He adds, however, that being ostracized by religion can be a blessing in disguise if it pushes one to develop a more authentic personal faith. Pastor Thomas says that releasing feelings of shame and unworthiness takes time and the support of a loving community. Together with Jennifer Strickland, a licensed therapist, he is setting up a “Recovering from Religious Trauma Syndrome” group at the church. Thomas, who is gay, became ordained in the United Church of Christ, one of the first denominations to affirm marriage equality, and took up his duties in Nashville last year.
#Religious trauma syndrome skin
If you’re considering trauma therapy, feel free to reach out for a consultation.Another congregation that is working with those grappling with religious trauma is the Holy Trinity Community Church in Nashville, with a membership that is over 80 percent L.G.B.T.īrice Thomas, the lead pastor, says he first grasped religion’s capacity for harm when his father, a Pentecostal faith healer, died of a treatable skin cancer because the church did not believe in going to doctors.
#Religious trauma syndrome professional
Reach out to a mental health professional and overpower your trauma with the support you deserve. This is a tough experience, but there’s no reason you should handle it by yourself. A professional therapist will help you develop coping mechanisms that you can use as you unpack your trauma.
Making a promise to yourself to enforce your boundaries is how you strengthen your resolve to heal.įinally, therapy can provide a safe space for you to speak freely about what’s happened to you. You are allowed to live a life with autonomy, even though it might be hard for others to understand. Know that you are well within your rights to assert these boundaries.
This may involve putting physical distance between yourself and those who attend the institution you’re trying to escape. Moreover, setting boundaries will allow you to experience the world more independently. It’s important to understand your personal limits and protect your mental health. Decisions might have been made for you or without your consent. Religious trauma often means you have little or no experience with boundaries. Healing takes time and patience, but it’s possible. It’s very important to look at your trauma with a sense of compassion. Being manipulated into isolation based on religious beliefsįacing this trauma is hard, but it’s the first step to recovery.Experiencing punishment, emotionally, physically, or mentally for having doubts.Being told you’re going to hell for questioning your faith.They are particularly hard to face if they have indoctrinated you through fear. The institution’s teachings are ingrained. This is often the hardest part for victims and survivors of religious trauma. Developing self-awareness sets you up to follow a path of healing. It’s important to stay mindful of your symptoms. The mental and emotional struggle can feel overwhelming. It’s challenging to confront your religious beliefs. Thus, this means that having RTS often means you have one of these other disorders. The symptoms of RTS often mimic PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and they often co-occur with one another. Some of these examples are extreme, but religious trauma can occur anytime you experience severe stress related to a religious belief. Parents who believe in the “spare the rod, spoil the child” model of discipline.Someone who contributes most of their finances to the institution under the advisement of a religious leader.A person who experiences same-sex attraction being demonized by their religious community.The authoritarianism which guides a religious institution makes space for a lot of potential trauma. Some people have a higher tolerance for trauma than others, so everyone experiences it differently. The causes of religious trauma vary from person to person. The causes of religious trauma syndrome can range from sexual or physical assault to mental and emotional abuse. They also have to cope with a loss of faith and possibly a loss of community. Someone experiencing RTS is not only experiencing difficulty with removing themselves from an authoritarian environment.
Strong religious communities with authoritarian teachings are often the culprits of this trauma. Indoctrination can do significant mental harm, most especially when coupled with an institution’s dependence on fear-driven religious messaging. It can contribute to depression, anxiety, and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is a very real mental health condition.
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