Religious Trauma

You wake up feeling the weight of another restless night. The familiar sense of unease greets you before your feet even touch the floor. As you go about your morning routine, you’re already questioning whether you’re doing things right. Those teachings you grew up with still linger in your mind, whispering that you’re being watched or judged for every choice you make. Even something as simple as picking what to wear can come with a pang of guilt, as if it’s impossible to shake off the invisible rules you used to live by.

 

Throughout the day, you feel disconnected. You scroll through social media and see updates from people you used to share a community with, and it stings. Maybe you’ve distanced yourself from them, or maybe they’ve stepped away from you. Either way, the isolation feels deep. You wonder if you’re the one who’s broken, or if this is just what happens when you start questioning everything you were taught to believe. At work or school, it’s hard to focus. You replay old memories of teachings or sermons, trying to make sense of why they still have such a grip on you, even though you no longer believe in them—or aren’t sure if you do.

 

Conversations with family or friends are often tense, especially if they hold onto beliefs you’re trying to move past. There’s an unspoken tension, a quiet judgment, or outright disapproval that makes it hard to open up. Sometimes, you say nothing just to avoid conflict, but staying silent leaves you feeling unseen. Other times, you speak your truth, but the reaction only confirms your fear that they don’t understand or accept you anymore. The sense of being alone, even around people, is exhausting.

 

By the evening, your thoughts can feel overwhelming. You replay past experiences, trying to untangle how much of what you learned was helpful and how much caused harm. Maybe there’s anger bubbling up—anger at the way you were treated, the restrictions placed on you, or the fear that was instilled in you. Maybe there’s sadness, a deep mourning for the community or sense of certainty you lost. Maybe it’s a mix of both. The idea of sorting through it all feels daunting, and sometimes you wonder if it’s even possible.

 

But it is possible. As your therapist, I can help you navigate this journey. Together, we’ll explore those heavy feelings of shame, guilt, and fear, and work to understand where they come from. We’ll focus on helping you reconnect with yourself, rebuilding your sense of identity outside of the beliefs that once defined you. Whether it’s addressing the pain of strained relationships, learning how to set boundaries, or processing the trauma of spiritual abuse, you don’t have to face it alone. Healing takes time, but we’ll move forward at your pace, creating a safe space where you can let go of the weight you’ve been carrying and find clarity, connection, and peace.