Marlene Winell interviewed by Valerie Tarico on recovering from religious trauma

On Moral Politics, a TV program with host Dr. Valerie Tarico, Marlene Winell describes the trauma that can result from harmful experiences with religious indoctrination. Dr. Winell explains that mental health issues are widespread and need to be understood just as we understand PTSD. There are steps to recovery, treatment modalities, and resources available as well. She now refers to this as RTS or Religious Trauma Syndrome.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Religious Trauma Syndrome
• RTS
• religious abuse
• recovery from religion
• fundamentalism
• exfundamentalism
• recoverring fundamentalist
• evangelicalism
• spiritual abuse

[gargantacortador]

My aunt used to tell me a story when I was a child about her waking up and finding herself being strangled by a shadowy demon. She said she screamed as loud as she could but no one woke up. I now know that it was most likely something along the lines of sleep paralysis. However, as a child this created the real fear that I would maybe wake up one night with a demon strangling me to death and I wouldn't be able to get help. I couldn't have my own bedroom.

[AgnosticRants]

What she is saying is so true. I am recovering from religion right now and it is horribly hard but I am slowly feeling more confident and better. People around me judging me for leaving all the time are really exasperating and discouraging but I am only being true to myself and opening my horizons. I feel better after leaving but I am still not alright 100%.

[FlyingOverTr0ut]

Yeesh. Hearing this hits really close to home. I was terrorized by pretty much all the things you talk about.

[ILetGoOfDogma]

I had the rapture fear when I lost my parents as a child. Hadn't remembered this until I heard it here.  wow.

[misterzonker2584]

Excellent exploration of abadonment, fear, and terrorizing issues of religion. I identify with a lot of this myself.

[dogloverNV]

Thank you so much for the upload! I have struggled with RTS for so many years and am once again attempting to break away from fundamentalist Christianity (my 2011 goal). Living in fear of hell and a daily life filled with anxiety is NO way to live!