New research finds that religious trauma is experienced by up to 30% of US adults, with LGBTQ+ individuals bearing the brunt of the damage. Mental health experts are advocating for religious trauma to be an official diagnosis.
As Spencer Macnaughton reports, 1 in 3 American adults report that they have suffered from religious trauma. "Religious trauma occurs when an individual’s religious upbringing has lasting adverse effects on their physical, mental or emotional well-being, according to the Religious Trauma Institute."
"Experts say LGBTQ people — who represent more than 7% of the U.S. population, according to a 2023 Gallup poll — experience religious trauma at disproportionate rates and in unique ways. Very little research has been done in this field, but a 2022 study found that LGBTQ people who experience certain forms of religious trauma are at increased risk for suicidality, substance abuse, homelessness, anxiety and depression."
One advantage to growing up in the #ChurchOfChrist is that #Christmas has always been a secular holiday (except when it gave the #COC a chance to bitch about the #WarOnChristmas ofc).
So I don't have #ReligiousTrauma around the winter holidays, thank the gods.
#ReligiousTrauma#exchristian#secular#humanist#psychology#freedom#counselor#BeYourSelf It’s OK to:
Reject your family’s beliefs
Embrace your Queer self
Mourn the loss of the family you wish you had
Explore things formerly forbidden
Turn down family gatherings
Enjoy sex (solo & with multiple others)
Miss your old community
Build your own community
Get mad
Rest
Love.