The Newsletter Archive
Includes:The Religious Harm Recovery Digest & A Note from Megan
The RHR Digest & A Note From Megan are subscriber-funded publications. Learn More
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Religious cults create family cults
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | After leaving a religious cult, you may start to realize the religious group was only part of the problem. Deeper harm likely existed inside the family system itself. This Digest looks at how religious cults recreate themselves inside the home, why those dynamics are so hard to identify, and how recognizing family cult patterns are a critical part of the recovery process.
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When commitments feel like a threat
A Note From Megan | Do you ever make a commitment and immediately regret it? This is common for people who grew up without real autonomy. In this newsletter, I explore developmental autonomy abuse, how it this form of religious trauma lingers in the nervous system, and what can help commitments feel safer over time.
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Self-compassion for the “inherently sinful”
Self-compassion often feels out of reach after high-control religion. This Digest explores how self-loathing becomes a nervous-system default, why kindness toward yourself can feel unsafe, and how recovery begins by reducing internal threat rather than forcing gentleness.
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Purity culture reaches beyond sexuality
A Note From Megan | Purity culture doesn’t stop at policing our sexuality. It can also show up as a rigid belief that there is one right way to live, work, eat, rest, or engage socially. This Note looks at how purity culture thinking may still seep into our day to day lives even after leaving a high-control religion.
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The moral injury of childhood indoctrination
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | If you were raised in a high-control religion, you may be carrying the moral injury of childhood indoctrination. This type of harm often includes lingering guilt and shame tied to what you were taught to believe, enforce, or participate in just to stay safe. This edition of The RHR Digest offers clarity around this wound and what supports healing.
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“I’ll pray for you,” he said.
A Note From Megan | Have you ever received a message with the phrase “I’ll pray for you” and wondered how to deal with it? In this newsletter, I explore the different motivations behind such messages—ranging from manipulation to genuine care—and how to navigate these interactions in ways that support your autonomy and emotional safety.
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🗝️ Unlocked Newsletter | Common religious manipulation tactics
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | Inside religious cult, coercive tactics are often framed as love, protection, or spiritual guidance. This edition of The RHR Digest identifies 11 of the most common forms of manipulation so you can better understand your experience and take steps toward recovery.
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A season of religious triggers
A Note From Megan | The holiday season can trigger a whirlwind of emotions for those of us who grew up in religious environments. This newsletter unpacks some of my personal experiences with these triggers and how we can navigate this time in ways that honor our evolving relationship with holiday traditions.
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19 ways purity culture harms sexuality
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | In this newsletter, we explore 19 profound ways that purity culture suppresses our understanding of sexuality, from framing desire as dangerous to making sex feel like an obligation. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about your desires or how to communicate your needs, this discussion might resonate deeply and offer insights for reclaiming your sexuality on your own terms.
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Why “chosen family” is so important
A Note From Megan | As the holiday season approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of chosen family, especially for those of us who have distanced ourselves from harmful relationships. This newsletter discusses how cultivating the supportive bonds of “chosen family” can provide healing and connection when traditional family ties feel strained or absent.
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The perfectionism trap
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | Have you ever felt like you’re caught in a cycle of never feeling good enough due to constant self-examination and confession? This newsletter explores how that mindset can lead to overwork, burnout, and chronic self-criticism, offering insights on how to disrupt that cycle so you can cultivate a healthier sense of self.
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🗝️ Unlocked Newsletter | My escape from fundamentalism
A Note From Megan | My faith began and ended the same way—with vibes over theological arguments. I didn’t leave because I found better answers. I left because my values no longer aligned with what I was taught to accept. If that sounds familiar you might find pieces of your story in mine.
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Why boundaries aren’t enough
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | In this edition, we’re looking at how to start fully embodying self-worth. This goes beyond thinking “I’m worthy”—it’s about feeling it in your body. You’ll also discover practical steps to reclaim your sense of worth in real life.
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Groomed for submission
A Note From Megan | It’s wild how easily old conditioning can surface, especially when it comes to standing up for myself. In this newsletter, I’m exploring the spectrum between subservience and self-worth, and my ongoing struggle with moving beyond boundaries to actually confronting bad behavior.
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Why rest, pleasure, and self-care still feels impossible
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | Have you ever wondered why rest, pleasure, and self-care feel impossible, leaving you anxious or guilty even when you logically know you deserve them? This newsletter explores how internalized beliefs from high-control religions and nervous system dysregulation make slowing down a challenge, and how U.S. culture often reinforces these patterns.
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You might not be as “deconstructed” as you think
A Note From Megan | Have you ever noticed how we often resist the parts of oppressive systems that hurt us while still clinging to those that benefit us? In this newsletter, I reflect on my own journey away from fundamentalist beliefs and question whether our efforts to deconstruct are genuinely aimed at dismantling systemic oppression or merely serve our own self-interest.
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🗝️ Unlocked Newsletter | Making peace with your “cult self”
Many people leaving high-control religions carry shame or even anger toward the version of themselves they were while deeply indoctrinated. But what if that version of you deserves compassion, not condemnation? In this newsletter, I explore why making peace with your “cult self” is a key part of religious harm recovery and share practical strategies to help you get started.
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Why I don’t promote forgiveness
A Note From Megan | Because of my religious upbringing, forgiveness has often felt like an unfair emotional burden on the wounded party. In this Note, I explore my preferred framework for navigating ruptures in relationships — one that doesn’t involve “forgiveness” at all.
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Two bodies, one flesh
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | In this issue, we explore the concept of becoming “one flesh” in relationships and how it can lead to the loss of individual identity, unrealistic expectations, and a troubling sense of ownership over partners. We’ll also consider how reclaiming your sense of self is essential for fostering genuine intimacy and healthy connections after purity culture indoctrination.
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Is this person “safe?”
A Note From Megan | In this newsletter, I discuss the challenges of recognizing safe vs unsafe people in your life by sharing some of my personal journey of navigating boundaries and course-correcting when something feels “off.”
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The internalized voice of god
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | This issue of the RHR Digest explores how the internalized voice of god can continue to influence your thoughts and emotions long after leaving a high-control religion. Learn more about how this voice may manifest as intrusive thoughts and learn practical steps to quiet it while reconnecting with your authentic self.
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Survivor’s guilt & my black sheep brother
A Note From Megan | In this newsletter, I’m reflecting on my complex relationship with my older brother, exploring themes of survivor’s guilt and the painful realities of growing up in an abusive, religious household.
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Navigating holidays with religious family
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | This issue of the RHR Digest offers practical strategies for navigating holiday gatherings with family, especially when faced with differing beliefs and traditions.
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🗝️ Unlocked Newsletter | My personal experience with a purity culture marriage
A Note From Megan | I’m talking about my personal experience with a purity culture marriage. I specifically focus on my journey with codependency and the challenges of navigating mismatched gender roles.
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The hidden pain of purity culture marriages
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | Have you ever felt trapped by the rigid expectations of purity culture in your marriage? This newsletter uncovers the hidden pain many face in these unions and offers three potential paths forward, whether you choose to heal together, renegotiate your relationship, or part ways with compassion.
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Learning to live free from fear
A Note From Megan | This newsletter reflects on a recent trip to NYC and how it symbolizes a journey from fear to freedom. Join with me as I discuss how confronting old beliefs about danger has transformed my life and why exploring new places has been essential for my healing.
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Understanding parent-child enmeshment
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | This issue of the RHR Digest discusses the complex dynamics of parent-child enmeshment, particularly within high-control religions, and discusses how it can hinder personal autonomy and identity development.
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A lesson from my electric toothbrush
A Note From Megan | In this newsletter, I share how my electric toothbrush has become a surprising reflection of the state of my nervous system.
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What exactly is Christian Nationalism?
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | The ideology of Christian Nationalism contains three overlapping elements. This newsletter identifies these elements and explains definition, core components, and the societal impacts of the Christian Nationalist movement. It also includes a section on how those indoctrinated into this ideology may still be impacted even after leaving.
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Your skepticism is a strength
A Note From Megan | In this newsletter, I’m talking about my journey from unquestioning belief to a more discerning skepticism, especially after leaving a high-control religion. I also discuss how to cultivate healthy skepticism and why pausing to question authority can empower us to trust ourselves.
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7 subtle signs of spiritual abuse
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | This issue of the RHR Digest explores the often-overlooked issue of spiritual abuse within high-control religions. It draws parallels between spiritual and domestic abuse, providing insights into the subtle forms of coercive control that may have been a part of your religious indoctrination experience.
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Post-religion malaise
A Note From Megan | In this newsletter, I’m reflecting on the emotional highs and lows that come from leaving behind a radicalized past. I’ll be discussing the feelings of nostalgia for intensity in belief systems and the challenges of finding meaning in a post-religion life.
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Why you continue to feel unworthy
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | Do you often feel a sense of unworthiness that lingers even after leaving a high-control religion? This issue of the RHR Digest explores four key reasons behind that feeling, from conditional love to attachment wounds, and offers insights on how to start healing and embracing your inherent worth.
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High-control religions & father wounds
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | If you’ve been curious about how father wounds might be affecting your relationships and sense of self the this issue of the Religious Harm Recovery Digest is for you. It explores the lasting impacts of father-child dynamics in high-control religions and offers insights on healing these deep emotional wounds.
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🗝️ Unlocked Newsletter | High-control religions & mother wounds
The Religious Harm Recovery Digest | Are you curious about how high-control religions can impact the mother-child bond? This issue of the Religious Harm Recovery Digest explores the concept of “mother wounds,” revealing how emotional neglect and authoritarian parenting styles can leave lasting scars on relationships and self-esteem, while offering insights into healing and understanding your experiences.
