Chaos and Self-Organization as a Consequence of Spiritual Disequilibrium

PERSONS WHOSE MOST cherished beliefs are challenged in the context of traumatic life events are likely to experience severe spiritual disequilibrium. The complexity of this experience cannot be adequately conceptualized in terms of general systems theory. A formulation of this phenomenon in terms of the concept of self-organization from chaos theory can give the nurse a useful assessment of spiritual disequilibrium. The case study method describing the psychotherapeutic relationship between a CNS—the author—and a woman who experienced this phenomenon is used as an illustration. Specific guidelines are discussed for the use of chaos theory in nursing practice.