How does PTSD develop?
Religious trauma refers to the psychological and emotional distress that can arise from harmful religious experiences, such as authoritarian belief systems, fear-based teachings, spiritual abuse, or exclusion from faith communities. When these experiences are intense or prolonged, they can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including hypervigilance, nightmares, anxiety and flashbacks. Some people describe feeling emotionally numb around triggers, whilst others will go into a high state of anxiety. Triggers can include religious symbols, certain people or language.