RELIGIOUS TRAUMA SYNDROME (Part 2)

Can this cycle of abuse be stopped?
You can stop the cycle of abuse, but leaving your religion is a “mixed blessing.” Letting go of the need to conform is a huge relief. There is a sense of freedom, excitement about information and new experiences, new-found self-respect, integrity, and the sense of an emerging identity.
There are huge challenges as well. The psychological damage does not go away overnight. In fact, because the phobia indoctrination in young childhood is so powerful that the fear of Gehenna and Armageddon can last a lifetime. Encouraging articles and discussions on this site will discuss these issues about Judgement by GOD for leaving
I am reminded of the lyrics to the 1982 song by “The Clash”
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
This is why there are so many thousands of walking wounded – people who have left a high control man made organizational religion and are living with Religious Trauma Syndrome.
The governing body of one religion says they are mentally diseased not realizing that…
Religious Trauma Syndrome mimics the symptoms of many other disorders –
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
clinical depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, social disorders, marital and sexual dysfunctions, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, extreme antisocial behavior, including homicide.
There are many extreme cases, including child abuse of all kinds, suicide, rape, and murder. (http://www.silentlambs.org/murderjwfathers.htm) (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/family-found-dead-apparent-murder-suicide-article-1.1582545)
Not as extreme but also tragic are all the people who are struggling to make sense of life after being severely SHUNNED and losing their family and friends. Many who try to get help from the mental health profession cannot find a therapist who understands Religious Trauma Syndrome. Their solution is to “just leave and forget about going to worship services with others.” But it is not that simple, is it?
Why is this control so difficult to treat?
We have in our society an assumption that highly organized religion is for the most part harmless or good for you. Therapists, like others, expect that if you stop believing, you just quit going to services, putting it in the same category as not believing in The Tooth Fairy. Therapists often don’t understand fundamentalism. Religious fundamentalism refers to the belief of an individual or a group of individuals as the absolute authority of a sacred religious text or teachings. In this case the governing body must be obeyed without question. They say even if you can prove them wrong by scripture you must teach and believe what they say until they change it. They even have a new song to them that states right or wrong follow them. Gehenna is the penalty. When did we ever see a concept like this in the Bible? Can you sing that right or wrong you will follow the Governing Body of one religion?

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA SYNDROME {SHOULD I LEAVE OR SHOULD I STAY?}
Therapists do not realize what a complete mind-violation this really is and persons can’t just get over it. They have been indoctrinated (the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically, without questioning.) The governing body is god to most witnesses.
In the United States, we have a bill of rights, our freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. This makes it extremely difficult to address a debilitating disorder like Religious Trauma Syndrome without it threatening these rights. Raising questions about toxic beliefs and abusive practices in religion seems to be violating a taboo. No one wants to be pointing fingers for fear of tampering with our precious freedoms. In the meantime people are fighting to mentally break this mind control that the governing body has used for so long, threats of death at Armageddon with their minor children dying because a parent left the witnesses.
Sanitizing hierarchy, high control religion makes it all the more insidious when it is toxic. (A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. A pecking order, ladder climbing, inclusiveness.)
For example, small children are biologically dependent on their adult caretakers; built into their survival mechanisms is a need to trust authority just to stay alive. Religious teachings take hold easily in their underdeveloped brains while the adults who are controlled keep tight control on the children. This continues generation after generation. Millions of witnesses learn to value self-loathing, never being able to do enough and fear Armageddon. It’s difficult to break this cycle!
Where can I find help now?
Awareness is growing about the dangers of religious indoctrination. There are more and more websites to support the growing number of people fleeing harmful religions. Gradually, services are growing to help people with Religious Trauma Syndrome to heal and grow, including help from this website which attempts to offer spiritual healing and encouragement for persons with international testimony sessions that you can join by internet, as well as articles to read and call in Bible study groups. By discussing their experiences with other likeminded people, each one can understand what the other has been through and each of us can take steps to become healthier and happier human beings.
You may blog here and speak with others from all over the world or call in on the phone number listed under “LET’S TALK LIVE”.
So feel free to open up and talk. You are safe among friends. Let others know what you are going through and how you are coping. Together we can work on freeing each one from the shock, pain and trauma, moving it further to the back of your brain and mind.

Another excellent you tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVU2U2urmys&t=415s She explains how to remove your name permanently from a church, organization or high control group.