Church PTSD

Having been in pastoral ministry for more than thirty years, and having grown up in a deeply conservative branch of the Christian faith, I understand this subject from the inside out. I have spoken to countless individuals who carry deep wounds from controlling religious systems. The church can be beautiful in its expression of empowering love that reveals the face of God to a world searching for the love of a Father. But when things go wrong, religious trauma often is the result. 

Understand what we're dealing with here. It's not just bad human behavior. It's an identity issue and there's a dark spiritual power behind it. Religion is a spirit and it sought to murder the Son of God. The defeat of darkness by the cross of Jesus Christ is the answer to the question of whether or not there is hope for the healing of your pain. But first, let's explore what we're dealing with.

Religious trauma can have a profound impact on mental health, causing a whole array of challenges, like grief. People who have experienced religious trauma might grapple with a crisis of faith or a loss of belief, as their negative experiences clash with their previously held convictions.

This internal conflict can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Religious trauma syndrome (RTS) occurs when an individual struggles with leaving a religion or a set of beliefs contributing to their indoctrination. Religious trauma often involves breaking away from a controlling environment, lifestyle, or spiritual figure.

Religious trauma can leave many believing they are inherently sinful or condemned, even after they leave the religion and previously held beliefs. Because religious trauma can be prevalent in childhood, distancing from religion can sometimes mean individuals feel they are abandoning everything they know.

Symptoms of religious trauma include:

• Poor critical thinking skills
• Difficulty making decisions
• Decreased sense of self-worth
• Difficulty building strong relationships
• Being unfamiliar with mainstream culture/isolation
• Struggling with fitting in and belonging
• Nightmares
• Sleeping issues
• Eating issues
• Loneliness

As stated above, there is healing and life in Jesus. Jesus didn't come to start a new religion. He came to free us from religion. Religion is a mad made system and it creates a structure in which the few have the power to manipulate and harm the many. But there is hope and healing for you.

"We are coming to learn that religious trauma is much more pervasive and universal than previously thought. An important tip for someone working to heal from religious trauma is to remember that you’re not alone in your pain. The continued experience of trauma later in life is not a reflection of your coping skills or your strength to overcome the past. You are not your trauma." Darren M. Slade, PhD and President, Global Center for Religious Research