How can religion help PTSD survivors?
Many PTSD survivors struggle with guilt after a trauma. Religious values about forgiveness and doubt can help put guilt in its place. Again, by asking difficult questions about morals and the right course of action, survivors can deepen their beliefs in their faith.
How can a Christian counselor help someone with complex PTSD?
For Christians experiencing C-PTSD, a Christian counselor with experience of treating complex PTSD can allow for the combination of secular psychological therapy and biblical insights. Although not necessarily speeding up recovery, involving God in the healing journey can bring a significant amount of comfort to someone struggling with C-PTSD.
Why is it so difficult to treat religious trauma?
A major complicating factor in the treatment of religious trauma is the fact that many evangelicals are taught not to listen to or trust their bodies. Trauma lives in the body, and treating it is made all the more difficult when an individual must first regain a sense of their own bodily self.
Who are the “exvangelicals” seeking therapy for Religious Trauma?
Meet the “exvangelicals” seeking therapy for religious trauma. When Ana Sharp Williamson came home from her honeymoon in the summer of 2019, she moved in with her husband and began the process of deciding which church they should go to. She didn’t want to go to her childhood church, so decided to go to his until they found the right fit.
Does religion help PTSD?
Research on PTSD and religious and spiritual coping suggests that meaning in life is associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and higher levels of positive emotions, whereas spiritual struggle is related to higher levels of PTSD symptoms and negative emotions (Ano and Vasconcelles 2005).
How does trauma affect religious beliefs?
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.
What coping strategies work best for PTSD?
Positive ways of coping with PTSD:Learn about trauma and PTSD.Join a PTSD support group.Practice relaxation techniques.Pursue outdoor activities.Confide in a person you trust.Spend time with positive people.Avoid alcohol and drugs.Enjoy the peace of nature.
What is the most effective psychotherapy for PTSD?
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of psychotherapy that has consistently been found to be the most effective treatment of PTSD both in the short term and the long term. CBT for PTSD is trauma-focused, meaning the trauma event(s) are the center of the treatment.
What does most of the research indicate about religion as a method of coping with stress?
Research has shown that religious beliefs and practices can help people to cope with difficult situations such as physical illnesses (11), stress and depression (12–14). Individuals who use religious coping appear to handle their conditions more effectively than those who do not (15).
How does religion help with stress?
Both religion and spirituality can have a positive impact on mental health. In some ways, they provide the same impact. For example: Both religion and spirituality can help a person tolerate stress by generating peace, purpose and forgiveness. But benefits generally vary between the two due to their different nature.
What is the new treatment for PTSD?
Several effective treatment options exist for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A medical treatment called stellate ganglion block (SGB) is one of the newest options. SGB is an injection administered by a doctor or other healthcare professional into the neck.
How others can help someone with PTSD?
Helping someone with PTSD tip 1: Provide social supportDon't pressure your loved one into talking. ... Do “normal” things with your loved one, things that have nothing to do with PTSD or the traumatic experience. ... Let your loved one take the lead, rather than telling them what to do. ... Manage your own stress. ... Be patient.More items...
How can PTSD be treated?
The main treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are psychological therapies and medicine. Traumatic events can be very difficult to come to terms with, but confronting your feelings and seeking professional help is often the only way of effectively treating PTSD.
Why does therapy help with PTSD?
It is based on the idea that people learn to fear thoughts, feelings, and situations that remind them of a past traumatic event. By talking about your trauma repeatedly with a therapist, you'll learn to get control of your thoughts and feelings about the trauma.
What is the gold standard treatment for PTSD?
behavior therapy, or TF-CBT, is considered the gold standard treatment for children and adolescents with PTSD.
What are the 5 principles of trauma informed care?
The Five Principles of Trauma-Informed Care The Five Guiding Principles are; safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment. Ensuring that the physical and emotional safety of an individual is addressed is the first important step to providing Trauma-Informed Care.
Can religious beliefs help with PTSD?
Although PTSD is best treated with the help of a mental health provider, religious beliefs can often help in treatment . The spiritual community can provide empathy, encouragement and emotional support while you’re going through treatment. Many PTSD survivors feel lonely and isolated but having a church for support can be extremely beneficial.
Is PTSD a mental health issue?
PTSD may be a mental health issue, but faith and religion can help survivors heal and find peace. Don’t rule out spiritual guidance and pastoral care in helping people cope with PTSD.
Why don't Peck and Anderson use the term "religious trauma syndrome"?
Peck and Anderson say they don’t use the term “religious trauma syndrome” because they consider it too broad. The Religious Trauma Institute’s long-term goal is to research and develop resources on religious trauma to train other therapists. Right now, the organization is self-funded and has offered several webinars.
Who founded the nonprofit Recovering from Religion?
Psychologist Darrel Ray founded the nonprofit Recovering From Religion in 2009 as a resource for people doubting or leaving their faith.
Why did Noah Barker leave his church?
Noah Barker, an ex-evangelical who left his conservative church as a teenager after being publicly humiliated by his Sunday school teacher, wanted to see a secular therapist for his religious trauma , but he couldn’t find one. The first therapist he visited had a Psalms verse hanging in her office.
Why did Stephanie Pizzo seek therapy?
Stephanie Pizzo sought therapy to process her childhood trauma, which stemmed in large part from her abusive father and her conservative Pentecostal community. But her therapist tiptoed around any area having to do with religion, telling her instead to focus on the good parts of her faith.
Why do evangelicals prickle at meditation?
She knows, for example, that many evangelical clients may prickle at the suggestion that they meditate because meditation is often viewed as ungodly or Satanic.
What religion did Ana Sharp Williamson attend?
Religion was “everything” in Ana Sharp Williamson’s childhood, she says. Her family attended a conservative evangelical church in Belton, Missouri, and her “only social life was church, youth group, and another youth group at a different church.”. She was homeschooled with a conservative Christian curriculum, which taught young earth creationism ...
Who is Brian Peck?
In 2019, she and therapist Brian Peck co-founded the Religious Trauma Institute, with the mission of developing resources for mental health practitioners to work with survivors of religious trauma. Summer Sale: 50% off fearless reporting.
Why are re-experiencing symptoms so distressing?
The re-experiencing symptoms are often experienced as distressing and intrusive due to their uncontrollable nature and their tendency to produce strong negative emotion. Avoidance and numbing symptoms are another area of concern and involve avoiding thoughts and feelings about the trauma.
What does a Christian counselor do?
He knows about suffering and trauma and he promises to be there for his people. A Christian counselor can help to make those promises a reality. If you seek help and understanding and want to find some hope in the midst of trauma, please don’t hesitate to contact me to find out more about Christian counseling.
What does it mean when someone is exposed to a traumatic event?
Trauma happens when a person experiences, witnesses, or has otherwise been confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to one’s physical integrity. Simply being exposed to a traumatic event does not mean that a person necessarily has PTSD, for the individual’s response to ...
Does PTSD make you less traumatic?
If the events happen to someone else, this does not make them any less traumatic. But it does change their impact on the individual who witnesses these events. PTSD is different from most other psychiatric disorders in that it requires a specific type of event to occur from which the person affected does not recover.
Why do people with PTSD believe it was their fault?
People with complex PTSD may be crippled by feelings of shame and despair, may hold false beliefs about what happened to them – such as believing it was their fault because they were ‘bad’ – and distorted perceptions about themselves. Self-destructive behaviors and emotional dysregulation are also very common.
What is the treatment for C-PTSD?
The main treatment for C-PTSD is therapy , although there are some medications that can help with managing symptoms if other techniques aren’t helping. Medications that may be used include anti-anxiety meds, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.
What does "did" mean in psychology?
DID occurs when the mind fractures due to trauma and compartmentalizes the traumatic or abusive experiences as a form of protection. As a result of compartmentalization, other personalities or alters are split off from the core personality.
Why do therapists use guided eye movements?
Therapists trained in EMDR practice use guided eye movements in order to help with the processing of traumatic memories and help change the way that a person reacts to the memories. EMDR can significantly reduce symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks.
What is complex PTSD?
What Exactly is Complex PTSD? While “regular” PTSD is generally the result of a single traumatic event – such as being in a war, being the victim of an attack or assault, or witnessing a terrifying event – complex post-traumatic stress disorder is the result of ongoing or long-term sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse during childhood.
How does C-PTSD affect you?
Living with C-PTSD can be challenging. The emotional intensity that accompanies the disorder can feel totally overwhelming, so it’s no wonder that C-PTSD sufferers often struggle to cope with everyday life. Learning coping strategies is essential and there are a number of effective strategies that people with C-PTSD may find helpful.
How does trauma affect children?
The people meant to keep him or her safe are often (although not always) the ones perpetuating the abuse on a day-to-day basis. This kind of trauma is devastating to a child’s ability to trust others and, as it happens when the brain is still developing, it has a long-term effect on how children perceive other people.
How does trauma affect spirituality?
Relationship of Trauma to Spirituality. Evidence suggests that trauma can produce both positive and negative effects on the spiritual experiences and perceptions of individuals (1). For example, depression and loneliness can lead to feelings of abandonment and loss of faith in God.
What percentage of psychologists believe in God?
For example, one study (2) indicated that only 66% of psychologists report a "belief in God.". These differences in viewpoint may contribute to the lack of research on spirituality.
What is spirituality?
Spirituality is a personal experience with many definitions. Spirituality might be defined as "an inner belief system providing an individual with meaning and purpose in life, a sense of the sacredness of life, and a vision for the betterment of the world." Other definitions emphasize "a connection to that which transcends the self." The connection might be to God, a higher power, a universal energy, the sacred, or to nature. Researchers in the field of spirituality have suggested three useful dimensions for thinking about one's spirituality: 1 Beliefs 2 Spiritual practices 3 Spiritual experiences
What does trauma mean for others?
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.
What are the dimensions of spirituality?
Researchers in the field of spirituality have suggested three useful dimensions for thinking about one's spirituality: Beliefs. Spiritual practices. Spiritual experiences.
Is spirituality a positive outcome?
Aspects of spirituality are associated with positive outcomes, even when trauma survivors develop psychiatric difficulties such as PTSD or depression. Research also indicates that healthy spirituality is often associated with lower levels of symptoms and clinical problems in some trauma populations.
Can trauma be spiritual?
Research suggests that for many trauma survivors, spirituality may be a resource that can be associated with resilience and recovery. However, for some, the circumstances of the trauma may lead to the questioning of important and previously sustaining beliefs. This can lead to spiritual struggle or even loss of faith.
What is the deepest crisis that leads to PTSD?
2. There is hope. Tragically, among the deepest crises leading to the PTSD label is sexual abuse. This trauma sickens the soul and messes with the mind, spirit, and body for years, even decades. The effects range from paralyzing fears to physiological symptoms, as well as identity struggles and damaged relationships.
How many people have PTSD?
70 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s 223.4 million people. Up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop PTSD. As of today, that’s 31.3 million people who did or are struggling with PTSD.
How do these two truths work?
These two truths must be kneaded into who you are until they work through every part of you. The working of these truths into the deepest part of you takes time. The damage you suffered may have been done in one or more terrible moments; the healing and the restoration unfolds at a human pace. It unfolds at your pace.
What is Lindy Abbott's coping skill?
She told me she unknowingly used a coping skill called dissociation to survive ongoing trauma. It protects her from awareness of the pain in the short run, but a person who dissociates often may find in the long run she has relationship difficulties and inability to function. As Lindy writes at her blog, Abuse and Trauma Hope,
Who is the counselor who says "She can apply the truth of who she is in Christ to the truth of her past
She can apply the truth of who she is in Christ to the truth of her past experiences,” says biblical counselor Eliza Jane Huie with Life Counseling Center. Each of us needs to remember who we are in Christ and apply this truth to past experience, even trauma. Expect to apply the truth over and over and over again.
Who said "Your recovery will be a process of learning and remembering those two truths"?
Says biblical counselor and author David Powlison : “Your recovery will be a process of learning and remembering those two truths—you are not alone and there is hope—not just once, but over and over. Think about how bread gets made. It must be kneaded so that the yeast goes through the whole loaf.
What does Doehring say about spiritual therapy?
With religious or spiritual clients, that sensitivity and willingness to interact in a religious way helps them to trust the therapist and, Doehring says, can bring a beautiful aspect of the human experience into the therapy room . "Some people describe the beauty of spiritually guided therapy as experiencing a third presence in ...
What did Hathaway find about the family?
Hathaway asked the family members about their religious beliefs and, finding that they were Jewish and that the boy's behavior in temple was preventing them from attending services, encouraged them to go back to their religious rituals.
Is religion a therapeutic tool?
Spirituality as a therapeutic strategy. "Using religion as a therapeutic tool is a little controversial and still emerging," Hathaway says. "Techniques include use of prayer during a session, ways to direct clients to pray, spiritual journaling, forgiveness protocols, using biblical texts to reinforce healthy mental and emotional habits ...