Religious Trauma Syndrome: How Some Organized Religion Leads to Mental Health Problems

reply to post by Itisnowagain

It is you who is suffering. It is you who is bothered and angry.

Because I see people suffering at the hands of others.

Cure 'you' first.
Until you recognize your own suffering and find a cure you will see suffering everywhere. It is projection.

I'm not 'suffering' just because I get emotional.
Cure 'me' first? I don't need curing, because I'm not SICK.

Sure, I can just ignore it all and not say anything. So can you. What does that do to help the people who are NOT calm or stable or balanced due to the treatment they received?

Adults who take advantage of gullible and insecure people are wrong to do so. Instilling FURTHER insecurity with psychological abuse and a fear of being 'raped by Satan', or 'failing no matter what I do', is not Calming. I know the causes of abuse, and the effect of abuse of this sort. It's no projection - there really ARE people suffering at the hands of others who want to control and scare them. Fact.

Are YOU a parent? I taught my kids about Buddhist calm, too. They didn't receive "organized religion", and they're both successful adults now. They're not tortured by an all-encompassing fear of going to hell if they mess up from time to time.

Originally posted by wildtimes
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

It is you who is suffering. It is you who is bothered and angry.

Because I see people suffering at the hands of others.

Cure 'you' first.
Until you recognize your own suffering and find a cure you will see suffering everywhere. It is projection.

I'm not 'suffering' just because I get emotional.
Cure 'me' first? I don't need curing, because I'm not SICK.

Sure, I can just ignore it all and not say anything. So can you. What does that do to help the people who are NOT calm or stable or balanced due to the treatment they received?

Adults who take advantage of gullible and insecure people are wrong to do so. Instilling FURTHER insecurity with psychological abuse and a fear of being 'raped by Satan', or 'failing no matter what I do', is not Calming. I know the causes of abuse, and the effect of abuse of this sort. It's no projection - there really ARE people suffering at the hands of others who want to control and scare them. Fact.

edit on 30-3-2013 by wildtimes because: formatting not working? I did include the /b where it belonged. oh well.

edit on 30-3-2013 by wildtimes because: remove bold altogether

In the story of me in time - I was abused. But I am here now.
I have found that if I go and dig in the story of me (in time) it hurts and it ruins this ever freshness that is always present.
The story makes me feel helpless, hopeless and useless if I dwell in it which then manifests as anger and unhappiness.

I have realized that I am not what happened to me. I have realized that all is just happening presently and it is always fresh and clean.

reply to post by Itisnowagain


Do you not think, then, that it's better for people NOT to be abused? To try to prevent that kind of treatment?
You yourself, then, have experienced the anger and hurt and helplessness, hoplessness, uselessness of those who are being abused. How can you argue that the OP is not valid, then? You would just tell these people 'learn Buddhism' and 'cure yourself'? That's a tall, tall order. Not everyone makes it out the other side the way you have.

You are an adult. You are no longer that little child (in time), but those scars are still with you. Would that I could have spared YOU the abuse you endured. It hurts me that people are abused. It hurts us all.

Originally posted by wildtimes
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

Do you not think, then, that it's better for people NOT to be abused? To try to prevent that kind of treatment?
You yourself, then, have experienced the anger and hurt and helplessness of being abused. How can you argue that the OP is not valid, then?

You are an adult. You are no longer that little child. Would that I could have spared YOU the abuse you endured. It hurts me that people are abused.

It all happened and it is now now.
I got wise sooner because of the abuse I had - in my opinion.

reply to post by Itisnowagain


Ah, so you found a way to 'cure' you. I'm happy about that. It doesn't work for everyone that way - and wouldn't you rather have been spared that past abuse and not had to figure out how to 'cure' you?

I do understand your point. But I'm not talking about how to 'cure' the damaged, I'm talking about how to 'prevent' that damage in the first place.
Big difference.

Please review the edit I made above; I did see yours. Thanks.

Originally posted by wildtimes
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

Ah, so you found a way to 'cure' you. I'm happy about that. It doesn't work for everyone that way - and wouldn't you rather have been spared that past abuse and not had to figure out how to 'cure' you?

I do understand your point. But I'm not talking about how to 'cure' the damaged, I'm talking about how to 'prevent' it in the first place.
Big difference.

Please review the edit I made above; I did see yours. Thanks.

edit on 30-3-2013 by wildtimes because: (no reason given)

Life is abusive when you don't understand the game. When you get the 'game' it is seen that it is all part of the game.
I will have to take what I got - it is what it is - but it is no more, it is not here - it is not happening presently.
No regrets - life is astounding at making sense in the end - in a funny way.

Each will suffer in their own way - it is the game of separation - no one is immune - some deny theirs by hating to see others suffer and trying to cure the suffering 'out there', then of course, the illusion of separation is kept intact.

reply to post by Itisnowagain

I have found that if I go and dig in the story of me (in time) it hurts and it ruins this ever freshness that is always present.
The story makes me feel helpless, hopeless and useless if I dwell in it which then manifests as anger and unhappiness.

Of course it does!

Understanding how you responded to that abuse is not quite the same as figuring out how it was you 'bought into it' (or were pulled or pushed into it). We all have a story. None of us is perfect, parents aren't perfect, kids aren't perfect. It's the messages we are given as youngsters that color our worldview and self-view and self-worth.

It's good that you've figured out how to 'avoid' those feelings, but is it really 'cured'? No, it's still there. You've learned how to detach from it, and that's good. I wish you had not had to suffer that treatment in the first place.

reply to post by Itisnowagain

Life is abusive when you don't understand the game. When you get the 'game' it is seen that it is all part of the game.
I will have to take what I got - it is what it is - but it is no more, it is not here - it is not happening presently.

Good!
Do you think it's better to not subject children to 'what you got' in the first place? Children are not equipped to handle the abuse the way adults are. They should not be subjected to treatment that later, as adults, they have to unravel and leave behind.

Originally posted by wildtimes
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

I have found that if I go and dig in the story of me (in time) it hurts and it ruins this ever freshness that is always present.
The story makes me feel helpless, hopeless and useless if I dwell in it which then manifests as anger and unhappiness.

Of course it does!

It's good that you've figured out how to 'avoid' those feelings, but is it really 'cured'? No, it's still there. You've learned how to detach from it, and that's good. I wish you had not had to suffer that treatment in the first place.

I don't avoid feelings. Sensations arise. But I am no longer effected by what appears as memory - it has nothing to do with what I am. It is the attention that is given to the story that makes it even more sensational - juicy - it makes the body react and there can be an addiction to the feelings and the internal fight.
I didn't like the internal fighting because it does not stay internal. Always feeling under threat - no - not nice.

reply to post by Itisnowagain

But I am no longer effected by what appears as memory - it has nothing to do with what I am. It is the attention that is given to the story that makes it even more sensational - juicy - it makes the body react and there can be an addiction to the feelings and the internal fight.

It's not just 'appearing as memory' for a child who is living through it, though! Little children respond to what they are told - not until they are adults - or at least teens - are they able to 'ignore' it and just not think about it. Let alone being able to UNDO the damage. It's hard work.

Originally posted by wildtimes
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

But I am no longer effected by what appears as memory - it has nothing to do with what I am. It is the attention that is given to the story that makes it even more sensational - juicy - it makes the body react and there can be an addiction to the feelings and the internal fight.

It's not just 'appearing as memory' for a child who is living through it, though! Little children respond to what they are told - not until they are adults - or at least teens - are they able to 'ignore' it and just not think about it. Let alone being able to UNDO the damage. It's hard work.

edit on 30-3-2013 by wildtimes because: (no reason given)

Life is hard. Everyone has a story and abuse is not a nice story. It happens at home then at school, in religions and work places.
It would be nice if we could wave a magic wand but we can't.
If the world causes you suffering you must overcome it.

reply to post by wildtimes

We deal with people every day, we see what harm is inflicted by people onto other people. When we need real help, I mean like we are injured, or starving, or suffering, other people can help us. Or they can harm us. If we can be, and sometimes are harmed 'psychologically' by others, we can go to others to help with relieving our suffering. It's fine to rely on God, but not exclusively. We do not live all alone, we have to put up with each other, because we need each other to survive. A baby who is neglected, or abandoned, or abused is not getting help from 'God', are they?

ofcourse help comes from people especially tangible help, i am not denying that.
I am rather pointing what the attitude of the one who seeks help should be,
The help is God sent.
Thanks to God and human helper.
Then the reliance is not on the behaviour of the helper.

Its about prevention and cure of RTS, CTS(counsellor trauma) or ATS(any trauma, not this ATS!!)

why to be at the mercy of the kind of people who may or may not be good.

Say evangalisers in 3rd world country, i need money, they give it to me to force their belief, i take it and thank God and them but still believe in Absolute One God. Win Win for me and God

OR
if i need counceling and happen to get an atheist shrink who is 'slipping in' his belief maybe even unknowingly, i still remain unaffected by keeping that attitude.

reply to post by wildtimes

Being good just for the sake of being good and not harming others, because you know it's the right thing to do

that sounds good but it also risks to take the individual to the trap of increasing ego.
Being good for the sake/pleasure of Allah prevents that trap and promotes humility, this ofcourse is an islamic teaching.

We're not talking about criminals and
prison, anyway. But I see your point.

i appreciate that,
however you can't really build on the analogy beyond what i used it for as it will break down.

And don't forget that INNOCENT
PEOPLE are sent to prison, too - and
only after years - even decades - are
they pardoned and sometimes
rewarded with "money" or a "formal
apology" to make up for the horror of other people judging them wrongly.

example of the break down God won't judge wrongly, people who judge others here will find the act(judging) working against them on judgement day.

reply to post by wildtimes

I'm talking specifically about how SOME religions do exactly that. Not 'all;. The ones that do use those tactics are those I am talking about, and that's how they are supposed to interpret it when they are taught it. Of course it's not "how it's meant to be". That's why those religions, those particular religions, are so dreadful. They are using religion as a weapon to control others.

i agree to that.

I myself find ideas of hell in some religion inconsistent, like devil being in command of hell! How the hell is that a punishment for him! Will he torture himself too?

I think religious preachers should promote the good values, not bring/keep people in their religion with the fear of eternal damnation.
Thats the sign of a weak belief.

to logical7
and to Itsnowagain

Thank you both for your contributions here.

reply to post by wildtimes

You know Wild, there's much I could say to this, but instead, I'm going to keep this brief and to the point...



To me, this image says it all. When any religion sees this as an acceptable statement of their faith and beliefs, they are as lost as those they are trying to reach with their "truth". Trauma from being under the kind of mindset that image implies? You bet. Imagine decades, or a lifetime of that kind of indoctrination.

Some may come out of it and recover. Others are going to need a lot of help. S&F! Well done!

reply to post by Klassified

Thank you, so much....
I was/am floundering here.

Originally posted by coosta5k
I decided as a teen church wasnt for me and it caused me alot of resentment being forced to go 2-3 times a week, and do all these social activities with people i couldnt stand

Brings to mind another of my quips that hasn't gotten me sour looks over the years... I often asked, "Why would I want to jump through all those hoops just to get to Heaven and spend Eternity with a bunch of strangers? I've read the Book & nobody I know is goin'!"

Originally posted by wildtimes
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

I am glad you are no longer a practicing counsellor because with your angry attitude - you would harm the patients. I have watched this thread from the beginning and you attacked the first poster and have attacked many others also. Your OP implied that you were ready for a fight. You are on the defensive all the time - how does that work for you?

I never harmed a patient. YOU LOT are not my CLIENTS.

I stand up for what I believe is right, and yes, I will fight for it.
I am on the defensive from ONLY THE PEOPLE I would would take offense at the OP, and ONLY ON THIS SUBJECT and a handful of other bigoted, hate-filled hypocrisy parading around as "good."
Common sense.

When a person's head is full of terror because they fear some future eternal torment that someone else has imposed upon them -- when they are controlled by that fear, as well as being told they are worthless and deserving of it, they have a serious problem behaving in a healthy way.

My friend that initially got me interested in the mental health field eventually had experiences very similar to yours. Between dealing with the constant distress of clients and the politics that were part and parcel of drawing a paycheck, my friend left the field, too. It's a shame... Validated my personal choice, though.

G' Day Folks, wildtimes and klassified.

Klassified good post and to the point you can only imagine what is being said behind closed doors if that is what they are willing to publicly display.

Wildtimes good thread.

As far as I am concerned CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CHILDREN there is enough hocus-pocus in life to contend with for a child without the added thumping over the head with the "good book."

Cheers Aussiebloke2