Free Consultation

Recovering from Religion - Religious Trauma*

*Sometimes referred to as Religious Trauma Syndrome

Causes & SYMPTOMS

Religious trauma may affect individuals contemplating departure from a religious or faith-based group, sect, organization, or cult. The severity of the trauma experienced depends on the duration of the individual's membership of the organization and the level of control and indoctrination they have endured.
Indoctrination can result in distress caused by cognitive dissonance, a mental conflict arising when an individual's thoughts or actions conflict with the teachings of their group. For example, someone taught that healing occurs solely through faith may grapple with the reality that amputees cannot regenerate lost limbs. Religious trauma can endure long after an individual has left a faith-based group, impacting various domains of their life such as mental health, relationships, self-identity, and even influencing their worldview as they navigate the complexities of post-religious existence. The lingering effects may include anxiety, guilt, a struggle to redefine personal beliefs, and challenges in forming new connections outside the religious context.
DID YOU KNOW...
In many instances, controlling religious groups are run by a self-aggrandizing authority figure who expects total obedience from their congregation. Such leaders may have narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), a mental health condition characterized by an excessive need for attention, dominance, entitlement, and admiration, an inability to accept criticism, and a lack of empathy and consideration for the needs of others. As individuals with NPD have an inherent need for narcissistic supply, they may manipulate, exploit, and intimidate lower ranking members of their religious group via coercive control. This type of psychological abuse is extremely traumatic and can make it very difficult for a person to break free from the group. For individuals who manage to leave, recoving from religious trauma often involes recovering from narcissistic abuse.

Religious indoctrination can encompass what an individual must believe, the time they must spend on devotional activities, and the financial contributions they must make to the organization.
Control can also be exerted over who an individual can associate with, who they can marry, and courtship behaviour. Patriarchal structures are often evident along with strict gender roles. These organizations can require women to be subservient to men, and relinquish their right to sexual consent and decisions about pregnancy and family planning. Restrictions can also be placed on where the individual must live, the type of work the individual can perform, leisure activities, dress, diet, medication, alcohol consumption, sleep, sexual activity, separation or divorce, birth control, and how children are to be raised and disciplined. An individual may only be allowed limited contact with the outside world, and some groups even prohibit access to literature, music, news, movies, news, and social media. Some groups also shun ex-members. This can cause considerable distress to individuals who leave, especially if other family members remain in the group.
Religious trauma can also involve financial hardship, due to an individual being expected to tithe regularly or being coerced into handing over a large proportion of their assets whilst they were members of the organization. Another facet of religious trauma can involve sex and sexuality. Group members can be indoctrinated that sexual thoughts and desires (outside marriage), masturbation, and homosexuality are immoral, with the threat of dire consequences for any transgressions. Conversion therapy - a pseudoscientific and dangerous set of practices aimed at 'curing' people of same sex attraction - is still legal in many countries and parts of Australia. Some groups also espouse purity culture - the concept that women must remain virgins until marriage. In some instances, female rape victims are blamed for 'tempting' their attackers. As religious indoctrination can involve repeated demands for obedience through supernatural themes and teachings that instill fear, terror, shame, guilt, and unworthiness, symptoms of religious trauma are similar to those of C-PTSD.
Affected individuals may experience:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panic attacks
  • Avoidance behaviours
  • Shame
  • Grief
  • Anger
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Critical reasoning deficits
  • Black and white thinking
  • Poor interpersonal boundaries
  • Impaired relationships
  • Identity issues
  • Sexual disorders
  • Low self-esteem
  • Loneliness
  • Delayed social development (in children)
  • OCD type behaviour (e.g., excessive praying, chanting, or performing religious rituals to quell obsessive thoughts relating to personal illness, salvation, the afterlife, or reincarnation.)
Religious trauma has been described as "Pervasive psychological damage resulting from religious messages, beliefs, and experiences" by Dr. Marlene Winell, a psychologist who first coined the term 'Religious Trauma Syndrome'.
Why you shouldn't diagnose yourself
This page is for information purposes only and is not intended for self-diagnosis. The symptoms described can also be attributable to certain medical conditions, medication, illicit drugs, or other psychological disorders.
Image: Pikisuperstar - Freepik.com. Greek goddess head with fire

ANXIETY AFTER RELIGION

The anxiety that an individual may experience after leaving a religion or wanting to leave can be somewhat different from the anxiety that is seen in the general population (i.e. individuals who have not been indoctrinated).
Generalized Anxiety
Anxiety can manifest in people who voluntarily leave a religious group, and those who are expelled. In many cases, religious indoctrination promotes an us-and-them mentally between people in the religious organisation and those in the outside world. Accordingly, an ex-member may experience apprehension, fear, and anxiety about integrating into mainstream society. These feelings can be further compounded if the person loses their job and/or home as a result of detaching from the group. As some controlling religions and cults focus their teachings on an impending end time, ex-members can experience end of world anxiety, also known as apocalyptic anxiety. Severe anxiety and depression can also result from shunning. This occurs when family and friends are ordered to cut off all contact and communication with the person who leaves or is cast out . Indoctrination often involves instilling a 'mental booby trap', that independent thought is dangerous or evil. This allows a person's values, attitudes, and beliefs to be controlled. Whilst a person may eventually realise the extent to which they have been manipulated, they can still struggle with anxiety, shame, and guilt from exploring ideas and viewpoints that conflict with the narrative of the group. Breaking free from indoctrination can be a challenging and lengthy process. Over time however, a person can learn to discover their identity outside of the group, build their critical thinking skills, resolve negative emotions, and realize all the positive gains that have come from 'losing' one's faith.
Existential Anxiety
Existential anxiety is characterized by worries and feeling of dread or panic in response to thoughts a person has about their existence, the purpose of their life, the meaning of life or meaningless or life, and what happens after death. In some instances, existential anxiety can be present before a person has any thoughts of leaving a religious organization if they have been indoctrinated into believing that they are flawed, and undeserving of a supernatural being's mercy or a place in the afterlife. The big philosophical questions surrounding the purpose of existence and what happens to us after we die have intrigued humankind for millenia. Accepting our own mortality requires a level of maturity, and being okay with not knowing all the answers about life and death. In contrast, certain religious doctrines claim to have unequivocal knowledge about supernatural forces that humans are subject to in life and death, despite the absence of evidence for such assertions. Religious deconversion can result in an existential crisis, whereby a person experiences identity confusion and internal conflicts about perceiving life as meaningless. Despite a person consciously rejecting their indoctrinated beliefs relating to heaven, hell, or reincarnation, at times these old beliefs can unintentionally surface. Whilst an existential crisis can evoke feelings of distress, uncertainty, helplessness, and being lost, it can be seen instead as transitory process to greater self understanding and new perspectives on the purpose and meaning of life.
Recovering from religion - A guide for choosing the right therapist and the right therapy

Treatment for religious trauma

Accepting that you have been traumatized by religion may be difficult to accept at first, especially if you were convinced into believing that your survival and salvation was dependant on being a group member. And If you have been born into a religious organisation you may have a more challenging time deconstructing your faith than someone who joined later in life. Seeking therapy can also be a formidible task if you have been led to believe that mental difficulties or disorders are a sign of poor faith. Furthemore, some religious organizations promote the dangerous idea that mental illness or mental health conditions are non-existent, and may even discred professionals who provide treatment to sufferers. Affected individuals can be coerced into thinking that they must devote more time and effort to religious activities or hand over more money to the organization in order to be 'cured'. This can cause further distress and suffering to individuals who have had their mental health compromised by religion in the first place.
Coping with a loss of belief, family, and community can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you decide to engage professional help however, it is important to find a counsellor or psychologist who supports your desire to distance yourself from a religious group, leader, and/or belief system. It is therefore recommended you choose a therapist who;
  • Is an evidence-based practitioner
  • Has a comprehensive understanding of religious trauma
  • Is secular (non-religious)
Psychoeducation is the provision of information and education pertaining to mental health conditions. Learning about your condition can help you to feel empowered to tackle the trauma you have experienced, set goals for your recovery, and come to a greater understanding of the therapeutic process. Psychoeducation can also be useful for key individuals in your life, helping them to recognize the implications of religious trauma, and support you in the best way possible on your journey to recovery.

The tranquilmind™ program for religious trauma

Trauma is not just something 'in your head'. It is stored in your somatic (body) memory and is expressed as changes in the biological stress response. Trauma can also result in patterns of muscle tension which you may not be consciously aware of. Therapy that utilises a mind-body approach can thus facilitate the healing process. The TranquilMind™ Program takes a mind-body approach to recovery, aiming to reduce distress, enhance self-worth, find new meaning and purpose in life, and foster happiness, autonomy, and personal growth. The therapeutic techniques employed in the program are proven to be safe, gentle, and effective.
The program combines psychotherapy and hypnotherapy to guide you in managing your breathing and thought patterns. This introduces the concept of proprioception, which involves your internal sense of your body's position in space and the level of tension and relaxation in your more than 600 voluntary muscles. As its name suggests, the TranquilMind™ Program can help reduce your anxiety and build a sense of calmness and tranquility. By mastering the TranquilMind™ technique, you will gain valuable tools to navigate future situations effectively. These tools will help you minimize distress and better understand the connections between your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, allowing you to maintain a greater sense of balance and self-awareness. It is crucial to understand that you have the responsibility for your own progress, and the program's ideas are meant to assist you in reaching your own conclusions. Unlike indoctrination, which pushes you to adopt beliefs that may not be grounded in reality, education encourages self-directed learning and critical thinking. These skills empower you to discern between factual information and fiction.
Breaking away from a controlling belief system or a religious group may also be helped by joining a religious recovery group or ex-religious support network. Contact details are available on request.
Please note that Barwon Hypnotherapy operates within a secular framework and does not insert religious, faith based, or new-age concepts (e.g. past-life regression) into therapy.
how soon to a happier, healthier you?

commence your healing journey from the comfort of your home

Join me for a complimentary 30-minute Zoom conversation to explore ways you can overcome harmful indoctrination, move beyond your past experiences, and facilitate healing and well-being. You're welcome to ask any questions about your treatment options and what to expect in terms of progress. I'm here to listen, advise, and guide you towards the best solutions. If I can't help, I'll provide referrals to other trusted providers. Book your consultation today. - Melissiah, Telehealth Therapist
Book your Free Consultation
Essential SSL