beyond this fear that undermines most trauma therapies, allowing for profound healing and growth. Additionally, I've witnessed interconnectedness manifest in the ways people connect with animals and nature, extending beyond human connections.

Are these miracles? Or has our collective reality been hijacked in a way that limits our understanding of the human experience and our inherent capabilities? I guarantee you this—miracles happen every day.

“Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.”

-Saint Augustine