Spiritual Abuse S-PTSD

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Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,863
4,513
113
#1
A fascinating study is a branch of psychology concerning spiritual abuse (the abuse of the human spirit). The abuse has seen a rise in the same symptoms of PTSD, which leave the abused fighting intrusive memories, avoiding church, avoiding people, questioning truth claims, and feeling detached in prayer, worship, or the Bible.

"Other symptoms may include:

INTRUSIVE MEMORIES

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:

Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event

Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)

Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event

Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.

AVOIDANCE

Symptoms of avoidance may include:

Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event.

Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event.

NEGATIVE CHANGES IN THINKING AND MOOD

Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:

Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world

Hopelessness about the future

Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event.

Difficulty maintaining close relationships.

Feeling detached from family and friends

Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.

Difficulty experiencing positive emotions.

Feeling emotionally numb

CHANGES IN PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL EMOTIONS

Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:

Being easily startled or frightened

Always being on guard for danger

Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast.

Trouble sleeping

Trouble concentrating

Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior

Overwhelming guilt or shame"

(Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic)

There is a rise in Christian groups who have been hurt by extreme legalistic guilt and shame churches or churches that feed on manipulation and strive on heresies to promote wealth and power.

The abuse of the soul seems to be the worst there is. As the soul is the life-giving force of the body (Genesis 2:7 King James Version
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.)

The soul and mind are connected as both are eternal and metaphysical. (1 Corinthians 15:53 ESV
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.)

What God calls holy or sacred, like our lives, the boundaries between a husband and wife, what we worship, or what we do with our minds, can be hurt much more profoundly when we abuse, have been abused, or see abuse in these areas. The feelings we have against murder make us different than the animal kingdom. The feeling of being raped or discovering that adultery had occurred makes us different than the animal kingdom. Animals do not have the inner nature of worship; according to what we worship, we see either moral or immoral results. If we allow garbage into the mind, it doesn't just operate out of instinct but can be altered by our choices or the choices of others.

Everything God connects to the soul will be affected if abused in rebellion or by someone hurting us.

The spiritual has to be healed, or we are only suppressing the damage. The mind remembers even if using medication. Big Pharma has addicted millions, and doctors have made it so easy that just by answering a questionnaire, you can be prescribed depression and anxiety meds. What happen to first do no harm? Talk therapy shows excellent results. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about 75% — or 3 in 4 people — who try talk therapy notice its benefits.

I get we want everything to be quickly fixed, but mental and spiritual trauma can take months or even years to heal. Do the research, read what the experts say on these topics, and start with your healing.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,342
29,590
113
#2
According to wiki, the term spiritual abuse was purportedly coined in the late twentieth century,
though I had never heard it before I started using the term in the early to mid nineties, sometimes
when I would share in my NA home group, concerning how I felt about being brought up in the RCC.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,863
4,513
113
#3
According to wiki, the term spiritual abuse was purportedly coined in the late twentieth century,
though I had never heard it before I started using the term in the early to mid nineties, sometimes
when I would share in my NA home group, concerning how I felt about being brought up in the RCC.
It is finally gaining ground in psychology where naturalism seems to being losing steam in the culture.

https://www.barna.com/research/rising-spiritual-openness/
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,342
29,590
113
#4
It is finally gaining ground in psychology where naturalism seems to being losing steam in the culture.

https://www.barna.com/research/rising-spiritual-openness/
Interesting! Well, I underwent a lot of counselling during a certain period of time, in early recovery especially, but really starting before the end of my marriage, with my recovery process starting almost ten years later. I could really appreciate the roots of the words in psychology, psyche being related to soul, and the "ology" being a subject of study; a branch of knowledge. I loved that these people who I was paying to help me (LOL) were giving me a language to enhance my awareness of and chart my growth, as it were. I needed a lot of help...
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,342
29,590
113
#5
Just to add: my recovery process started in earnest after I cried out to God for help.
I was, as they say, sick and tired of feeling sick and tired! I did not even believe in
God at that point, but within days I was directed to NA, and I lost the desire to use
mind and mood altering substances after 24 years of drinking and drugging. That
was in 1994. I became a believer in 2004
.:). Kicking and screaming all the way .:LOL:

j/k about the kicking and screaming .:unsure::giggle:. But I was very stiff necked ;):D
 

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,101
740
113
#6
I have heard of "spiritual trauma" but not spiritual abuse. Also, this topic is usually discussed within the context of an individual, not a group. But, I can see how a group as a whole can suffer from spiritual trauma/abuse.

Personally, I have suffered from spiritual trauma (one example being, people telling me I can pray away a medical issue or otherwise I had unbelief), and experienced some of the symptoms listed above. This led me to not discuss personal issues with other Christians and kind of detach myself (even though I was still going) from church. I felt I was hearing too much noise and it got confusing/frustrating. I just felt I need more alone time with God without other people. Other examples include well-meaning Christians being insensitive. It does take a long time to heal from this all, and you never forget about it.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,863
4,513
113
#7
Just to add: my recovery process started in earnest after I cried out to God for help.
I was, as they say, sick and tired of feeling sick and tired! I did not even believe in
God at that point, but within days I was directed to NA, and I lost the desire to use
mind and mood altering substances after 24 years of drinking and drugging. That
was in 1994. I became a believer in 2004
.:). Kicking and screaming all the way .:LOL:

j/k about the kicking and screaming .:unsure::giggle:. But I was very stiff-necked ;):D
Wow God knows how to reach anyone no matter how stiffnecked they are. Your story has a lot of triumph and victory. I was just as stubborn though. It took a car accident and years of pain to get me to surrender.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,863
4,513
113
#8
I have heard of "spiritual trauma" but not spiritual abuse. Also, this topic is usually discussed within the context of an individual, not a group. But, I can see how a group as a whole can suffer from spiritual trauma/abuse.

Personally, I have suffered from spiritual trauma (one example being, people telling me I can pray away a medical issue or otherwise I had unbelief), and experienced some of the symptoms listed above. This led me to not discuss personal issues with other Christians and kind of detach myself (even though I was still going) from church. I felt I was hearing too much noise and it got confusing/frustrating. I just felt I need more alone time with God without other people. Other examples include well-meaning Christians being insensitive. It does take a long time to heal from this all, and you never forget about it.
I never got to ptsd but I struggled with the same thing about healing. I would do the same thing and detach myself or feel I could not open up about my feelings because it would be viewed as a lack of faith. Then I would be made to feel like a weak Christian while others who seemed to be more spiritual looked superior.

But I was only there for a short time to investigate this type of stuff. Glad you found help.