Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Dreamy States and Cosmic Wanderings: An Autoethnographic Narrative of Spiritual Experiences In Epilepsy

Spiers, L. (2021) Dreamy States and Cosmic Wanderings: An Autoethnographic Narrative of Spiritual Experiences In Epilepsy. Departures in Critical Qualitative Research. 10(1), pp. 50-77.

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Spiers_Louise_UOCP_2019_Dreamy_States_and_Cosmic_Wanderings_An_Autoethnographic_Narrative_of_Spiritual_Experiences_In_Epilepsy.pdf - Published Version
Information
Abstract:
The medical model attributes religious and spiritual experiences in epilepsy to delusional or hallucinatory events, sometimes diagnosed as a form of ictal psychosis with its causation lying in epileptic symptomatology. Individuals with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy rarely discuss experiences with medical professionals, fearing judgement and pathologization. I problematize understanding these experiences in a strictly biomedical manner. A medical case study is replaced by autoethnographic narrative to describe and analyse spiritual experiences from a non-medical perspective. This approach emphasizes the phenomenology of the experience and its meaning for the life of the experient. Themes of illness, disclosure and stigma become transformative. Keywords: epilepsy, spirituality, autoethnography, illness, ictal psychosis
Uncontrolled Keywords:
epilepsy, spirituality, autoethnography, illness
Creators:
Spiers, L.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date:
1 March 2021
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 50-77
Journal or Publication Title:
Departures in Critical Qualitative Research
Volume:
10
Number:
1
Number of Pages:
27
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1525/dcqr.2021.10.1.50
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
Related URLs:
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