8 Mental Health Conditions Exacerbated by High-Control Religion
High control religions can take a heavy toll on someone’s mental health.
In my work, I’ve noticed that this impact tends to cluster around certain diagnoses. In this article, we’ll walk through eight underlying mental health conditions that are especially vulnerable to being triggered or intensified in a high control religious environment.
You’ll see the same pattern show up again and again:
Throughout this article, you’ll see examples like anxiety about always being watched by god, spiraling over loved ones going to hell, or having manic episodes framed as being “on fire for the Lord.”
Naming these patterns can help you recognize where religious harm may have been quietly entangled with your diagnosis.
If you’re seeking treatment for one of these conditions, it’s especially important to understand how religious harm may be interacting with your mental health.
In many cases, it’s very difficult to fully address the underlying condition without also addressing the religious context that has been fueling it.
What We’ll Be Covering:
1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed in response to those thoughts.
High control religions, which emphasize strict rules and rituals, can play a role in exacerbating underlying OCD symptoms.
In fact, religious obsessions and compulsions may be the very first indicators of this condition.
For many people, OCD first shows up as relentless anxiety about “getting it wrong” with god: feeling tortured by kernels of doubt about religion, replaying conversations in your head to make sure you didn’t blaspheme, or obsessively checking whether you really “meant it” when you prayed.
In a high-control religions, those doubts can feel like eternal-life-or-death decisions.
How the Rules of a High Control Religion Amplify OCD
Within the context of high control religions, certain religious practices might become intertwined with your obsessions
This then leads to compulsions driven by the need to follow religious rules meticulously in order to avoid spiritual “consequences.”
For instance, you might feel compelled to repeat prayers or certain rituals excessively to ease fears of divine punishment or to ensure you’re still “pure.”
Although these behaviors can provide temporary relief, they often reinforce the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify OCD
In high control religious communities, the fear of judgment and social pressures can escalate your OCD symptoms.
This is because the constant scrutiny by fellow church members and the possibility of facing shame if you fail in some way can exacerbate the anxiety underlying your OCD.
This then often leads to a cycle of isolation and increasingly severe symptoms.
As symptoms escalate in the face of stress, you experience even more ruminations and intrusive thoughts (obsessions), so you engage in more behaviors (compulsions) to try to self-soothe and eliminate the stress.
But because stress in these types of groups is chronic, you never really experience complete relief, only a perpetual cycle of ever-worsening symptoms.
2. Anxiety & Panic Disorders
Anxiety & panic disorders involve persistent feelings of intense worry, fear and/or panic attacks.
High control religions, characterized by strict rules, rituals and close-knit communities, can definitely trigger underlying anxiety and panic disorders and create lasting harm to your mental health.
How the Rules of a High-Control Religion Amplify Anxiety & Panic Disorders
The pressure to conform precisely to the standards of a high control religion can generate immense fear and apprehension.
And any perceived failing can trigger intense worry about potential spiritual consequences or even consequences from your family or religious community.
That might look like constant anxiety about always being watched by god, ruminating about loved ones going to hell if they don’t believe the “right” way, or panicking over whether you’ve accidentally sinned without realizing it.
When every thought, choice, and relationship can be framed as spiritually high stakes, everyday life starts to feel like walking a tightrope.
It’s probably unsurprising that this fear can then lead to an escalation of your anxiety symptoms, potentially culminating in panic attacks.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify Anxiety & Panic Disorders
These types of religious groups often prioritize hierarchical structures, where authoritative figures dictate the “correct” way to live and practice the faith.
This hierarchical dynamic can create an environment of constant evaluation, where your actions are closely scrutinized for compliance with religious expectations.
If you’re already prone to anxiety, this type of setting can amplify your concerns about judgment and inadequacy, leading to even more anxiety.
Additionally, the public displays of faith that are often expected, such as “leading prayer,” can trigger enormous anxiety and potentially even panic attacks.
3. Depression
Depression, a common mental health condition, involves persistent feelings of emptiness, hopelessness and a lack of interest in activities.
The problem here is that high control religious groups often emphasize unwavering adherence to rituals, codes of conduct and spiritual expectations.
These impossible expectations will often activate your symptoms of depression as you feel more and more like you’re “not enough”—pure enough, giving enough, kind enough, etc.
How the Rules of a High-Control Religion Amplify Depression
The pressure to meet rigid religious standards can create a heightened sense of inadequacy and hopelessness, something people with depression already tend to struggle with.
Any perceived failure to live up to these expectations can intensify your feelings of worthlessness and contribute to the cycle of depression.
And the constant burden of perfectionism often found in high control religions can further erode your self-worth and contribute to the intensity of your symptoms of depression.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify Depression
High control religious groups often emphasize a collective identity and absolute conformity, which can create intense pressure to fit in and live up to established norms.
In these communities, you might feel compelled to hide your feelings of depression, fearing that opening up about your struggles could lead to judgment or isolation.
The pressure to maintain a facade of well-being can be exhausting and will further contribute to a cycle of isolation, worsening your symptoms of depression.
On top of that, many of us were told to seek god, pray harder, or try religious counseling instead of accessing secular mental health care.
When depression is treated as a spiritual failure instead of a real condition, symptoms often escalate.
You’re left feeling like you’re “not praying right” or “not faithful enough,” while the actual depression goes untreated.
4. Trauma-Related Disorders
Trauma-Related Disorders, including PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Complex PTSD, result from experiencing traumatic events that continue to impact your mental health.
People with underlying trauma disorders may be drawn to religion because it is supposedly a “good support system.”
However, high-control religious groups, which are rooted in power and control dynamics and routinely use fear-based tactics to achieve and maintain control, are some of the worst possible settings for someone with PTSD or C-PTSD.
How the Rules of a High Control Religion Amplify Trauma-Related Disorders
The pressure to conform perfectly to in order to meet religious standards can intensify feelings of hypervigilance and anxiety that are often associated with trauma.
Any perceived deviation from these norms can trigger heightened distress as you fear potential spiritual consequences or displeasure from other church members.
This fear can lead to increased agitation and emotional reactivity, potentially exacerbating your trauma-related symptoms.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify Trauma-Related Disorders
Furthermore, high-control religious settings nearly always emphasize a hierarchical structure, where authoritative figures define the “correct” way to practice the faith.
This hierarchical dynamic can magnify feelings of powerlessness which can be particularly distressing for individuals dealing with trauma.
Furthermore, the pressure to present a façade of well-being can be emotionally exhausting, potentially exacerbating your trauma-related symptoms as you work to mask your inner turmoil.
5. Narcissism
Narcissism is a personality disorder that involves an inflated sense of self-importance, a need for excessive attention, and a lack of empathy.
High-control religions tend to attract people with underlying narcissistic traits because it provides an approved structure to dominate and control others.
How the Rules of a High-Control Religion Amplify Narcissism
The pressure to conform to the standards of a high control religion can contribute to an inflated sense of self-importance, as narcissists strive to display a superior level of adherence compared to others.
This competitive aspect of religiosity can also amplify their need for validation and attention, which are core aspects of narcissism.
Furthermore, because high control religious settings emphasize hierarchical structures, authoritative figures get to define the “correct” way to practice the faith.
You’ll often find that narcissists work their way to into positions of leadership because this hierarchical dynamic feeds into their desire for recognition and admiration.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify Narcissism
High-control religious groups often place a strong emphasis on collective identity and conformity, which can generate pressures to fit in and adhere to established norms.
The communal nature of high control religious environments thus provides ample opportunities for narcissists to showcase their talents and achievements to garner attention.
Additionally, the social interactions within high control religious settings might involve public displays of faith or participation in communal activities.
For narcissists, these situations can be particularly enticing because it continues to fuel the need for attention and admiration.
6. Bipolar Disorder
If you’re dealing with bipolar disorder, it’s crucial to understand how high control religions can potentially trigger or amplify your symptoms.
Bipolar disorder involves alternating periods of elevated mood (mania) and periods of depression.
If you live with bipolar, it is common for the stressful, high demand nature of authoritarian religions to trigger mood episodes and negatively impact your mental health.
How the Rules of a High-Control Religion Amplify Bipolar Disorder
During manic episodes, the pressure to conform to these stringent religious standards may intensify your impulsiveness and lead you to engage in risky or extreme behaviors.
The heightened religiosity associated with mania can further fuel your enthusiasm for religious practices, potentially pushing you to overexert yourself.
Furthermore, high-control religious settings prioritize hierarchical structures
This structure can either intensify your feelings of grandiosity during manic episodes or contribute to feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness during depressive episodes.
During manic episodes especially, the belief that you’re “different,” “set apart,” or specially chosen by god can get tangled up with religious messaging.
Leaders or community members might praise your intensity or “on fire for God” behavior, which can inadvertently fuel manic grandiosity.
Instead of people noticing warning signs and helping you get support, the culture can reinforce the idea that this elevated state is spiritually ideal.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify Bipolar Disorder
During manic episodes, you might find yourself drawn to roles of leadership or prominence within the religious community.
The communal nature of high control religious environments can provide an outlet for your increased energy and enthusiasm during these times.
Further, high control religious communities often engage in public displays of faith or communal activities.
For people living with bipolar disorder, these situations can be particularly stimulating during manic episodes, providing an outlet for your elevated mood.
However, during depressive episodes, the social pressure to engage in communal activities might contribute to a heightened sense of isolation, shame and failure.
7. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD involves challenges with focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as struggles with “masking,” perfectionism and rejection sensitivity.
Because of this, the rigid environment and expectation of perfection created by a high-control religious groups can be especially challenging for someone with ADHD.
How the Rules of a High-Control Religion Amplify ADHD
If you struggle with ADHD, the pressure to conform perfectly to religious standards will often add to your stress and anxiety.
And the rigid structure of the religion and high expectations may heighten your difficulty with focus and completing tasks, leading to feelings of frustration and self-doubt.
Furthermore, the hierarchical dynamic of high-control religions can really amplify feelings of resistance and rebellion against authority, which may create feelings of shame or “sinfulness.”
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify ADHD
People with ADHD may find it challenging to engage in social interactions and adhere to the communal rituals of high-control religious groups.
The pressure to participate and maintain focus during these interactions (such as prolonged group prayer or Bible study) can heighten your feelings of restlessness and potentially exacerbate your ADHD symptoms.
All of this tends to lead to feelings of frustration, isolation and an internalized sense of “badness.”
8. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia involves distorted thoughts, perceptions and emotions.
It is a fairly rare diagnosis, often characterized by paranoia, delusions and even various types of hallucinations.
High-control religion can be particularly problematic for someone living with schizophrenia because concepts around spiritual warfare and “unseen things” can really amplify paranoia and delusions.
How the Rules of a High-Control Religion Amplify Schizophrenia
If you are diagnosed with schizophrenia, the stress surrounding the pressure to conform to religious standards can intensify your feelings of paranoia or anxiety.
And the rigid structure and expectations may clash with your difficulties in distinguishing between reality and delusions, leading to heightened feelings of confusion and distress.
Furthermore, the hierarchical structure of high control religions can either amplify your feelings of persecution and mistrust during paranoid episodes or exacerbate feelings of isolation and vulnerability during withdrawal phases.
How the Religious Community Itself Can Amplify Schizophrenia
People diagnosed with schizophrenia might find that the expectations within the religious community exacerbate your difficulties in interpreting social cues and maintaining a coherent narrative, potentially leading to feelings of exclusion or confusion.
Moreover, the social interactions within high control religious settings often involve public displays of faith and participation in communal activities.
For people living with schizophrenia, these situations can be quite overwhelming, potentially exacerbating your symptoms and triggering episodes of paranoia or delusions.
This will be especially relevant to folks who were indoctrinated into religious groups that routinely used phobia indoctrination.
Resources to Support Recovery
This is just a brief overview of how various mental health conditions can be exacerbated by the rigidly controlled environment of a high demand religion.
If you were raised in the church, chances are high that you have an internalized sense of shame and moral failing around your diagnosis.
It’s possible you never even received a proper diagnosis until you left the religion.
Recognizing the impact that the high control religion had on your mental health and the ways it exacerbated your symptoms is a critical part of releasing shame.
While you may continue to struggle with the underlying mental health condition, getting away from the triggers associated with high control religions will undoubtedly go a long way in helping you live more peacefully with your diagnosis.
If this brought up painful memories or realizations, consider reaching out for support from a trauma‑informed therapist or support group that understands religious harm.
Mental Health Resources
Please keep in mind that getting help with both your mental health and your religious trauma is a way of caring for the parts of you that have carried this for a long time.
Here are some resources that may help.
Rebuilding Connections
As a final note, leaving a high-control religion or religious cult can result in significant isolation for many folks because most of us lose much of our community in the process.
If that sounds like you, you may find this article useful: Making New Friends After Leaving Your Religious Group
Beyond formal therapy, informal support can be incredibly healing. Consider joining online communities of people who’ve left high-control religions, where you can share experiences without judgment.
Local meetup groups, book clubs, or hobby-based gatherings can also help you build new friendships organically, allowing you to connect with people who share your current interests rather than past beliefs.
Some Possible Next Steps
If this article resonated with you and you’re wondering where to go from here, you might consider the following options:
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