Religious Trauma and Spiritual Abuse

Most people who have experienced Religious Trauma or Spiritual Abuse don’t show up on the first day of therapy complaining that they’ve experienced Religious Trauma or Spiritual Abuse. They show up with symptoms like anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, family conflict or other mental health issues. Most have never even heard of religious trauma or spiritual abuse, but learning there is language for what someone has been through can be incredibly liberating.

Spiritual Abuse is an attempt to exert power and control over someone using religion, faith, or beliefs. Spiritual abuse can happen within a religious organization, a cult, or a personal relationship.

Religious Trauma is any pervasive psychological damage (trauma) resulting from religious messages, beliefs, and experiences.

There is also something called Religious Trauma Syndrome, which refers to the set of symptoms common among people who have left “authoritarian, dogmatic religion and coping with the damage of indoctrination."

When I work with a client suffering from Religious Trauma or Spiritual Abuse, in addition to managing symptoms, the goal is usually to help them develop the freedom to choose what kind of role religion and spirituality play in their lives. Some choose to leave religion completely; others work to find a new way of relating to a “higher power” that best serves them. The wonderful, and potentially scary, part of this is that there is no right option. There is only the option that works best for you at any given time.

Symptoms of Religious Trauma and Spiritual Abuse

  • Confusing thoughts and reduced ability to think critically

  • Trouble making decisions

  • Feelings of depression, anxiety, grief, anger, lethargy

  • A loss of a community (family, friends, romantic relationships)

  • Feeling isolated or a sense that you don’t belong

  • Feeling “behind the times” with cultural happenings

  • Experiencing significant shame, guilt and/or low self-esteem

  • Addictive or compulsive behaviors

  • Sexual difficulties

  • “Black and White” thinking (e.g. something is either good or bad; no room for “grey”)

  • Perfectionism

  • Inability to tolerate the distress of participating in any kind of organized religion and avoidance of religious environments, people, and reading material

  • And many other symptoms of PTSD including nightmares, flashbacks, dissociation, emotional difficulty, etc.