Finding your voice after leaving a high demand religion
Losing faith in religion can be a really intense experience that is hard to explain to others. Spirituality and religion can be tied up with who we are, how we relate to others, how we see the world, and even our sense of well-being. Mental health professionals often see religion and spirituality as something that can protect us. Across different religions and communities, faith and being part of a religious group can also offer important things for a balanced life, such as a support network, structure for life, a sense of identity, and a chance to explore beliefs in a healthy way. However, sometimes a religion can become so deeply intertwined with every part of a person’s life that if they ever question it, or choose to leave it, it can feel like losing a part of themselves. This can be especially true for those involved in high-demand or controlling religions, cults, or for those who have gone through spiritual abuse, where there's often an expectation for members to commit their time, money, and personal will.
For people in high demand religions, spirituality is often tied up in that particular group.. The healthy elements of religion being tied up with rules, expectations and a need for submission to those in authority. Access to God can be made conditional on obedience to authority of that group, with a discouragement to rely on individual internal intuition. If this is how you experienced a high demand religion, leaving it can feel like you are lost, no longer able to get guidance or make decisions.
My message to anyone feeling this way is that within you is a voice that you may have not realised was yours this whole time. The journey will be hard because you may have been taught for years to ignore that voice. Perhaps you were taught that the voice belonged to something that would lead you astray.
As a therapist I work on the understanding that you are the expert on yourself. My role is to support you in finding the authority and intuition that comes from inside yourself. your unique voice, experiences and wisdom that make you who you are. This can take time, as you have been taught black and white thinking, through doing art therapy you can learn to find all the colours in between.
If you are struggling to find your voice, or are feeling lost after leaving a group that gave you all the answers, get in touch today to discuss whether Art Therapy could be the right choice for you.
I look forward to meeting you,
Nicola
