Understanding Religious Trauma

Religion can be a source of comfort and support and is deeply rooted in the lives of many within the Appalachian Highlands. Spirituality serves a number of useful functions. It can provide comfort, create meaning, give hope and confidence, build relationships, and more.

Sometimes, though, it can be something very different. Faith can also be the justification for a series of restrictive, hurtful, rigid, and ultimately traumatic experiences. We call this experience, religious trauma.

Often in these cases, an authority figure (parent, deacon, priest, or someone claiming spiritual authority) enacts strict codes of behavior or beliefs which are taught or otherwise forced into others. Typically, these will be justified by some interpretation of scripture. 

To further complicate things, those experiencing spiritual abuse often are not aware of such until many years after the abuse begins. For many, faith was so integral into their family and community that the abuse does not seem abnormal. Being a part of a spiritual abuse dynamic often means having been born into that dynamic and finding some identity within it for a long time.

Signs of religious trauma might include (but are not limited to) any of the following:

1. Fear and Guilt:
   The collision of old ingrained rules with their new experiences creates a sharp tension. The guilt associated with religious rules is contrasted with the feelings of new experiences and relationships. Often people will experience intense worry about going to hell or facing punishment for their actions, leading to a constant sense of anxiety and shame.

    

2. Shame and Self-Blame:
   Because spiritual abuse uses guilt and shame to maintain compliance, these feelings become cemented. Abuse sufferers subconsciously may recognize that they often automatically assume they are doing something wrong or sinful. Whether it be an action, a thought, an impulse, a wish, or sometimes nothing at all other than a sense of being “bad”.  This can lead to low self-esteem and a negative self-image.

    

3. Rigidity and Obsessiveness:
   Religious trauma can also lead to rigid and obsessive tendencies. Individuals may feel pressured to adhere to strict rules and expectations, or they may obsess over religious practices or rituals. This can cause a lack of flexibility and a difficulty adapting to change.

    

4. Isolation and Loneliness:
   People who have experienced religious trauma may find they feel disconnected from others. Particularly if they leave the church. They often report feeling alienated from their family or origin but unfamiliar in communities outside of faith.

    

5. Difficulty Trusting Others:
   Religious trauma can also lead to difficulty trusting others, especially authority figures or those in positions of power. Individuals may have experienced betrayal or abuse in the name of religion, leading to a distrust of others.

    

6. Negative Impact on Mental Health: Religious trauma can have a negative impact on an individual’s mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or behaviors similar to OCD, particularly scrupulosity OCD which pertains to rigid behavioral and moral rules.

Counseling can provide support and guidance in navigating the complex emotions and beliefs associated with religious trauma. It can also provide tools and strategies for healing and finding a sense of peace and well-being. Your counselor can help you understand the impact (both positively and/or negatively) your religious experiences have had and unpack how faith fits into your life currently.