

WHAT IS RELIGIOUS TRAUMA?
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Religious (or spiritual) trauma is a profound and complex experience that can manifest in various ways. It typically impacts individuals emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. Religious/spiritual trauma results from adverse experiences in faith-based settings where doctrine, practices, or controlling group dynamics undermine a person's sense of safety and autonomy. This form of complex trauma doesn't usually come from a single isolated event, but is often the result of multiple harmful experiences that create and reinforce feelings of fear, shame, and powerlessness.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF RELIGIOUS TRAUMA?
Religious trauma responses often include (1) intense fear and anxiety about spiritual and social threats, (2) shame and guilt about perceived personal inadequacy, (3) rigid thinking that's centered around black-and-white beliefs, (4) suppression of emotions, physical needs, and sexuality, and (5) unhealthy social expectations that cause patterns of codependency and self-sacrifice. Read more below about specific examples of these symptoms.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND RELIGIOUS ABUSE?
Religious or spiritual abuse focuses on the exploitation and perpetration of harm by a faith-based group's leaders, practices, or ideology. Religious trauma, on the other hand, describes the internal impacts and symptoms that an individual has to deal with in the wake of harmful religious experiences.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS A HIGH-CONTROL RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL GROUP OR CULT?
The teachings, practices, and authority structures of high-control groups normalize a culture of conformity, submission, and total reliance on the group. Leaders of these groups may claim or even believe that their practices are in the best interest of their members, but they often focus on suppressing any thoughts or behaviors that would threaten their control. If you're not sure whether you've been in a high-control religious group or cult, take the HIGH CONTROL GROUP INVENTORY.
ARE ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS HARMFUL?
The short answer is no. Lots of people have positive, non-traumatic experiences in faith communities. Recognizing and addressing the fact that people can experience religious trauma isn't an indictment against all religious beliefs. When someone's harmed in a religious setting, it doesn't necessarily mean that the group is toxic. It is, however, cause for concern, curiosity, accountability, and efforts to prevent future harm.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL TRAUMA?
LEARN MORE
You can use tools like the RELIGIOUS TRAUMA INVENTORY to reflect on your own experiences with the symptoms listed above. Educating yourself on the common signs and symptoms of Complex PTSD is also a great place to start. Additionally, there's an increasing number of useful resources out there that can offer you clarity and validation as you explore this topic.
HOW DOES SOMEONE RECOVER FROM RELIGIOUS TRAUMA?
Whether you're comfortable with the label of religious trauma or not, recognizing and validating the way your religious experiences have impacted you is the first step. It's crucial to practice curiosity and non-judgment towards yourself as you unpack and deconstruct the beliefs, practices, and controlling group dynamics that have hurt you. Working with a therapist who's trained in this area can be a very valuable source of support on that journey.
THE SYMPTOMS + IMPACTS OF RELIGIOUS TRAUMA
FEAR + ANXIETY
​The fears and anxieties associated with religious trauma stem from alarming beliefs about spiritual and worldly threats, compelling individuals to stay constantly on guard. Here are the impacts:
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Hypervigilance
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Difficulties relaxing or feeling safe in religious settings or during spiritual practices.
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Fear and paranoia regarding spiritual threats (e.g., evil, temptation, possession).
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Fear and paranoia regarding worldly threats (e.g., secular ideologies, persecution).
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Fear of punishment by a higher power or being compelled to act against your will (e.g., becoming a martyr).
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Afterlife Anxiety
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Fear or dread related to doomsday or end-times predictions.
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Fear of what will happen to you or others in the afterlife.
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Feeling responsible for ensuring the salvation of yourself or others from eternal punishment or isolation.
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Scrupulosity (Religious OCD)
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Obsessive rule-following and behavior monitoring to prevent punishment and earn protection.
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Engaging in superstitious rituals to guard against spiritual harm (e.g., compulsive prayer, confession, recruiting).
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SHAME
Shame in religious trauma often originates from doctrines that emphasize a sinful nature and impose unrealistic spiritual expectations of confession and atonement. Here are the impacts:
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Sub-Human View of Self
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Perceiving yourself as fundamentally "bad" or deserving of punishment because of your core nature.
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Distrust in your own body or instincts.
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Assuming that without external rules or guidance to rely on, you'll do evil or disgusting things.
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Guilt and self-blame for things beyond your control.
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Self-Punishment
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Viewing self-care and confidence as prideful or selfish.
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Devaluing and neglecting personal needs because of your beliefs (e.g., ignoring physical or mental health issues).
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Using highly critical self-talk to impose personal discipline. (e.g., calling yourself names).
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Overcompensating through perfectionism and overworking in attempts to make up for your perceived failures (e.g., constant volunteering).
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Learned Helplessness
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Giving up easily or self-sabotaging due to perceived inherent weakness or brokenness.
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Feeling trapped in predetermined circumstances without power to control the trajectory of your life.
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RIGID THINKING
Rigid thinking often results from inflexible doctrine and authoritarian structures that demand conformity and reject nuances. Here are the common impacts:
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Impaired Critical Thinking
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Seeking absolute truths and/or absolute certainty in your beliefs.
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Intense discomfort with questioning beliefs, acknowledging doubts, or changing your mind.
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Moralizing with black-and-white judgments of good vs. bad and right vs. wrong.
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Falling for confirmation bias by interpreting events as proof of your preexisting beliefs.
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​Reliance and Loyalty
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Intense devotion and loyalty to a group or belief system despite being harmed by it.
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Difficulty making decisions without instruction from authorities.
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Othering
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Difficulty accessing empathy for people with differing beliefs, values, or lifestyles.
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Viewing other groups or non-believers through an "us vs. them" lens.
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SELF-SUPPRESSION
The self-suppression of religious trauma reflects internalized control from a group or belief system that demands purity, conformity, and submission.​​​ Impacts include:
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​​Lack of Autonomy
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Difficulty identifying and advocating for personal needs.
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Difficulty making independent decisions without external permission.
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Emotional Suppression
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Invalidating and shutting down emotions due to guilt and self-judgment (e.g., viewing anger as "wrong").
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Difficulty identifying and expressing feelings, resulting in emotional numbness.
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Using spiritual bypassing to avoid confronting uncomfortable emotions. (Learn more about SPIRITUAL BYPASSING)
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Identity Suppression
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Forming your identity solely around your religious beliefs.
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Confusion about your personality, likes, dislikes, or personal goals.
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Hiding aspects of your identity that have been deemed bad or deviant.
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Viewing your gender identity or sexuality as unacceptable.
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Sexual Suppression
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Viewing normal sexual expression as disgusting or deviant.
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Feeling extreme shame about sexual thoughts or activities.
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Experiencing physical pain or dysfunction during sexual intimacy.
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Normalizing coercive sexual practices.
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Dissociation and Somatic Symptoms
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Mentally or emotionally detaching from reality to cope with extreme stress.
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Feeling disconnected from bodily sensations (e.g., not realizing you're having a panic attack).
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Unexplained physical symptoms that are linked to unaddressed emotional distress (e.g., chronic pain, muscle tension, migraines).
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RELATIONSHIP DYSFUNCTION
Survivors of religious trauma may develop unhealthy social expectations due to normalized relationship dynamics that prioritize the group's needs over personal well-being. Impacts include:
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Social Anxiety
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Intense fear of judgment, humiliation, or exclusion in social situations.
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Avoidance of vulnerability in relationships to prevent having your weaknesses used against you​.
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Enmeshment and Codependency
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Difficulty distinguishing your personal thoughts, feelings, and needs from those of others.
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Normalizing a sense of guilt and obligation to serve and sacrifice for others.
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Lack of personal privacy due to the expectation that everything should be shared in close relationships (e.g., disclosing secrets, sharing possessions, not having personal space).
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Feeling compelled to excuse, forgive, or defend abusive behaviors from others.
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Avoidance of conflict to maintain group unity and harmony.
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Using oversharing as a means of establishing bonds (e.g., trauma dumping, asking invasive questions).
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Authority Fawning or Defiance
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Seeking approval from authority figures to avoid punishment and earn their protection (e.g., praising, submitting, over-apologizing).
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Automatically distrusting and refusing to comply with authorities (e.g., assuming negative intentions).
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