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The dreamy state: an autoethnography of spiritual meaning in epilepsy

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King, L., Roxburgh, E. C. and Roe, C. A. (2015) The dreamy state: an autoethnography of spiritual meaning in epilepsy. Paper presented to: 2nd British Auto-ethnography Conference: Auto-ethnography: Reading the Body and Writing the Self, Aberdeen University, 30-31 October 2015. (Unpublished)
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Creators:King, L., Roxburgh, E. C. and Roe, C. A.
Abstract:
Study of anything can sometimes drain it of its feeling, its blood (Moriarty, 2013); this ‘psychologising’ then loses a sense of the embodied individual (Muncey, 2010). In the hidden world of the ‘dreamy states’ of epilepsy, the Cartesian mind-body split is impossible. Some people with epilepsy experience ‘dreamy’ or ‘cosmic’ spiritual states (Dolgoff-Kaspar et al., 2011); they talk to God, or know the oneness of the universe. The medical model pathologises these experiences, regarding them as, at best, hallucinations (e.g. Sacks, 2012) and at worst, a symptom of seizure-associated psychosis (e.g. Dolgoff-Kaspar et al., 2011).
A personal crisis forced me to question my sense of self-identity and, in unravelling mentally, my body followed - my epilepsy became a concern. I was forced to look within to a defining condition that I had always rejected. I began to research individuals who find spiritual meaning in their epileptic auras where I have previously had none. My curiosity about ‘Other’ started me on a journey to re-defining and understanding of ‘Self’. I speak now as a researcher through and with my ‘illness’ (Frank, 1995) and wonder what is meant by health in this context.
I propose to present an autoethnographic paper that offers insight into how auto-ethnography enables me to employ a novel approach to engage with this altered state of consciousness – a waking dream technique (Hamilton, 2014). Through this approach, I can explore the specific character and intensity of the feelings that accompany these epileptic events (Trimble & Freeman, 2006).This autoethnography will present the layers and voices of my narrative and the meaning my experience of epilepsy has in the criss-crossing of my personal and societal roles as researcher, student, woman, patient, psychotherapist. Auto-ethnography will allow me to give voice to this experience - indescribable by medicine (Frank, 1995).
Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC346 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system > RC372 Epilepsy
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF204.7 Transpersonal psychology
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF1048 Hallucinations. Sleep. Dreaming. Visions
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Date:October 2015
Date Type:Presentation
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  • Conference
Event Title:2nd British Auto-ethnography Conference: Auto-ethnography: Reading the Body and Writing the Self
Event Location:Aberdeen University
Event Dates:30-31 October 2015
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