This forum post (I believe from the PatientsLikeMe forum) is the piece of writing that has had the most influence over me in the past seven years or so.

How do you incorporate a sense of spirituality in your treatment if you do and if don’t why ?

I’ve worked on this one a lot.

Depression and “mood disorders” put us in a place where we want to be spiritual.  Mania is characterized by a feeling of unity and perception of god.   Depression makes us (or me, anyway) want to ask really fundamental questions of meaning and metaphysics.

We feel the acute need for spirituality at these times.  However, I think these are the worst possible times to take on a new spirituality.  Our lens is clouded by desire — desire to stop hurting.

I have learned to distrust these feelings.  Trying to attach big meanings to psychiatric problems is really dangerous in my experience.  I can go into detail if anyone is interested.

Spiritual belief and practice are important to us for the same reasons they are important to everyone else.  Faith can be stabilizing.  But proceed with caution.