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Goodbye Jesus

I Need Therapy


BiMamaFeminAtheist

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I have an appointment Friday to meet with a therapist who specializes in childhood trauma, and has experience working with patients who are cult survivors.

 

I hope this helps. I gave up gawd but can't seem to shake the demons. I'm not sure I'll ever be normal.

 

I grew up so isolated from the 'world" that I'm only now beginning to see how truly weird my childhood was. But really, who thinks the "spirit realm" is more real than the "sight realm" (aka reality)? Who attends over 70 unassisted homebirths before going to school? Who gets "saved" at 3 years old because they're terrified of going to hell?

 

I did. And so I need therapy.

 

I'm just thankful for my Mr. Bottom Line CEO is always joking and asking me "Teach me how to start a cut so we can make some money!" and my supervisor says it's amazing I turned out so normal.

 

I spent a few hours today looking at Google results for my cult leader grandmother's name. Death. Loss. Pain. Articles from Christians calling her teachings heresy, and heartbreaking stories from families who lost a loved one to the failures of faith healing. I just want something tangible I can print out to show the therapist that it's not all in my head.

 

Anyone else try mental health counseling to move beyong their religious abuse? How helpful was it for you?

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The bizarre thing about my counselor is that he's a Xian. However, we've never gotten into that. By his general acceptance and non-worry about my spiritual life I can only really assume that he's more liberal-minded.

 

My counseling has helped me to deal with the mental/emotional abuse from various sources. I had to "normalize" and grow up a lot in the last year and the sessions were a safe place for me to vent and have someone to bounce ideas off of. Many days I went in having no idea what I wanted to talk about, but just knew that I needed to talk. Inevitably something would come gushing out.

 

I hope your sessions are a positive experience like mine have been. If not, seek a new counselor until you find one that "clicks" with your personality.

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I haven't had any but I wanted to wish you successful counseling sessions. *hugs*

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I can certainly understand the need. I got some counseling a year or so after I deconverted, it helped me come to terms with certain things, and deal with a lot of the anger issues I had at the time.

 

My parents recommended it cause I think they thought a counselor would encorage me to become religious again. Unfortunately for them my counselor turned out to be a liberal christian who was more concerned with my well being than my religious affiliation.

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I hope you can get the help you need so you can move forward. I don't have any experience or advice, just support. Good luck!

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"You will be in good company then. And won't you be glad that your therapist is there with you?"

 

Hahahahaha! There's gotta be a "Family Guy" sketch in there somewhere...

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Guest QuidEstCaritas?
I have an appointment Friday to meet with a therapist who specializes in childhood trauma, and has experience working with patients who are cult survivors.

 

I hope this helps. I gave up gawd but can't seem to shake the demons. I'm not sure I'll ever be normal.

 

I grew up so isolated from the 'world" that I'm only now beginning to see how truly weird my childhood was. But really, who thinks the "spirit realm" is more real than the "sight realm" (aka reality)? Who attends over 70 unassisted homebirths before going to school? Who gets "saved" at 3 years old because they're terrified of going to hell?

 

I did. And so I need therapy.

 

I'm just thankful for my Mr. Bottom Line CEO is always joking and asking me "Teach me how to start a cut so we can make some money!" and my supervisor says it's amazing I turned out so normal.

 

I spent a few hours today looking at Google results for my cult leader grandmother's name. Death. Loss. Pain. Articles from Christians calling her teachings heresy, and heartbreaking stories from families who lost a loved one to the failures of faith healing. I just want something tangible I can print out to show the therapist that it's not all in my head.

 

Anyone else try mental health counseling to move beyong their religious abuse? How helpful was it for you?

 

I got a year of exit counseling from two Evangelical Christians who were knowledgeable. The main thing that helped me was the CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and it helped alot. If your counselor is coming from the perspective of childhood trauma then chances are she won't treat your experiences as "All in your head" (And if I had a penny for how many times my Dad used that phrase then I would be richer than Donald Trump.) I got out of a cult too, one that my parents had partially raised me in and had raised my brothers and sisters in. The CBT helps a lot, and chances are you will end up much better for it. Just be on your usual guard for attempts by the exit counselor to imply that cults are heavily coercive and somehow "normal" religion isn't. I got out of one weird ass cult, and while I know the exit-counselors suffer from intellectual dishonesty, I also know it's to be expected because of their approach to cults. So in any case, good luck to you, and if you remember anything from me then remember that you don't have to believe everything they tell you. You just have to go through the CBT and come out much less traumatized from your life experiences with a solid understanding of how the worst that religion has to offer operates and how that damaged you. Do it for you, don't do it for anyone else.

 

Sincerely.

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I went to a counselar for a few months and he "off the record" recommended the "Conversations with God" series. I didn't believe that clap-trap either, but it did get me thinking how ridiculous the xian idea of gawd is.

The best help came from a local Atheist-Agnostic group. They meet monthly in a local bar and, well, just have fun. I realized how normal my alleged "anti-gawd" beliefs were and that a lot of sharp, intelligent people felt that way too.

And the baby eating was fun too. :P

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I've found therapy to be a mood-lifting, and helpful experience. It's nice to be able to talk about all the things that I'm thinking.

 

That is, talk with another human being about them... :blink:

:grin:

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Guest HappyPhantom

 

 

~Hello, I'm new here. :)

 

Its sad that it's even necessary, but awesome that people have the strength to seek help where it's needed. :)

 

My boyfriend is wondering if he may need similar therapy, He is having trouble adjusting to a post-cult life, (He was studying to become a minister, and is now an Atheist) and neither of us know much about therapists, etc., does anyone know if a therapist with childhood trauma experience is the best bet for an ex-xtian to find understanding and closure? Would a counselor be just as helpful?

What do you say when asking a counselor/therapist if they can help? I would feel strange asking "Um, do you have an imaginary friend, because if you do, I'm not sure you can help me."

 

Any help appreciated!! :):)

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