St. John of the Cross identifies three signs that signify a person is experiencing a dark night of the soul. At first glance, these share a striking similarity with modern signs and symptoms of clinical depression: lack of interest in things that formerly provided joy and/or comfort in one’s life, especially physical pleasure; the inability to concentrate on ordinary tasks of daily life or upon one’s spiritual endeavors; and a profound sense of disconnection from the everyday, and ultimately, from God. The dark night of the soul differs from depression, however, in that it comes directly from God, instead of being triggered from a traumatic event or biochemical imbalance. Therefore, it is not an affliction of body and mind, but a divine gift. Through divesting oneself of all previous attachments to the physical and material, one undergoes a purification, a preparatory stage that is necessary for transcending to a higher plane of consciousness and a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.
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