I think finding sometype of Spritual aspect to ones life,enhances and deepens the meaning of our lives...therefore giving us a sence of personal worth and value.....it kinda keeps the Boogy Man thoughts away.

I think so, it does not nessarily mean God(Jesus) It could mean hope, faith, meditating, that there is something greater and bigger then us.

The love of nature. Spirituality means different meanings to people. What does it mean to you.

I like that DD :)

I had my psych doc just look at me and say "you need God", my therapist and I laugh about that womans poor exhausting efforts to make me "better". Truth is, it works. A good start for me was talking to a minister type person and then attending a christian church. Feels better leaving there Sunday morning than a bar at 3:00 am.

Its very important.

It is just as important as you physical and emotional help, kinda like a wheel cut into thirds. If one piece is missing or uneven the wheel will roll while thumping and if the imbalance is bad enough it can quit rolling

Spirituality holds the physical, mental, emotional sides together.

How do you gain spirituality?

Jung said that all mental distress at it's root was due to a spiritual crisis. That was his perspective rather than Freud's it is about sex and shame.

I'm not sure you can "get spiritual". People often used to see me as very spiritual despite being an atheist. I think it comes from my personality type. But bipolar "helps" in reminding you the world is not as it seems, there are other types of experiences and so on.

I think spirituality helps center a person, knowing that there is that "spirit in the sky" a higher power a "je ne sais qua" out there is very enlightening. It can help you to meditate, going to church helps some of us too. For me knowing that God is there and unloading my "baggage" on him when I feel fit (during prayer at home, praying at church). For some people the "dreaded" confessional that made me freak out as a youngster (didn't know I was a beeper back then). I dunno I really believe it works for alot of people, including me...Maria J.

I believe in spirits (infact, I have had personal evidence of spirits but thats another topic) and to me, God is not an entity.... more a source of love that is within each of us... and in awe inspiring things... things that make you feel at peace... beautiful woodland, amazing sunsets, pretty flowers, innocent children laughing. I havent long accepted God in this way, but spirit and the afterlife have been long held beliefs.

I was advised by my psychologist that as my hospitalisation was from a spiritual delusion (not my choice of words) to stay away from religion as it would make me ill.

I ignored all spirit, didnt look for meaning in life (to me meaning is found in spirituality) and became ill anyway. Very, very deeply depressed. This lasted some months.

Eventually realised that it wasnt so much an episode from BP, but that a huge chunk of me was now missing and I was empty.

Now, returning to my beliefs (not of an organised religion but of that which I have had evidence of), I feel whole again.

Is it important?

To me, yes. It is vital!

i made it a point to say some prayers before sleep or naps but felt guilty about it because it turned into an ocd type thing and the fact that i was questioning god for why he had given me this disorder. i do however believe in the spirituality of the universe and still pray, just in a different way. kidlet keeps asking to go to church(we are catholic) but i get all anxious thinking about it. i would like to go to confession first but they only have it after morning mass and i would have to leave at 7:10a and that is right when kidlet is getting ready for school, i may just have to do it and free myself from this guilt.

To me there is a huge difference between religion/ religiosity and spirituality. Spirituality to me means that you are aware (or try to become aware) that you have a source of strength and peace (love) inside of you, an inner guiding voice.
For my reading books on the topic, like the ones by N.D. Walsch, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson and Gerald Jampolsky has been very important.

My uncle had a wry sense of humor. When he was asked about which religion he liked, he responded, "You don't need a tavern to get drunk."

In my journey I've felt close to God in manic episodes, drug experiences and in discussing him with others.

My quest has been to become closer to my higher power and I realize that I have this life to do it.

Scooby3

spirituality is very important on those days when we feel hopeless, or down in the dumps, and it can help to pull us back out, maybe a little quicker than without any hope.