Can church be bad for your health?

[Aquila]

Can church be bad for your health?

Someone I know has talked to a counselor about various issues and feelings they’ve been facing. The counselor found it interesting how their entire life revolved around “church” and how much of their present anxiety comes from how they feel when they attend church, though they’ve recently stopped attending regularly. The counselor decided to delve deeper into their experience with church for a few secessions. Many of the situations that they experienced in church were rather traumatic emotionally, including the loss of their marriage. The individual feels very troubled, stressed, and deeply depressed after “attending church”. Negative and hurtful thoughts and memories flood the mind when they walk through the doors. Normally after returning home they experience a deep valley of depression for a few days that frightens them. If they continue attending church they become militantly “dedicated” to the point of outbursts, anger, and unreasonableness. Eventually it snaps and they fall apart emotionally. Even when attending another church where nothing negative has happened the individual finds themselves almost in a cold sweat and feeling nearly frantic. Friends and family have pointed out that when they had been attending church in the recent two years they had become cold, unemotional, and heartless. The counselor stated that they have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder originating from the emotional abuse, or perceived emotional abuse, that they received in church. I pulled this from a website to see if this was possible. Here is a paragraph illustrated the causes of PTSD:

What causes PTSD?
Virtually any trauma, defined as an event that is life-threatening or that severely compromises the emotional well-being of an individual or causes intense fear, may cause PTSD. Such events often include either experiencing or witnessing a severe accident or physical injury, receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis, being the victim of kidnapping or torture, exposure to war combat or to a natural disaster, exposure to other disaster (for example, plane crash) or terrorist attack, being the victim of rape, mugging, robbery, or assault, enduring physical, sexual, emotional, or other forms of abuse, as well as involvement in civil conflict. Although the diagnosis of PTSD currently requires that the sufferer has a history of experiencing a traumatic event as defined here, people may develop PTSD in reaction to events that may not qualify as traumatic but can be devastating life events like divorce or unemployment.

It was the counselor’s opinion that after years of being in a church wherein the individual’s performance was always judged so strictly, fearsome rebukes from the pulpit issued, and unreasonable demands and accusations from leadership they person faces deep emotional trauma. Their marriage fell apart while trying to appease the church and meet unreasonable standards, schedules, and obedience. This too contributes to the emotional pain they experience in regards to discussing “church” or attending “church”. The counselor has encouraged a therapy involving rapid eye movements and has advised that the individual approach “attending church” with caution. Prescribing medication is the last resort according to these counselor, the hopes are that the individual in question can overcome their deep emotional trauma through therapeutic means not involving drugs. The counselor has also encouraged the person to find a way to maintain and practice their spirituality in alternative faith communities if they feel they must remain spiritual.

Is it possible that negative experiences with church over an extended period of time can result in PTSD or deep emotional trauma? Is it possible that after such experiences “traditional church” could be bad for the mental and emotional health of some individuals?

[coadie]

First of all, we don't fall for some one said their counsellor said that people at church said blah blah blah.

Rumors of rumors do not fly.

Secondly, the counselor in most cases is clueless. The counselor hasn't visited the church to see what is really going on and also not qualified to deal with it if he did.

All the hassles in the first 5 books of the New Testament were based on mis interpreted second hand statements. They twisted the Lords supper to be an act of cannibalism.

It was the counselor’s opinion that after years of being in a church wherein the individual’s performance was always judged so strictly, fearsome rebukes from the pulpit issued, and unreasonable demands and accusations from leadership they person faces deep emotional trauma

So the counselor is basing his opinion on the patients opinion about the pastors opinions?

He can milk this for 125 bucks an hour for years.

all you need is a diagnosis and you can get insurance to cover it.

PTSD. What a catch all. syndrome. Can't wait till world series losers claim that one.

[berkeley]

Church can be bad for your mental health.. ha

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by coadie

First of all, we don't fall for some one said their counsellor said that people at church said blah blah blah.

Rumors of rumors do not fly.

Secondly, the counselor in most cases is clueless. The counselor hasn't visited the church to see what is really going on and also not qualified to deal with it if he did.

All the hassles in the first 5 books of the New Testament were based on mis interpreted second hand statements. They twisted the Lords supper to be an act of cannibalism.



So the counselor is basing his opinion on the patients opinion about the pastors opinions?

He can milk this for 125 bucks an hour for years.

all you need is a diagnosis and you can get insurance to cover it.

PTSD. What a catch all. syndrome. Can't wait till world series losers claim that one.

Coadie... you know very little about the individual, their situation, the churches in question, and what they've gone through. Their counselor (a professional who has counseled them for some time now) has stated that they appear to be suffering from PTSD due to emotional traumas endured at church over an extended period of time. The counselor has laid out a plan for therapy. You don't know the emotiona pain, negative and suicidal thoughts, or anything else this person had gone through. The fact that you'd compare it to someone loosing a ball game shows how utterly disconnected and closed minded toward the situation you are.

I contend that it is this kind of response to their emotional pain that they received in church. It is nothing but spiritual abuse.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Berkley

Church can be bad for your mental health.. ha

I imagine it could depend on the church. But what do we do with those who are emotionally traumatised from previous church involvement that renders them unable to attend another church on account of the deep emotional trauma they are enduring?

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Can church be bad for your health?

Someone I know has talked to a counselor about various issues and feelings they’ve been facing. The counselor found it interesting how their entire life revolved around “church” and how much of their present anxiety comes from how they feel when they attend church, though they’ve recently stopped attending regularly. The counselor decided to delve deeper into their experience with church for a few secessions. Many of the situations that they experienced in church were rather traumatic emotionally, including the loss of their marriage. The individual feels very troubled, stressed, and deeply depressed after “attending church”. Negative and hurtful thoughts and memories flood the mind when they walk through the doors. Normally after returning home they experience a deep valley of depression for a few days that frightens them. If they continue attending church they become militantly “dedicated” to the point of outbursts, anger, and unreasonableness. Eventually it snaps and they fall apart emotionally.

Even when attending another church where nothing negative has happened the individual finds themselves almost in a cold sweat and feeling nearly frantic. Friends and family have pointed out that when they had been attending church in the recent two years they had become cold, unemotional, and heartless. The counselor stated that they have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder originating from the emotional abuse, or perceived emotional abuse, that they received in church. I pulled this from a website to see if this was possible. Here is a paragraph illustrated the causes of PTSD:

What causes PTSD?
Virtually any trauma, defined as an event that is life-threatening or that severely compromises the emotional well-being of an individual or causes intense fear, may cause PTSD. Such events often include either experiencing or witnessing a severe accident or physical injury, receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis, being the victim of kidnapping or torture, exposure to war combat or to a natural disaster, exposure to other disaster (for example, plane crash) or terrorist attack, being the victim of rape, mugging, robbery, or assault, enduring physical, sexual, emotional, or other forms of abuse, as well as involvement in civil conflict. Although the diagnosis of PTSD currently requires that the sufferer has a history of experiencing a traumatic event as defined here, people may develop PTSD in reaction to events that may not qualify as traumatic but can be devastating life events like divorce or unemployment.

It was the counselor’s opinion that after years of being in a church wherein the individual’s performance was always judged so strictly, fearsome rebukes from the pulpit issued, and unreasonable demands and accusations from leadership they person faces deep emotional trauma. Their marriage fell apart while trying to appease the church and meet unreasonable standards, schedules, and obedience. This too contributes to the emotional pain they experience in regards to discussing “church” or attending “church”. The counselor has encouraged a therapy involving rapid eye movements and has advised that the individual approach “attending church” with caution. Prescribing medication is the last resort according to these counselor, the hopes are that the individual in question can overcome their deep emotional trauma through therapeutic means not involving drugs. The counselor has also encouraged the person to find a way to maintain and practice their spirituality in alternative faith communities if they feel they must remain spiritual.

Is it possible that negative experiences with church over an extended period of time can result in PTSD or deep emotional trauma? Is it possible that after such experiences “traditional church” could be bad for the mental and emotional health of some individuals?

But we DO NOT KNow if there were actual physical or verbal threats.

What is Emotional Abuse? Abuse is any behavior that is designed to control and subjugate another human being through the use of fear, humiliation, and verbal or physical assaults.

The key for making big bucks for a counselor is to play along, act shocked and insert opinions. That is illegal, they can't do that to you etc.

Atheists like Richard Dwakins call religion abusive in all it's forms.

They gobble this up.

Most counselors are non Christian.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by coadie

But we DO NOT KNow if there were actual physical or verbal threats.



The key for making big bucks for a counselor is to play along, act shocked and insert opinions. That is illegal, they can't do that to you etc.

Atheists like Richard Dwakins call religion abusive in all it's forms.

They gobble this up.

Most counselors are non Christian.

Coadie... the question is...

Is it possible that for some "church" is harmful to their emotional health due to what they've experienced?

If we were talking about a Fundamentalist Baptist sect, Mormons, or some other group and how members have suffered emotional trauma... I doubt you'd be acting out like this. The point is... they were traumatised. The counselor even stated that the abuse might have been real or "perceived" in that the leadership never intended them to receive the treatment they received in the manner that they received it. Abused on purpose, accident, or if perceived, the fact is you have a person who has emotional trauma. Is it possible that for such a person "going to church" could be bad for their emotional health?

[nahkoe]

I would suggest the person in question to be very cautious of EMDR. I'm guessing that's the rapid eye movement treatment that you mentioned.

As for the rest, I have panic attacks at church and I'm rather a mess the rest of the day. I don't think the diagnosis is too much of a stretch. I've gone back and forth between going regularly and avoiding church over the last several years. I wish there was an easy answer for stuff like this.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Berkley

Church can be bad for your mental health.. ha

Preachin can really mess with moral health issues.

Take some Prozac to cope with feelings of guilt.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Coadie... the question is...

Is it possible that for some "church" is harmful to their emotional health due to what they've experienced?
If we were talking about a Fundamentalist Baptist sect, Mormons, or some other group and how members have suffered emotional trauma... I doubt you'd be acting out like this. The point is... they were traumatised. The counselor even stated that the abuse might have been real or "perceived" in that the leadership never intended them to receive the treatment they received in the manner that they received it. Abused on purpose, accident, or if perceived, the fact is you have a person who has emotional trauma. Is it possible that for such a person "going to church" could be bad for their emotional health?

! How am I "acting out"?

Since you have not observed any behavior on my part, you have given me an example of your wild imagination

2 In Romans, it says there is therfore NOW no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus. This condemnation comes from the devil and the pulpit is very easy to blame.

Freud was messed up in the head but i will use his daughter and her teachings to cover this using their rationalizations.

A lot of times patients have a problem and they do not have the tools to cope so they transfer plame to others as a coping mechanism.

Since I am a student of cults and false religions, the Scientologists openly claim the Pshicharists are a large source of the problem and are phony in providing solutions

Secular counseling for a large part goes out of business if people repent, learn forgiveness and use the Joy of the Lord for strength instead of endless sessions of psychoanalysis and thearapy which does nothing.

It is possible to have anxiety attacks after losing a pet kitten. People that live long lives often have adaptive behaviors and survive trauma, pain and loss.

Even after a divorce, partners get attacks of hurt when they enter an old fav restaurant, church or place. It burbles up pain to hear certain music.