Experiencing depression after a Spiritual Awakening is incredibly common. While it may seem like these two states shouldn’t coexist, they often do, and there are several reasons why Awakening can lead to feelings of sadness or emptiness.
First, it’s important to acknowledge that we don’t just experience one Awakening in our lifetime. We undergo multiple revelations, each followed by a period of unfolding and growth. Spiritual Awakening is an ongoing journey. As we peel back layers and expand our awareness, we may also encounter depression. Here’s why…
1. Questioning everything can leave you feeling lost
When we awaken, we begin to truly examine how we’ve been living.We start questioning our beliefs, our thought patterns, and the way we have moved through life. Suddenly, things that once brought us joy may no longer resonate. Conversations that once felt engaging might feel hollow. Long-held beliefs may start to crumble, leaving us in an unfamiliar and unsettling place.
2. Ego death can feel like an identity crisis
This process often leads to what’s known as an ego death. Our ego shapes our personality and sense of individuality, forming early in life and evolving as we grow. When we awaken and begin challenging our perceptions and ways of engaging with the world, our ego struggles to maintain its structure. It begins to dissolve, leaving us without a familiar reference point. This can feel like stepping into a void - an in-between space where we’re no longer who we once were, yet not fully who we are becoming.
3. The void is uncertain and isolating
The void can feel ungrounded, disorienting, even isolating. We may feel disconnected from ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. We might feel like no one truly understands what we’re going through or the direction we’re being called to move in. It can feel as though nothing makes sense anymore.
And in this space, depression can settle in.
This sense of disconnection - this feeling of being unmoored - is part of the process. If you’re feeling detached or lost right now, know that this is temporary. It is a natural part of transformation.
4. Depression signals a soul misalignment
Another reason we experience depression is that our soul is signaling misalignment. When we feel anxious, depressed, or burdened by suffering, it is often our inner being’s way of letting us know that something isn’t right. Something in our life - our patterns, relationships, choices, or even perspectives - may need to shift.
5. Resistance to inner work can prolong the pain
Sometimes, the shift required is subtle. It may not be a massive life overhaul but rather an internal adjustment. Depression can persist when we resist the inner work - when we avoid sitting in stillness, reflecting on our thoughts, and reassessing our choices. Growth often requires deep introspection, a willingness to examine our shadows, and a commitment to moving forward in a way that aligns with our highest self.
There is no universal timeline for this process. It’s deeply personal. I can’t tell you, “Do X, Y, and Z, and in a set amount of time, you’ll feel better.” It doesn’t work that way. Everyone’s journey is unique.
6. Depression invites you to go within
But one thing is certain: depression is an invitation to look within. It’s an opportunity to realign with what genuinely resonates with your soul. It’s a chance to become more intentional about where you invest your time, energy, and attention.
If you’re struggling, I encourage you to explore this process - whether on your own or with the support of a therapist, coach, spiritual mentor, or trusted guide. Sometimes, working with someone who can reflect back our blind spots is invaluable. I personally seek out coaches and healers for this reason - they serve as sacred mirrors, helping me see what I might otherwise miss.
Our language, our habits, and our thought patterns hold clues to what’s causing distress. We may unknowingly be holding onto outdated beliefs or self-sabotaging behaviors. Something that once served us may no longer be working. It could be as simple as a dietary change or as profound as releasing a deeply ingrained way of being. What needs shifting will be unique to you.
7. This is temporary, and healing is possible
If you’re feeling weighed down, please remember - this is temporary. If you allow yourself to tune in, to listen to what your soul is asking of you, healing can happen. Sometimes clarity comes in an instant; other times, it takes patience and repeated reflection. The key is to trust the process.
Spiritual Awakening often triggers ego death. This can leave us feeling disconnected from our old ways of being, our relationships, and even ourselves. We enter a void, a space of uncertainty that can feel daunting. But this is our soul’s way of calling us deeper - to choose consciously how we want to move forward, to integrate our shadows, and to step into a more authentic version of ourselves. This is the path to growth, to expansion, to raising our vibration and expanding our consciousness.
Know that this experience, though challenging, is purposeful. You will get through this. There is a divine reason for the emotions you’re feeling and what you're experiencing. Your soul is speaking to you. Will you listen? Will you nurture that inner relationship? The blessings that come from doing this work are profound.
Know that there is meaning in what you’re experiencing.
If you need support, I’m here. This is why I speak on these topics - because depression and loneliness often walk hand in hand on the Awakening path.
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