Religion and Spirituality can provide a sense of purpose, meaning, and community for many individuals. However, for some, religion can also be a source of trauma and spiritual abuse. This happened to me too and this type of trauma can lead to feelings of confusion, betrayal, and guilt, and can greatly impact one's mental health and well-being. As we begin to put the pieces of our story back together, it is important to have language around what happened to us so hopefully this post can give you more clarity:
Spiritual abuse refers to the misuse of religious or spiritual beliefs and practices to control, manipulate, or harm individuals. This can include emotional manipulation, sexual abuse, and physical abuse carried out in the name of religion. Religious trauma on the other hand, is defined as the emotional, psychological, and spiritual harm caused by religious institutions or beliefs. This trauma can result from experiences such as being forced to conform to a strict religious doctrine, feeling shamed or ostracized for questioning or leaving one's faith, or being subjected to abusive or manipulative religious practices.
Some potential signs of religious trauma or spiritual abuse include:
Feeling shame or guilt about questioning or leaving one's faith
Experiencing fear, anxiety, or depression related to religious beliefs or practices
Feeling a sense of disconnection from oneself or others due to religious beliefs or practices
Being subjected to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse carried out in the name of religion
Feeling a sense of obligation or pressure to conform to religious beliefs or practices
So how can we heal from this? Therapy can help you process your experiences, develop coping strategies, and work towards healing and recovery. Therapy can also help aid in deconstruction which can be a helpful process of healing from religious trauma or spiritual abuse. Deconstruction is the process of critically examining one's beliefs and questioning the assumptions that underlie them. For those who have experienced religious trauma or spiritual abuse, deconstruction can be a necessary step in healing and reclaiming one's sense of self and spirituality.
Here are some of the ways that therapy can help you heal from the symptoms of religious trauma or spiritual abuse:
It can help you identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs and behaviors related to religion or spirituality.
It can help you learn ways of regulating your emotions and build skills for managing difficult situations related to religion or spirituality.
It can help you explore the different parts of yourself that may be impacted by religious trauma or spiritual abuse.
It's important to recognize that this is not your fault and you are not a bad person for realizing that this has happened to you no matter how much it feels like it. It is also imperative to find a therapist who is knowledgeable about religious trauma and spiritual abuse and who can provide a safe and supportive space for your healing journey. If you're struggling with any form of religious abuse or trauma or need a guide to help you facilitate your deconstruction, book an appointment with us today
References:
Johnson, R. J., & Silver, R. C. (2015). "Religious Trauma Syndrome": An emergent phenomenon. Religions, 6(3), 1-17.
Lalonde, R. N. (2017). The development and validation of the spiritual abuse scale. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1-23.
Stiffler, L. A., & Scheinfeld, M. (2018). Navigating spiritual abuse in recovery. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 18(2), 154-171.
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