When religion breeds fear
Religious trauma can impact more than your beliefs — it can affect how you relate to your body and health. You might have been taught that illness is a sign of sin or punishment. This might mean that whenever you are unwell, you think it is a reflection of your spiritual failure. It’s understandable that you might experience symptoms of health anxiety because of this.
This might mean that you feel you must do things such as constantly check your body for symptoms, or compulsively pray to God to keep you well. If you feel you have not done enough, you might become scared that God will punish you and make you or your loved ones unwell.
When you do feel unwell, which we all occasionally do, this will lead back to you thinking it is because of something you have done wrong. You might find yourself feeling guilty and praying for forgiveness, and then the cycle repeats.
This might mean that you feel you must do things such as constantly check your body for symptoms, or compulsively pray to God to keep you well. If you feel you have not done enough, you might become scared that God will punish you and make you or your loved ones unwell.
When you do feel unwell, which we all occasionally do, this will lead back to you thinking it is because of something you have done wrong. You might find yourself feeling guilty and praying for forgiveness, and then the cycle repeats.