Religious Trauma Recovery: Holiday Support
Are the holidays hard for you? You’re not alone.
For survivors of religious trauma and spiritual abuse, the holiday season can be an intensely triggering time. The ubiquitous religious imagery, music, and traditions can serve as painful reminders of past experiences within oppressive or abusive religious environments.
Family gatherings may force interactions with individuals who were complicit in or dismissive of the abuse or lived experience. The emphasis on faith, worship, and spiritual celebration can resurface complex emotions like grief, anger, and confusion about one's spiritual identity.
RTN Podcast - What is Religious Trauma? Do I have it? Is Recovery Possible?
In the inaugural episode of the Religious Trauma Network podcast, hosts Rebekah and Luke explore the concept of religious trauma, its impact on individuals, and the importance of community in the healing process. They share personal stories of trauma and recovery, discuss the complexities of defining religious trauma, and emphasize the need for resilience and self-awareness in healing.
Religious Trauma: Navigating the Trifecta of Faith, Culture and Identity
In my role as an expert in culture and identity within the trauma space, my intent here is to explore three deeply intertwined factors—faith, culture, and identity create what I call a “trauma trifecta.” Each of these elements is foundational to personal identity, shaping how individuals experience, process, and heal from trauma. In my opinion, approaching religious trauma from this perspective, rather than as an isolated experience, allows us to recognize and understand the layered impacts of cultural and identity dynamics on a person’s spiritual journey and their psychological well-being.
4 Responses of Unhealed Trauma
I want to take a deeper dive into the world of trauma responses – those ways our minds and bodies react to past hurts, shaping our thoughts and actions long after the dust settles. Sometimes we think we’ve dealt with something, but realize patterns are still in place that may be signals something isn’t healed, healthy or whole.
Calming Your Nervous System as a Parent: While Processing Childhood Trauma
Parenting is such a wild ride—full of ups, downs, and everything in between. You’ve finally nailed the toddler and elementary years when, wham! You wake up one morning and now have a teenager in your home with those years full of their own challenges, developmental stages and complexities.
When you’re also carrying the weight of your own childhood trauma, parenting can often feel like an even bigger challenge. But here’s the thing: your trauma is not your child’s trauma. In fact, showing our kids how we learn, grow, and tackle tough stuff can be one of the best lessons we can give them.ll begins with an idea.
The Impact of Childhood Attachment on Faith and Parenting
A child needs to experience the unconditional love of their caregiver, for it is through this bond that they learn what it means to feel safe, valued, and seen. Healthy attachment between a child and their caregiver is foundational. It is in this space of security that a child’s nervous system can develop properly, learning to regulate emotions, manage stress, and form relationships built on trust and mutual respect.
Is Religious Trauma Impacting You?
Even over the phone, I could sense the physical reaction caused by the story that was being shared—a clear indication of trauma. It was a difficult story of rejection, betrayal, and abandonment—all within a religious context.