Have you heard of comparative suffering? It’s a term Brené Brown discusses quite often in her work on shame and vulnerability, so it’s been swirling around the personal-development world for a while now. However, it’s still something I see people doing all the time, particularly folks who have experiences of religious trauma. The reason I wanted…
Religious narcissism can be hard to identify because it often looks like “leadership” or “holiness.” This post breaks down what narcissism is, how high-control religions can reward these dynamics, and what overt and covert religious narcissism can look like in real life. You’ll also get a few practical strategies for protecting yourself.
Religious authoritarian parenting can leave kids scanning for approval, second-guessing their needs, and learning that connection comes with conditions. In this post, I define what I mean by authoritarian parenting, then break down four common wounds that can show up later: hyper-attunement, emotion confusion, external validation, and shame-based self-worth.
Religious trauma can leave lasting emotional and physiological triggers. This article will help you to learn how to identify and manage these triggers while cultivating greater stability, self-awareness, and resilience on the other side of religious programming.
Purity culture is often discussed through the lens of its impact on women, but many men carry deep shame, fear, and relational pressure for years. This post first considered the harmful set-up of a rigid gender binary and then breaks down five specific ways men may be harmed by purity culture teaching and expectations.
Religious cults manipulate emotions through fear, guilt, and shame. Learn common tactics, signs after leaving, and how these dynamics can contribute to religious trauma.
This article discusses the connection between religious indoctrination and dissociation, highlighting how religious cults can induce dissociative responses through cognitive dissonance, thought control, and emotional suppression. It also outlines practical strategies for healing, including understanding triggers, building support systems, and seeking professional help, emphasizing that recovery is possible for those affected.
It’s common for people indoctrinated into fear-based religions to struggle with obsessive thoughts about sin, morality, or spiritual failure. If you’ve ever felt trapped in cycles of religious fear or mental rituals you couldn’t shut off, there may be a reason. This article explores how religious trauma often lays the foundation for religious OCD, sometimes referred to as scrupulosity.
Internalized fundamentalism is what can linger even after leaving a high-control religion and fully deconstructing your faith. It often looks like a pull toward certainty, rules, and being “right.” This post explains how it develops as a safety adaptation, how it can look day to day, and how trauma work can help cultivate internal safety.
In this guide, I share essential steps for setting boundaries with family after leaving a high-control religion. You will learn how to clarify your values, identify your needs, and communicate boundaries effectively to foster healthier relationships while prioritizing your well-being.