Cult survivors often suffer serious abuse, life threatening situations, and gaslighting. Being told you are sinful and going to hell, Experiencing shame or being told youre not worthy of love due to your thoughts or beliefs, Fear of expressing yourself or sharing your thoughts, Forced to follow your communities rules and expectations, Marginalization due to your gender or sexuality, The use of scripture to justify abuse or injustice. Who Am I?ApproachFAQsTherapy for TeensTherapy for Adults, Online TherapyEMDRImmigration EvaluationsEvaluaciones de InmigracinFees & Policies, LocationContact MeSchedule AppointmentResourcesBlog, Mackenzi Kingdon, MA, LMHC // mackenzi@restorationcounselingseattle.com //+1 (206) 929-2738. Have you been shamed or punished by your partner for not obeying certain rules outlined by the religion? Want to Read. Many people experience RTS as a result from an authoritarian religion or faith community. This is a summary followed by a series of three articles which were published in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Today. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers scholarship options for students. But it's important to look at the behaviors or unspoken messages the . After pouring my heart out to this counselor about how I was mistreated growing up, he said I was paying for my sin. You may be depressed about life or scared of the future. I'm Ready for a 15 minute Initial Consultation. Trauma is not confined to individual experiences of single horrifying eventstrauma can be collective (community-wide, e.g., COVID-19), epigenetic (inherited or . Trauma does not occur directly from an event, but how our body responds to that event. Or are there only a few chose individuals who hold the power and information you need to become enlightened? Zak Ebrahim. November 11, 2020. It was at this time that I was finally able to peacefully practice Sikhism. "No one's ever sat me down and taught me what empathy is or why it matters more than power or patriotism or religious faith.". Feelings of depression, anxiety, grief, anger, lethargy. Some examples of religious trauma include: Spiritual abuse: This occurs when a religious leader(s) or religious system tries to control, manipulate, and degrade you. Integrate trauma-sensitive language across the domains of advocacy, assessment, documentation, and treatment of trauma. There is a sense of freedom, excitement about information and new experiences, new-found self-respect, integrity, and the sense of an emerging identity. Religious trauma is a real thing. You had to have known it was a cult right? So many people who have escaped a cult need to process what they have been through, but have limited resources to do this. Therapists often dont understand fundamentalism, and they even recommend spiritual practices as part of therapy. It is no secret that the church (Catholic and otherwise) has been exposed for serious cases of sexual abuse. Do you feel foolish for having a different idea? Religious trauma therapy is hard work. Or danger of slander and/or a destroyed reputation? 39, Issue 4, November 2011. In these cases, religious trauma can have a lasting impact on how the individual functions, connects with others, and navigates their religious beliefs. Religious Trauma Syndrome or "RTS". Located in Los Angeles, US, Bryan's research focuses on the BIPOC community and religious trauma. "Christ the man died long ago, but Christ the idea of love, still exists, not in any church, rather in the mind of humans.". After pouring my heart out to this counselor about how I was mistreated growing up and he said I was paying for my sin. Scholarships for Trauma Counseling Degrees2. Do they call your thoughts silly, stupid, wrong? Youve experienced physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse. Religious trauma often means you have little or no experience with boundaries. If you think you may be struggling with Religious Trauma Syndrome. You can see that the door unlocks from the outside, but you are told scary stuff is going to happen if you dare reach through the bars to unlock the door. Therapy in Seattle for religious trauma syndrome, and other faith transitions. The urgency of this outpouring is a testament to how little we hear in our national conversation from those who have experienced religious trauma. Relational - problems with family and friends due to religion, loss of social support system. Healing From Religious Trauma. The Recovery Process. (These are teachings of fundamentalist Christianity; however other authoritarian religions have equally toxic doctrines.). Religious Trauma is a condition that can be experienced by people who are struggling with leaving an authoritarian, dogmatic religion and coping with the damage of indoctrination and attachment trauma. Other mindfulness strategies such as meditation, self-care, and journaling can be helpful for those navigating the feelings that come with leaving a toxic religious community. Consult with a professional like a therapist who can help you strategize an exit. how hard do you slay? Third, individuals may be retraumatized when religious leaders downplay or outright deny instances of abuse or reinforce the idea that the abuse was actually beneficial. What kind of gf are you? There are many out there struggling with the same feelings you are, and there is hope for healing. The crisis of religious transition and healing from religious trauma, when resolved, can lead to profound psychological developments like self-discovery, newfound confidence, and feelings of freedom and liberation (Edbaug, 1988; Fisher, 2017, p. 358). This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Knowing where to turn for help in dealing with religious trauma can be difficult. 1. It can be compared to a combination of PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). Confusing thoughts and reduced ability to think critically. Do they put down other religions and belief systems in order to uphold their own? Confusing thoughts and reduced ability to think critically, Negative beliefs about self, others, and the world, Feelings of depression, anxiety, grief, anger, lethargy, A sense of feeling lost, directionless, and alone, A lack of pleasure or interest in things you used to enjoy, A loss of a community (family, friends, romantic relationships), Feeling isolated or a sense that you dont belong, Feeling behind the times with cultural happenings. It often involves the trauma of breaking away from a controlling environment, lifestyle, or religious figure. Feelings of fear, self-doubt, and guilt can follow them for years, and they may have to build an entirely new social support system from the ground up. Therapy can help you refine your decision making process, help you own your identity, and cope with the feelings that come up. Therapy can help untangle some of these confusing feelings. Our goal is to let you decide if you or . Are you permitted to think for yourself and contribute to ideas? I finally believed the words written in the . It can help you neutralize painful memories, create new meaning in your life, and regain the power that was lost through years of systematic abuse. People have been traumatized by religion since its inception, were only now acknowledging it and giving it a name. Understand spiritual & religious abuse from a clinical perspective. These may include: Mental health practitioners can also help individuals treat mental illnesses that stem from or contribute to religious trauma, including depression and anxiety. Religious trauma is considered a type of betrayal trauma, where a trusted person or entity is the source of the harm. When youve been a part of a religious group (i.e. This article covers religion and coping with trauma. Religious trauma generally consists of several stages. The individual may be struggling to come to terms with the loss of their connection to faith, or they may be trying to respond to a potentially controlling community and lifestyle. Religious trauma occurs when a person's religious experience is stressful, degrading, dangerous, abusive, or damaging. Finding diverse congregations can be a great place to start. The bottom line is, if youve experienced religious trauma, know its not your fault. A sense of feeling lost, directionless, and alone. Individuals suffering from RTS may be struggling with black and white thinking, irrational beliefs, difficulty trusting oneself, low self-esteem, or feeling indebted to a group of people. 39, Issue 2, May 2011, Vol. Religions 2022, 13, 925 2 of 9 term. Though my Father was Jewish and my mother Mormon, In my early 20's I spent 6 years living as a monastic and have lived in both Christian and Buddhist monasteries. When the nervous system becomes overwhelmed, it goes into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn to survive the situation. They may be going through the shattering of a personally meaningful faith and/or breaking away from a controlling community and lifestyle. Even adore the bars. Second, those within the community see the traumas through the lens of their belief system. The effects of religious trauma include: Lack of self-trust and low self-worth. There are ways to stop the abuse and recover. We offer online therapy for compassion fatigue, trailing spouses, transition stress, moral injury, expat anxiety, cultural adjustment issues, trauma, relationship concerns, poor self-esteem, grief, and religious trauma. a church, a gathering, a community) for most of your life, leaving is not just a life transitions - it is a decision that shakes the foundation of who you are and who youve always believed you were supposed to be. The scholarship amount is $40,000 for one (1) year only and is currently funded through a grant from EAST. For most of us, religion was a positive influence in childhood: a set of beliefs, a way of seeing the world, and a pattern of ritual that offered meaning, comfort, and community. At the same time, theres a lot of fear associated with leaving. First, the individual experiences the trauma. Followers may be discouraged from maintaining relationships with those outside their faith community, or they may have to comply with rigid guidelines and expectations. Awareness is growing about the dangers of religious indoctrination. However, there is relatively little research on the inversion of this dynamic, the way that trauma changes a person's religious beliefs.The authors of this article conducted a structured literature review and meta-analysis of published quantitative and qualitative literature . These symptoms may also include common symptoms of trauma and PTSD. Religious trauma syndrome (RTS) is a consequence of religious trauma. May we as a community consider our roles in the liberation, and restoration of Land, language, and culture for Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island and globally. Raising questions about toxic beliefs and abusive practices in religion seems to be violating a taboo. The religious trauma was going nowhere, and I underestimated the power of trauma. British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, London. You are not alone. Here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to identify if your religious community has abusive dynamics: Do the leaders hold all the authority? No one wants to be pointing fingers for fear of tampering with our precious freedoms. You can consider looking for organizations who practice horizontal leadership (leadership where power distributed fairly evenly among all) rather than vertical leadership (leadership that is top down, elevating one or a few people at the top as having all the power). Religious Trauma Syndrome is the condition experienced by those who are having difficulty leaving an authoritarian religion and coping with the damage of indoctrination. . While this type of lifestyle and control may be unthinkable to those on the outside, any alternative may seem dangerous for those within authoritarian religious communities. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may consider talking to somebody about your situation. attending to the ways in which religion and spirituality impede or foster resil-ience in trauma survivors and the ways that trauma may shape people's sub-sequent religious or spiritual lives will advance our understanding of human adaptation to trauma and our ability to help those who are suffering. Abuse in a religious setting may be happening intentionally or unintentionally. Breaking away from your faith has had an impact on your life, and probably a profound one. I ended up struggling with suicidal ideation my Junior year and I had no options except for Biblical Counseling. Religious Trauma in Childhood. The types of problems or symptoms of Religious Trauma Syndrome can be categorized in the following areas: Mental/Emotional - anxiety, depression, grief, anger, lack of purpose, cognitive issues, negative self-regard. Do you feel shamed by your partner when you disagree about certain religious or spiritual ideas? These authoritarian religious messages can get into us so deeply. If the individual attempts to address an incident or teaching, the religious community may claim that it was justified and decreed by God, and the individuals inability to accept it as good is evidence of their personal shortcomings. "Religious or spiritual trauma is a form of psychological abuse and brainwashing that inculcates the shameful message that we are sinful and must live in a constant state of penance and atonement to escape the ravages of hell and God's punishment. Religious Trauma Syndrome is a collection of symptoms someone experienced as a result of traumatic or extremely stressful religious experiences. Is there information that causes you to advance in your spirituality that is not publicly or freely available? Treating hellfire trauma requires knowledge of the client's religious indoctrination and upbringing, as well as the psychological mechanisms that reinforce the fear. This kind of fall-redemption theology uses fear to ensure dominance and control. Religious Trauma. This article promotes a wider understanding of trauma-informed pedagogy for the higher education classroom, whether in-person or virtual, focusing on undergraduate and graduate teaching in religious studies and theological education. I also went to seminary and have lived within several closed religious communities. Of course, this is not a new thing. But this is the problem. If an idea or thought originates from you, it should not be followed because people are born evil. We desire to recognize the histories of religious harms and ongoing oppressions by churches and North American society on the various Indigenous individuals inhabiting Turtle Island. This includes experiencing flashbacks, trouble sleeping and having nightmares, restlessness, lack of pleasure in things you used to enjoy, hypervigilance, avoidance, and more. You must conform to a mental test of believing in an external, unseen source for salvation, and maintain this state of belief until death. No, none of the online therapists at Apricity will make any attempt to steer your spiritual beliefs. Religious Trauma Syndrome has a very recognizable set of symptoms, a definitive set of causes, and a debilitating cycle of abuse. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. Youre told the bars are the only thing keeping me safe. We just know we feel insecure. There are many causes of religious trauma. None of the previously named diagnoses quite tells the story, and many who try to get help from the mental health profession cannot find a therapist who understands. Secondly, the term religious trauma clearly situates itself within interdisciplinary trauma studies. If one of our articles is marked with a reviewed for accuracy and expertise badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. 25 Scholarships for Single Moms and Mothers in 2022. Many churches and religions teach that men are above women in heterosexual relationships. Authoritarianism coupled with toxic theology which is received and reinforced at church, school, and home results in: Suppression of normal child development cognitive, social, emotional, moral stages are arrested, Damage to normal thinking and feeling abilities -information is limited and controlled; dysfunctional beliefs taught; independent thinking condemned; feelings condemned, External locus of control knowledge is revealed, not discovered; hierarchy of authority enforced; self not a reliable or good source, Physical and sexual abuse patriarchal power; unhealthy sexual views; punishment used as for discipline, The doctrines of original sin and eternal damnation cause the most psychological distress by creating the ultimate double bind. They can fundamentally break our sense of worth. Despite this conditioning, many people are able to break away from toxic religious communities. While it can feel freeing, it can leave you feeling confused, depressed, guilty, angry the list goes on. Here are some examples of things that are oppressive and potentially traumatic for members of a spiritual community: It may not be safe to immediately leave a cult, so if you or a loved one is in this situation please do not make a hasty decision. mindfulness strategies such as meditation, Grief for lost relationships, sense of purpose, or religious security. In extreme circumstances, cutting off ties to a religious community means losing close friendships and relationships with family members. Religious trauma occurs when a person's religious community is a source of stress and becomes degrading, abusive, and damaging. You can stop the cycle of abuse, but leaving the faith is a mixed blessing. Letting go of the need to conform is a huge relief. Feeling of being alone and lost. The conversation surrounding religious trauma is only just beginning, and scholarship and research must be forged to aid health practitioners, psychologists and counsellors to be able to help treat patients who are struggling with religious trauma. FHE Health Is Open With Enhanced Safety Protocols Read more. But for some, religion proved a source of trauma. This usually happens when an individual is struggling to separate from an authoritarian, an extremely opinionated religion and question the true extent of what they've been taught to believe. If you suspect you are in a cult, or you have a loved one in a cult, here are a few questions you can consider: Do you sense that youre in danger? Winell: Religious trauma syndrome (RTS) is a set of symptoms and characteristics that tend to go together and which are related to harmful experiences with religion. Making the decision to leave a faith community can be heart-wrenching. Hell Followed With Us (Hardcover) by. Meet with one of our English speaking online therapists and learn more about online therapy for expats. You were taught that you cannot trust yourself and feel helpless. Some reasons why individuals experience religious trauma include: Religious teachings villainize and suppress normal developmental stages and individualized thinking. If you answered yes to some of these questions, you may be experiencing spiritual abuse at the hands of your partner. We are discovering the means by which people can understand what they have been through and take steps to become healthy, happy human beings. The number was even larger in previous generations, and, in truth, far more grew up "religious" than not. Difficulty with pleasure, sexuality, and relationships. However, those on the inside may comply with their faith communitys expectations for fear that their eternal soul is at stake. His book Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists tells his dramatic story of de-conversion. To begin online therapy, follow these steps: Request a free initial consultation by filling out this form. Trouble making decisions. People with PTSD can also feel detached from daily life and have trouble with relationships. evolution, modern art, music). RTS is a function of both the chronic abuses of harmful religion and the impact of severing ones connection with ones faith. The following are some of the signs that someone may be suffering from Religious Trauma Syndrome. Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is group of symptoms that arise in response to traumatic or stressful religious experiences. Religious trauma comes in all shapes and sizes and the option you choose should be the right . Its like youre trapped in a cage and youve been taught to love the bars. Religious Trauma Syndrome is the condition experienced by people who are struggling with leaving an authoritarian, dogmatic religion and coping with the damage of indoctrination. Deconstruct old beliefs and behavioral patterns and replace them with new beliefs and behaviors that are more authentic to you! They can paralyze us. Fortunately, there are several therapies that have been shown to be helpful for those with PTSD from religions. how would you be perceived if you were a fictional character? For example, fundamental Evangelical Christians teach their followers that they are inherently bad and deserve to die. Symptoms of Religious Trauma Syndrome. When this happens its often accompanied by chronic trauma at the hands of religious leaders, family members, and the community, and acute trauma from the separation. Religious belief in hell fills the waking moments and dreams of untold numbers of people with terror, many of whom seek therapy to break the nightmarish fear. He basically said I deserved . Filed Under: Featured in Mental Health, Behavioral & Mental Health, Kristina Robb-Dover is a content manager and writer with extensive editing and writing experience read more. Because peoples faith-based beliefs and experiences are generally very important to them, this type of trauma can be harmful to their physical and mental health. Thats how a client processing their traumatic experiences with religion describes the control and oppression they experienced in their religious community. 1. Spiritual abuse can happen when a spiritual/religious leader or system attempts to control or manipulate others. One of the most common ways that people cope with trauma is through the comfort found in religious or spiritual practices. You can move past memories that are too painful to think about, and begin creating the life you want to live. Does your partner isolate you from others outside of the faith tradition, against your will? Religious Trauma Resources. Followers are expected to conform to rigid guidelines or else face intimidation tactics, public shaming, or humiliation and threats of serious spiritual consequences if they dont conform. Each week will focus on a different topic and group members are encouraged to also engage in meaningful conversations around their personal experiences and questions. At its best, religion can help people build vital social connections, provide a sense of structure, and promote self-improvement, empathy, and learning. I refused to cooperate on the scholarship applications. I have been fortunate to have traveled and lived in other countries, and to have had . Religious Trauma is a subset of Trauma, Complex Trauma, and PTSD. Stuck in the double bind created with the concept of original sin and getting into heaven. The traumatic impact is long-lasting and invasive, altering . In some settings the symptoms of religious trauma can be similar They may also experience a sense of fear as they begin to deconstruct their beliefs. Religious trauma pioneer, Dr. Marlene Winell, describes "religious trauma syndrome" (RTS) as a set of symptoms and characteristics related to harmful experiences with religion. For example, someone living in an abusive marriage may be urged to stay in an unsafe situation and to work harder on their marriage rather than seeking separation or divorce. This often silences survivors of abuse and makes it harder to come forward to report abuse. In 2020, we launched the Collaborative Research Group for graduate . Thinking - confusing thoughts (black vs. white, right vs. wrong), disagreements with others in your community or religious teachings, inability to make decisions, inability to trust yourself, always seeking clarity, Feeling - Depression, anxiety, grief, self-loathing, fear, poor self-esteem, Relating - Isolation, relationship challenges, sexual difficulties, and socially stunted and awkward behavior, being hyper-aware and feeling responsible for others internal state and emotions, Cultural - Inability to find meaning and purpose in the secular world. You may be feeling confused, guilty, empty, or bitter. A Trauma-Informed Approach to Religious Trauma. It was finally at the end of high school that I came to terms with the situation I was put in and the mess it had created in my head. The social bonds that form within these communities are typically very strong, and followers are conditioned to believe that leaving the community could have devastating spiritual effects on their lives and the lives of their families. Does your religious community discourage free thinking, critical thinking, or opinions about their messages? This continues generation after generation, as the religious meme complex reproduces itself, and masses of believers learn to value self-loathing and fear apocalypse. While they may reject the extremism of their previous beliefs or separate themselves from religion altogether, their conditioning may make it difficult to openly criticize the community that was once so important to them. Most people do not even realize they have religious trauma and the extra anxiety it creates.
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