What is spiritual trauma?

Spiritual trauma occurs as a result of events that threaten and damage our core spiritual values and goals. This can be a result of either abuse by religious/spiritual figures or being raised with a toxic and overbearing interpretation of that religion or spiritual belief.


What are signs of religious trauma?

Signs and Symptoms of Religious Trauma
  • Impeded development (social, emotional, sexual, etc.)
  • Depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.
  • Poor decision-making skills.
  • Lack of self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Sense of isolation.
  • Pervasive feelings of guilt and shame.
  • Difficulty forming healthy adult relationships.


What does it mean to be spiritually abused?

What is spiritual abuse? Spiritual abuse happens when someone uses spiritual or religious beliefs to hurt, scare or control you. It can involve someone forcing you or your children to participate in spiritual or religious practices when you don't want to.


What symptom is an example of a spiritual impact of trauma?

For others, trauma can be associated with loss of faith, diminished participation in religious or spiritual activities, changes in belief, feelings of being abandoned or punished by God, and loss of meaning and purpose for living.

How do you heal spiritual trauma?

HOW TO SPIRITUALLY CLEANSE YOUR LIFE POST-TRAUMA
  1. AWARENESS. “If (burnout) happens once, you're more vulnerable to it again,” gently warned Hanekamp. ...
  2. CLEANSE YOURSELF AND YOUR SPACE. @MAMAMEDICINE. ...
  3. EMBRACE ALONE TIME. @MAMAMEDICINE. ...
  4. RELEASE WITH INTENTION. ...
  5. SPEND TIME IN NATURE.


What is religious trauma?



How does God deal with trauma?

“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walk in the darkness, nor the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”—Psalm 91:4-6.

Which is a symptom of spiritual distress?

Feelings of anger or hopelessness. Feelings of depression and anxiety. Difficulty sleeping. Feeling abandoned by God.

What does a traumatized person act like?

Initial reactions to trauma can include exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness, dissociation, confusion, physical arousal, and blunted affect. Most responses are normal in that they affect most survivors and are socially acceptable, psychologically effective, and self-limited.


Where does trauma manifest in the body?

Trauma sensitizes the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the body's central stress response system. You can think of this as the juncture of our central nervous system and endocrine system, which makes us more reactive to stress and more likely to increase the stress hormone cortisol.

What does trauma do to your soul?

Severe trauma or PTSD can literally have such a strong interpersonal effect that it feels like the damage is irrecoverable. It can literally feel like your soul has been robbed of its power. Particularly in some of our veterans it often feels like they have lost themselves at their core.

What is toxic spirituality?

It's often used when we challenge toxic behaviors or ideas. Rather than respond to the challenge, the recipient will turn it around, question your motives, and encourage you to doubt your reality, using your anger as their evidence. Feeling anger is not harmful. Neither is sharing that we feel it.


How do you address spiritual abuse?

RESPOND WITH GRACE AND TRUTH

In order to address spiritual abuse in your setting, default with a grace-filled response. When your leadership is questioned or criticized, take a moment to step back and consider the motivation behind what is being communicated, even though this approach may feel counterintuitive.

What are four signs of emotional abuse?

5 Signs of Emotional Abuse
  • They are Hyper-Critical or Judgmental Towards You. ...
  • They Ignore Boundaries or Invade Your Privacy. ...
  • They are Possessive and/or Controlling. ...
  • They are Manipulative. ...
  • They Often Dismiss You and Your Feelings.


What causes spiritual trauma?

Spiritual trauma occurs as a result of events that threaten and damage our core spiritual values and goals. This can be a result of either abuse by religious/spiritual figures or being raised with a toxic and overbearing interpretation of that religion or spiritual belief.


Am I suffering from religious trauma?

Symptoms of Religious Trauma affect all areas of life.

This includes experiencing flashbacks, trouble sleeping and having nightmares, restlessness, lack of pleasure in things you used to enjoy, hypervigilance, avoidance, and more.

How do you know your body is releasing trauma?

Now begin to Discharge Sensations and Release Stress. First, notice your breath and Breathe Notice any sensations that come up naturally. As you release stress hormones, they will present through sensations like shaking, heat, sweating, yawning, goosebumps, changed breath, and gurgling in the stomach.

Where is sadness stored in the body?

Emotional information is stored through “packages” in our organs, tissues, skin, and muscles. These “packages” allow the emotional information to stay in our body parts until we can “release” it. Negative emotions in particular have a long-lasting effect on the body.


Does crying release trauma?

It won't rid you of PTSD and your fears, but let your tears flow and you'll maybe feel a little better afterwards. 'Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain.

What emotion is stored in the neck?

Neck Tension = Fear and Repressed Self-Expression

Fear and anxiety are also frequently stored in this area, particularly as a physical response to danger (as the neck is a vulnerable area) or strange environments. Neck muscle tension is also related to trust issues.

How does the body hold trauma?

The energy of the trauma is stored in our bodies' tissues (primarily muscles and fascia) until it can be released. This stored trauma typically leads to pain and progressively erodes a body's health. Emotions are the vehicles the body relies on to find balance after a trauma.


Can you tell if someone has trauma?

Emotional Trauma Symptoms

Psychological Concerns: Anxiety and panic attacks, fear, anger, irritability, obsessions and compulsions, shock and disbelief, emotional numbing and detachment, depression, shame and guilt (especially if the person dealing with the trauma survived while others didn't)

What should you not say to a traumatized person?

Things Never to Say to Trauma Survivors
  • It's Time to Move On.
  • It could not have been that bad.
  • Stop Being Negative.
  • If You Continue Dwelling On It, Then You'll Never Move On.
  • Do You Think You'll Ever Stop Being Depressed?
  • You're a Survivor, So Quit Being a Victim.
  • It Could Always Be Worse.


What is spiritual anxiety?

Spiritual anxiety is a feeling of worry, uncertainty, or doubt about where we stand with God. Spiritual anxiety deals with our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs about God, who God is, and what God thinks about us.


What are major spiritual awakening symptoms?

The following are 10 signs of spiritual awakening.
  • Observing Your Patterns. One of the first signs of awakening is noticing. ...
  • Feeling a Sense of Connection. ...
  • Letting Go of Attachment. ...
  • Finding Inner Peace. ...
  • Increasing Your Intuition. ...
  • Having Synchronicity. ...
  • Increasing Your Compassion. ...
  • Removing Fear of Death.


What causes spiritual pain?

Spiritual pain/suffering is commonly experienced by persons with life-limiting illness and their families. Physical pain itself can be exacerbated by non-physical causes such as fear, anxiety, grief, unresolved guilt, depression and unmet spiritual meets.