How To Tell If Religion Has Left You Emotionally Traumatized

Faith can be a wonderful way to make meaning within life, but it can also cause damage in unimaginable ways.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | April 03, 2024

Many people come to therapy upon the realization that their past or existing religion has left them with emotional trauma. They may say things like:

• "I feel intense guilt whenever I stray from the religious teachings that I grew up with, even though I no longer follow the faith."
• "Even though I left the religion, I still have nightmares about the punishment and judgment I was taught to fear."
• "I was always taught that my worth as a person was tied to how well I conformed to religious rules, and it's been badly affecting my self-esteem lately."

Recognizing and addressing religious trauma is crucial for those seeking healing and resolution from their past experiences. Often, the signs of religious trauma can be subtle, deeply ingrained and difficult to identify. Yet, the impact of such trauma can be profound, affecting one's mental health, relationships and overall well-being.

By shedding light on this often-overlooked form of psychological distress, individuals are able to understand the signs and symptoms of religious trauma—and can take their first steps towards healing and reclaiming their sense of self.

1. Chronic Shame

According to research from the journal of Religions, religious upbringing can tragically intertwine with chronic shame–despite sincere religious convictions and expressions of love from those who teach it. The authors note that, particularly within Christianity, shame is often dispensed as promoting adherence to religious doctrine and ensuring eternal salvation.

Parents and religious teachers may believe that instilling shame will guide individuals towards God's will, and ultimately secure their place in heaven. However, this approach can inadvertently create an environment in which shame becomes a pervasive norm, even in the presence of love and care.

The insidious nature of religious shaming is particularly evident in how it is consistently presented and justified as an act of love. The authors make reference to a woman who, reflecting on her upbringing, stated, "I was taught that the people who hurt you, violently hurt you, every day, for years, are doing it because they love you." This is the kind of narrative that exemplifies chronic shame within religious trauma. When individuals are conditioned to believe harm—of any kind—inflicted upon them is an expression of love, their experiences are invalidated, furthering the cycle of shame and trauma.

2. Isolation

According to research on the rhetoric of religious trauma, leaving one's religious community or experiencing doubt often marks the beginning of a complex and stressful journey. During this process, individuals are forced to confront the foundational beliefs and values that once provided them a sense of belonging and identity—that is, within their religious community.

However, as they question and reassess these beliefs, they may find themselves navigating uncharted territory, fraught with uncertainty and existential anguish. For many, especially those deeply entrenched in their religious upbringing, this process of deconstruction can be isolating and disorienting.

Growing up within insular environments—such as fundamentalist households or parochial schools—they were sheltered from the diversity of thought and cultural perspectives found in mainstream society. As a result, leaving behind their religious community can feel like stepping into an alien world; a world where they lack the shared language, customs and norms that once provided a sense of security.

The disconnection from their religious community and broader society can create intense feelings of isolation, alienation, and even anger. The authors reference an individual who was taught to follow Young Earth Creationism as a child during homeschooling, who became at odds with their religion once connecting with outside communities. In their words, "I'm still angry about it, all of the time, and I feel like it's consuming me. I look at the time I spent in 'creation science' classes as time stolen from me that I could have been actually learning something worth a damn."

This experience of upheaval and disconnection is often indicative of religious trauma, as individuals grapple with the psychological and emotional fallout of leaving behind deeply ingrained beliefs and cultural frameworks. The process of deconstruction can evoke feelings of grief, confusion and existential crisis, as individuals reconcile their uncertainties and their newfound beliefs and identities.

3. Silencing

The authors go further to note that, in stepping away from one's religious upbringing, many individuals face significant barriers when attempting to share their experiences and seek validation from others. "Testimonial silencing" is a common challenge encountered by survivors of religious abuse, particularly when disclosing traumatic experiences.

The authors reference the experience of a woman, as recounted in her essay. When she bravely shared her testimony of sexual abuse with a trusted listener, she expected empathy and support. However, instead of receiving validation, her narrative was met with skepticism and doubt: "You could be having false memories. In the 1990s, lots of people thought they were sexually abused as children, but their memories were wrong. Couldn't you be wrong?"

These kinds of dismissive responses exemplify testimonial silencing, where survivors' narratives are undermined or invalidated, hindering their ability to process and heal from their experiences. This suppression makes it incredibly difficult for survivors to address the underlying issues of abuse and trauma. Instead of finding support and validation, they may encounter a culture of denial, which can enhance feelings of isolation, shame and powerlessness—making it even more challenging for survivors to find a sense of belonging and healing within their religious or spiritual communities.

The combination of shame, isolation and silencing can create a profound and lasting impact on individuals grappling with religious trauma. However, know that feeling unsatisfied or aggrieved by these experiences does not mean that you are inherently flawed, nor are you deserving of scrutiny or damnation. By acknowledging your experiences and seeking support, you can reclaim your voice and rewrite your story on your terms.

Wondering if you can ever leave your religious trauma behind? Take the Brief Resilience Scale to gain clarity.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.