Chances are you are here because of a concern about religious harm, recovering from an authoritarian religion, or suffering from religious trauma. You may have heard of Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS), which is comparable to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, but specifically induced by Toxic Religious Experiences. RTS is a result of 1) toxic teachings and practices within the religion and 2) the trauma of leaving the religion.
Recovering from religious harm is multi-faceted and a relatively new field of study. There is a range of harm done by religion, (despite the positive contributions of healthy religion) and various levels of suffering and coping, depending on individual differences. While some people are able to walk away and most report feelings of relief and liberation, many people are deeply damaged and can carry scars for decades.
The types of problems or symptoms of Religious Trauma Syndrome can be categorized in the following areas:
Mental/Emotional – anxiety, depression, grief, anger, lack of purpose, cognitive issues, negative self-regard
Relational – problems with family and friends due to religion, loss of social support system
Developmental – delayed areas of human development due to religious isolation and conformity, including critical thinking, decision-making, identity formation, emotional regulation, healthy sexuality, social skills, creativity, self-efficacy, and meaning in life
Cultural – “fish-out-of-water” experience in the world
Many people leaving religion have had enough Toxic Religious Experience (TRE) to produce symptoms of complex PTSD, which is “trauma” in the more clinical sense. Like other trauma, religious trauma can produce anxiety in the form of “emotional flashbacks,” which can look like panic attacks, among other responses.
Related to all of these issues is the fact that authoritarian religions teach two basic and powerfully toxic messages: “You are not okay” and “You are not safe.” Recovery from religious harm involves healing from these deep assumptions, often indoctrinated from birth, and reconstructing a whole new worldview. This is a huge, multidimensional task since religion can seem to define all of reality, but help is available.
Summary
Leaving one’s religion is a huge life transition, requiring a lot of adjustment and adaptation. Because a belief system can be deeply entrenched and partly unconscious, the mere passage of time does not necessarily produce healing and personal growth. Helping-professionals can provide needed information and support for recovery tasks. Self-help strategies and group support can also be effective with appropriate materials and guidance.
Religious harm or Toxic Religious Experience is rarely a single event, although many sufferers may focus on singular horrifying events such as watching a movie about the End Times. More often it is an accumulation of exposure to teachings (e.g. hellfire, original sin) and practices (e.g. severe corporal punishment, isolation) that create the damage. There appear to be stages of religious harm:
- Predeconversion trauma – the harm done by religious beliefs and practices during the time a person is religious or in a religious context.
- Deconversion – the acute period of stress while leaving a religion.
- Postdeconversion adaptation – a) the long-term mental health issues, b) delayed development, c) cultural adjustment in the secular world.
The good news is that people do recover and go on to new lives of joy and meaning. Dr. Winell has been doing this work for thirty years with many clients, resulting in concrete knowledge about effective strategies. Recognition of RTS is increasing in fields of human services, more help is available, and research is being conducted. We encourage you to have hope as you embark on your own journey of healing and reclaiming your life.