The Reality of Religious Trauma Syndrome
Religion can be a source of comfort and community for individuals, and it also has the potential to lead to religious trauma syndrome (RTS). Religious trauma syndrome is a term given to describe the psychological and emotional damage that can occur due to involvement in a religious organization or system especially to those who have been punished for their identity.
RTS is a real and serious mental health condition that can be experienced by people who have had negative experiences with religion. The symptoms of RTS can manifest in several ways, including:
Feeling deep guilt and shame for things that are scientifically and morally acceptable in the outside world
Having difficulty separating one's personal identity from that of their religious community
Being unable to trust others outside their religion or belief system
Having intense anxiety and fear while questioning their beliefs
Experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms due to religious experiences
It's essential to understand that RTS is not merely a personal failure or weakness but a result of systematic religious abuse or exploitation. Religious trauma syndrome can be especially challenging because it can take so many forms that are more challenging to recognize.
Advocates for the therapy of RTS assert that it’s critical to address it like any other mental illness. Religious trauma sufferers require mental health services to help cope with their fears and doubts while providing understanding and support. People experiencing RTS may need psychotherapy, group therapy, or trauma-focused types of therapy to recover.
In conclusion, RTS can be a debilitating mental health condition that can be caused by involvement in a religious organization or system. However, therapy and support groups can help those affected recover and process their experiences. Therefore, mental health professionals and Religious organizations need to collaborate to create safe spaces for persons to negotiate their beliefs and disentangle abusive religious systems safely. This is why Lost Stories Counseling is actively against systemic prejudice which means we are gay allied and anti-racist, committed to confront our own biases and micro-aggressive behaviors. At the core of our work is to give excluded stories, which are often lost stories in the larger societal narrative, the space they deserve in coming to know a truth that may make us all more free to associate. Come share your stories with us.