Personal reflections and insights from Megan’s ongoing journey with religious harm recovery.
A Note From Megan | Many high-control religious spaces encourage a kind of forced vulnerability that can feel deeply intimate at the time. In this Note, I reflect on how those dynamics affected my understanding of closeness, emotional safety, and connection long after leaving religion.
A Note From Megan | This Note explores the connection between “modesty culture” found in many high-control religions and “the male gaze,” which upholds patriarchal beauty standards both inside and outside of religion.
A Note From Megan | Living in a culture shaped by the Protestant work ethic can leave many of us feeling like we’re always striving and never arriving. In this Note, I share how this has shown up in my own life and why this cultural phenomenon often creates more complexity for folks recovering from religious trauma.
A Note From Megan | For many of us, high-control religion required more than belief. It asked us to sacrifice our dreams, our interests, and our aspirations. In this note, I share a piece of my own reclaiming process as I return to something I once gave up in pursuit of “God’s calling.”
A Note From Megan | If you’ve ever wondered why it still feels hard to “feel your feelings” after leaving a high-control religion, this might resonate. In this Note, I talk about “non”-spiritual bypassing and the ways we continue avoiding difficult emotions without even realizing it.
A Note From Megan | In this Note, I reflect on my grandmother’s choices and the divergent paths women faced during the rise of feminism and the religious right. As I watch Mrs. America, I can’t help but wonder how different our lives might have been if she had chosen liberation instead of control.
A Note From Megan | In this Note, I explore the complex question of whether men and women can truly be “just friends,” challenging traditional beliefs that are influenced by both purity culture and pop culture. I also share my evolving perspective on ways attraction, friendship, and connection can exist outside the gender binary.
A Note From Megan | Anger is often seen as a negative emotion, but what if we viewed it as a source of wisdom and empowerment? In this Note, I share insights on how embracing anger can guide us toward change and healing, especially for those navigating the complexities of leaving a high-control religion.
A Note From Megan | If conflict still feels risky for you, there’s usually a reason. Many of us grew up learning that the safest thing to do was to avoid it altogether. In this Note, I share why avoiding conflict keeps relationships stuck at a surface level and how engaging in conflict with safe people can open the door to deeper, more honest connection.
A Note From Megan | Purity culture can narrow the way you’re taught to evaluate relationships, especially when “relationship with god” becomes the main filter. In this note, I talk about marriage-first dating, the checklist mindset, and what it can look like to rebuild a fuller, more human way of seeing yourself and others.